How to Change the Map on Your Rust Server

Rust gives you a lot of flexibility when it comes to the world your players explore. You can run a procedurally generated map with a custom seed and size, or load a custom map using a direct URL. The RiverHosting panel makes both options easy to manage from the Map page, without needing to edit any files manually.

This guide walks you through changing your Rust server map, choosing a seed, and loading a custom map file.

Before you start

• You need an active Rust server on RiverHosting. If you do not have one yet, visit riverhosting.com to get started.
• Changing the map requires a server restart. Let your players know before you make changes so they are not caught off guard.
• Switching to a new map or seed will generate a fresh world. Player progress tied to the old map, such as base locations and loot, will not carry over unless you are loading the same seed again.

1. How to change your Rust map from the panel

The Map page in the RiverHosting panel is where you control everything about your Rust world, including the map type, seed, world size, and custom map URL.

1. Log in to the RiverHosting panel at panel.riverhosting.com.
2. Click on your Rust server from the server list.
3. In the left-hand menu, click Map.
4. You will see options to configure your map. Continue with the section below that matches what you want to do.

2. How to use a procedural map with a custom seed

A procedural map is generated automatically by the game using a seed number. The same seed always produces the same world layout, so you can share seeds with your community or reuse a favourite one.

1. On the Map page, make sure the map type is set to Procedural Map.
2. Enter your chosen seed number in the Seed field. You can use any number, or leave it at zero to get a random seed each time the server starts.
3. Set your preferred World Size. Larger values create a bigger map but also increase memory usage and generation time.
4. Click Save to apply your changes.
5. Restart your server from the Console or by clicking the restart button so the new map loads.

3. How to load a custom map using a URL

Rust supports custom maps created by the community. These maps are hosted online and loaded into your server using a direct download link. You can find custom maps on sites like Lone Design or the Rust community forums.

1. Find the custom map you want to use and copy its direct download URL. The URL should end in .map.
2. On the Map page in the panel, look for the Custom Map URL field.
3. Paste the download URL into the field.
4. Click Save to apply the change.
5. Restart your server so it downloads and loads the custom map.

4. How to take a backup before changing your map

Before switching maps, it is a good idea to save a backup of your current world so you can restore it later if needed.

1. In the left-hand menu, click Backups.
2. Click Create Backup and wait for the backup to complete.
3. Once the backup is listed, you can download it or keep it stored in the panel for later use.

Troubleshooting

• The server is stuck generating the map. Large world sizes take longer to generate. Wait a few minutes and check the Console for progress. If it is frozen, try restarting the server.
• The custom map did not load. Check that the URL you entered is a direct download link ending in .map and that the link is still publicly accessible. Open the URL in a browser to confirm it works.
• Players are seeing a blank or broken map. This can happen if the map URL changed or the file was removed from the hosting site. Verify the URL is still live and re-enter it on the Map page if needed.
• The server crashed after changing the map. Check the Console for error messages. A seed that is too large or a world size that exceeds your server plan's memory may cause issues. Try reducing the world size.
• My changes did not take effect. Make sure you clicked Save on the Map page and then fully restarted the server, not just stopped and started it within the same session.

Need help?

If you run into a problem that this guide does not cover, the RiverHosting support team is happy to help.