# How to Change the World Type on a Minecraft Server

> Make a flat, amplified or large-biomes world by changing the world type before it's generated.

Source: https://www.beaconhosting.org/knowledgebase/how-to-change-the-world-preset-on-a-minecraft-server
Category: Minecraft
Last updated: 2026-11-05

The world type decides how new terrain generates. It only applies when a **new** world is made, so set it before your first start, or reset the world afterwards.

## World types

| `level-type` | What you get |
|---|---|
| `minecraft:normal` | The default world |
| `minecraft:flat` | A flat world |
| `minecraft:large_biomes` | Biomes four times larger |
| `minecraft:amplified` | Huge mountains (uses more CPU and memory) |

## Change it

1. In **Console**, click **Stop**.
2. Go to **Backups** and create a backup if you have a world you might want back.
3. Open **Files** and click **`server.properties`** to open the **Minecraft Server Properties** editor.
4. Set **`level-type`** to one of the values above.
5. Make a new world: rename or delete the `world`, `world_nether` and `world_the_end` folders, or set `level-name` to a new name.
6. Save and click **Start**.

## Custom flat worlds

For a flat world with your own layers, set `level-type` to `minecraft:flat` and put the layers in `generator-settings`:

```
{"layers":[{"block":"minecraft:bedrock","height":1},{"block":"minecraft:stone","height":10},{"block":"minecraft:grass_block","height":1}],"biome":"minecraft:plains"}
```

> [!WARNING]
> Changing the type doesn't change a world that's already been generated. Back up and reset the world to use the new type.