Every Rust player knows the rhythm: the first Thursday of the month, Facepunch pushes a mandatory update and every server in the world wipes its map. This is the force wipe. Knowing exactly when it happens lets you plan your farming, raiding and base building around it. Below is the complete force wipe calendar for 2026 with all dates, times and what actually gets reset.
All 2026 force wipe dates
Force wipe always falls on the first Thursday of each month. Facepunch typically rolls out the update between 19:00 and 21:00 CET (18:00 to 20:00 UTC). The exact time varies by up to an hour depending on how smoothly the deployment goes.
| Month | Force wipe date | Expected time (CET) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 1 January 2026 | 19:00 to 21:00 | Completed |
| February | 5 February 2026 | 19:00 to 21:00 | Completed |
| March | 5 March 2026 | 19:00 to 21:00 | Completed |
| April | 2 April 2026 | 19:00 to 21:00 | Completed |
| May | 7 May 2026 | 19:00 to 21:00 | Completed |
| June | 4 June 2026 | 19:00 to 21:00 | Completed |
| July | 2 July 2026 | 19:00 to 21:00 | Completed |
| August | 6 August 2026 | 19:00 to 21:00 | Completed |
| September | 3 September 2026 | 19:00 to 21:00 | Completed |
| October | 1 October 2026 | 19:00 to 21:00 | Upcoming |
| November | 5 November 2026 | 19:00 to 21:00 | Upcoming |
| December | 3 December 2026 | 19:00 to 21:00 | Upcoming |
The next force wipe is 1 October 2026.
What gets wiped during a force wipe
A force wipe is always a map wipe. The following resets:
- The entire map: terrain, monuments and procedural generation start over
- All buildings and deployables
- All player inventories, hotbars and belt items
- Stashes, sleeping bags and respawn points on the map
- Tool cupboard authorisations
- Team data on some servers
Map wipe vs blueprint wipe
A map wipe (which every force wipe includes) removes everything physical from the world. Blueprints are separate. Learned blueprints survive a normal force wipe and carry over to the new map.
A blueprint wipe resets all learned recipes. Facepunch forces a BP wipe a few times per year, usually when a major content update changes the tech tree or progression. These are announced separately. Individual server owners can also wipe blueprints on their own schedule.
In 2026, Facepunch has forced blueprint wipes in January (alongside the new year update) and June. Whether more follow depends on the size of upcoming content patches.
What time exactly?
Facepunch does not publish a fixed clock time. The update goes live when it is ready, typically between 19:00 and 21:00 CET. The process works like this:
- Facepunch pushes the Rust server update to Steam.
- Game servers detect the update and shut down (or admins trigger the shutdown manually).
- The server downloads the new version via SteamCMD.
- Because the save format changes, the old map cannot load. The server starts fresh.
- Players update their game client and reconnect.
The whole process takes 5 to 15 minutes per server, depending on download speed and map size.
How to prepare for force wipe
As a player, there is not much you can do except spend your resources before the wipe hits. A few tips:
- Use your best gear on wipe day eve. It disappears tomorrow anyway.
- Raid if you have boom left. Nothing carries over.
- Download the client update in advance by keeping Steam auto-update on.
- Have your preferred server favourited so you can reconnect quickly.
Setting up automatic wipes on your own server
If you run your own Rust server, you can automate the wipe process so you do not have to be online at 20:00 on a Thursday.
Using a cron job (Linux)
Create a script that stops the server, deletes the save files and restarts:
#!/bin/bash
# rust-wipe.sh
RUST_DIR="/home/rust/server/rust"
# Stop the server gracefully
rcon -a 127.0.0.1:28016 -p "yourpassword" "server.save"
rcon -a 127.0.0.1:28016 -p "yourpassword" "quit"
sleep 10
# Remove map files (keep .db for blueprints)
rm -f "$RUST_DIR"/*.sav
rm -f "$RUST_DIR"/*.sav.*
rm -f "$RUST_DIR"/*.map
# Update the server
steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 258550 validate +quit
# Start the server
cd /home/rust && ./start.shSchedule it with cron for the first Thursday of each month:
# First Thursday of the month at 19:00 CET
0 19 1-7 * 4 /home/rust/rust-wipe.shUsing our game panel
On our Rust hosting, you can schedule wipes from the panel. Set the wipe day, choose whether to include blueprints, and the system handles the rest. The server updates, wipes and restarts without manual intervention.
Blueprint wipe automation
To include a blueprint wipe, also delete the player.blueprints.*.db files in your wipe script. Only do this when you intentionally want to reset progression.
Frequently asked questions
Can I skip a force wipe?
No. The force wipe is tied to the monthly update. The old save format is incompatible with the new server version. Your server will not start on the new version with an old save.
Do all servers wipe at the same time?
They all wipe on the same day. The exact minute depends on when each server admin updates. Official Facepunch servers update first. Community servers follow within minutes to hours.
When is the next force wipe?
The next force wipe is Thursday 1 October 2026, expected between 19:00 and 21:00 CET.
Do I lose my blueprints?
Not during a regular force wipe. Blueprints only reset during an announced blueprint wipe or if the server owner wipes them separately.
Looking for a Rust server that handles wipes automatically? See our plans on Rust hosting. For a deeper look at wipe types and strategies, read our Rust wipe schedule guide.
