Sleep, hibernation and deletion
SwiftServers hosts thousands of free servers on a few machines. That only works because a server nobody is playing on gives its memory and CPU back. Three rules decide when that happens, and all three depend on how long a server goes unused.
Sleep: stopping when empty
Section titled “Sleep: stopping when empty”A server goes to sleep when nobody has been on it for a while. Sleeping is a normal stop. Nothing is lost, and the server starts again as soon as someone joins its address.
| Plan | Sleeps after |
|---|---|
| Free | 5 minutes empty |
| Core, Pro and Ultra | 10 minutes empty |
| 24/7 | Never |
“Empty” means no real players. The panel counts the players actually connected to the server, on Java and Bedrock. What a server reports about itself doesn’t count, so status pings, bots and plugins that fake players don’t keep it awake.
When a paid server is waiting to start and its node is short of memory, empty free servers on that node sleep after 2 minutes instead, to make room.
Hibernation: archiving an unused server
Section titled “Hibernation: archiving an unused server”A free server that stays offline for 7 days can be hibernated. The panel packs its files into a compressed archive in storage and frees the space on the node. The dashboard lists it under Hibernated Servers.
To use it again, click Restore & start on the console or the dashboard. The panel unpacks the files and starts the server. The bigger the server, the longer the restore takes.
While a server is hibernated, its console shows no log and backups are paused. Everything else about it stays the same.
Deletion: removing abandoned free servers
Section titled “Deletion: removing abandoned free servers”A free server that hasn’t been started for 30 days is deleted for good, with its files and backups.
You get warned first:
- The console shows Scheduled for deletion with a countdown.
- The panel reminds you 7, 3 and 1 days before.
- You get one email about 3 days before.
Starting the server once resets the 30 days. Joining it counts, because that starts it.
Paid servers
Section titled “Paid servers”Servers on a paid plan never hibernate and are never deleted for being idle. They still sleep when empty, unless they have 24/7.