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SCUM Save Game & Backups: Securing and Moving the SCUM.db

The entire SCUM save lives in one SQLite database: back up, restore and move the SCUM.db to another server — step by step.

Last updated July 14, 2026 · RespawnHost

Where is the SCUM save stored?

Unlike many survival games, SCUM stores everything in a single SQLite database: world, bases, vehicles, characters and progression. On the server it lives at:

SCUM/Saved/SaveFiles/SCUM.db

Two companion files created by SQLite at runtime belong to it:

FilePurpose
SCUM.dbThe database — the entire save
SCUM.db-walWrite-ahead log (changes not yet merged)
SCUM.db-shmShared memory file of the WAL mode

Warning

The three files always belong together. Never copy or delete just the SCUM.db while -wal/-shm stay behind — you'd lose recent changes or corrupt the save. And: always stop the server before touching the files.

Creating a backup

Option 1 — panel backups (recommended): In the RespawnHost panel you can set up manual and automatic backups — e.g. daily or before every update.

Backup management of a SCUM server in the RespawnHost panel with a finished 13 GB backup and options to restore and download
Manual and automatic backups in the panel — restore with one click

Option 2 — by hand:

  1. Stop the server.
  2. Navigate to SCUM/Saved/SaveFiles/ in the file manager (or via SFTP).
  3. Download SCUM.db, SCUM.db-wal and SCUM.db-shm.

Restoring a backup

  1. Stop the server.
  2. Delete (or rename) the existing SCUM.db, SCUM.db-wal and SCUM.db-shm.
  3. Upload your backed-up files.
  4. Start the server — the old state is back.

Moving server → server

Migrating from another host to RespawnHost (or between two servers) is the same procedure: download the database files from the old server, upload them to SCUM/Saved/SaveFiles/ on the new one, start. The world and all characters move together — players keep their progress because their data is tied to their SteamID64.

It’s also worth taking the folder SCUM/Saved/Config/WindowsServer/ with you (ServerSettings.ini and the user lists).

Can I move my single-player save to the server?

Not officially. Single-player mode also uses a SCUM.db, but there is no official import feature and no Gamepires-confirmed procedure for transferring it to a dedicated server. Since world and player data live in one database, cleanly “taking just your character” isn’t possible either. If you try anyway (at your own risk): back up both sides first.

Frequently asked questions

How big does the SCUM.db get? It grows with bases, vehicles and player count — from a few MB on a fresh server to several GB on large community servers.

Can I extract individual players or bases from a backup? Not without direct SQL surgery on the database — there are no official tools for that. In practice: a backup is always restored as a whole.

What happens during a wipe? The database files get deleted and the server generates a fresh world — details in wiping your server.