How do I pause or freeze a server without deleting it or losing data? — Minecraft

There's no hibernate or pause button, but you do have two practical ways to take a break without losing your world. This article compares them so you can pick the right one.

Your two options

Keep the service active and just stop the server in the Console when you're not using it. It uses no resources while stopped, but the service still bills as normal.
Download a full backup and cancel if you want to stop paying — then re-upload to a fresh server later.

How to do each

To pause without losing anything (still billed): open the Console and Stop the server. It stays yours and starts instantly when you're back.
To stop paying: download a full backup first (Files/SFTP), then cancel the service. Later, order a new server and re-upload your backup.

Warning: Cancelling deletes the server's files. Always download a full backup before you cancel if you plan to come back.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a hibernate or freeze feature? No. Your options are stopping the server (still billed) or backing up and cancelling (stops billing).

Does stopping the server save money? No — the service bills as normal while stopped. Stopping only frees the server's resources; it stays yours.

How do I come back after cancelling? Order a new server and re-upload the full backup you saved before cancelling.