How to Update a Vault Hunters Server | Safer 2026 Guide
Vault Hunters updates carry a real risk a lot of other modpacks don't: the vault progression system itself has been known to reset on specific updates. A backup and a changelog read turn that from a disaster into a non-event.
New to hosting it? The Vault Hunters hosting guide covers RAM and first-boot basics. Running Vault Hunters 2nd Edition instead? See the Vault Hunters 2 update guide. See also the Vault Hunters pack page.
1. Back up before you read the changelog
Do this first, not after you've decided the update looks safe. Vault Hunters' progression systems are complex enough that a backup is the only thing standing between a bad update and lost hours.
2. Read the changelog for removed mods specifically
Most update notes focus on what's new. What matters more for an existing world is what got removed — a dropped mod can leave orphaned blocks, items or vault data sitting in the world with nothing to load them.
If a mod your world depends on is gone, that's a reason to hold off, not just update and see what happens.
3. Install the new pack clean, don't layer it
- Install the new version into a clean mods folder rather than copying it over the existing install.
- Leftover jars from the previous version are a classic cause of crashes that get wrongly blamed on the world itself.
- Carry over server.properties, configs and kubejs files deliberately — don't assume they survive an overwrite intact.
4. Test on a copy before the live update, if you can
Running the update against a duplicate of the world first costs a few extra minutes and catches the update-specific breakage before your players do.
Once the live update is in place, watch the server reach Done on first boot and check that an active vault instance actually opens before calling it finished.
FAQ
Will a Vault Hunters update reset vault progress?+
It can — the vault progression system is one of the specific things known to reset or break on some updates, which is why reading the changelog and backing up before updating matters more here than on a typical tech pack.
Should I install the new version over the old one?+
No. Install the new pack version clean rather than layering it on top of the old install — leftover jars from the previous version are a classic, easily-avoided source of crashes after an update.
What should I check in the changelog before updating?+
Look specifically for removed mods. A mod that disappears between versions can leave orphaned blocks, items or world data behind, which is a different (and messier) problem than a normal mod update.
Update Vault Hunters with a safety net
CoalHost takes an automatic backup before anything server-side changes, so a Vault Hunters update that resets something is a rollback, not a redo.
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