Best way to have two versions installed at the same time?

[Bomboclaat]

After I updated from 1.20.12 to 1.21.0, I did just that. I merely put the install folder somewhere else.

I did this because I want to play on a server that's still in 1.20.12 AND play by myself in 1.21.0.

The issue is both VS 1.20.12 and 1.21.0 now runs with a significant delay in physics (I throw rocks and they freeze mid air and take seconds more to hit the ground instead of right away) and when items or blocks break they take a second or two to appear as their grabbable form instead of instantly, and when i knap stone the stone voxels starts regenerating for a bit before it decides to destroy itself and then finally turn into a knife.

Vintage Story is originally Appdata/Roaming with the OG Vintage Story install file but on my second install I put the game in Saved Games as you can see in the images.

I then swapped the "Vintagestory" install folders but they run just the same. I also never touched the "VintagestoryData" folder.

I want to have my cake and eat it too when it comes to playing singleplayer on 1.21 and multiplayer on 1.20.

How do I fix this? Would it be possible for me to move the VintagestoryData folder and have things still work?
I am currently still messing around with things but hopefully someone here already has an easy solution to my problem.

[Bomboclaat]

Okay I uninstalled the games and got a fresh install of both and they work just fine by themselves.
Though when I tried to run Vintagestory together with VintagestoryData from the "Saved Games" folder instead of the "Roaming" folder, a new VintagestoryData appeared in Roaming.
I assume the issue is conflict with 1.20 and 1.21 when it comes to the Vintagestory Data folder that they both share.

How do I go about running the versions of the game while keeping those folders separate without making a new user profile on windows? I assume that's one solution but I don't want to do that. I don't want to repeatedly swap out VintagestoryData every time I run and close the game either.

Admittedly this is probably a tough question, that's why I'm forced to ask for help but still... anybody got any ideas? Has this problem been solved here before already?

*edit Ah yeah I remember Minecraft has a feature where you can seamlessly switch versions. Is that somehow possible to do yet for VS somehow or no? It doesn't have to be in game.
 

Edited August 30, 2025 by Bomboclaat
mentioning Minecraft feature

[Bomboclaat]

Never mind. I asked ChatGPT for help and it actually gave me quite a good solution with ".bat" files. I'll share em with you if you care to use em.

For sure it will help some of you stuck on servers in older versions but also want to play on the current version at the given time as well.

When running these .bat files always be sure to run as Administrator or you won't be able to access your save data

The .bat files simply copies over the contents of the "VintagestoryData" folder backed up elsewhere with the "VintagestoryData" in Appdata\Roaming.

I can now switch between the two versions of the game seamlessly on the click of an icon and keep my progress as well.

 

My .bat file for running 1.20.12 - "VS 1.20.12.bat" 

@echo off
REM Remove existing VintagestoryData link/folder
rmdir "C:\Users\14077\AppData\Roaming\VintagestoryData" /s /q

REM Link AppData\Roaming\VintagestoryData to the 1.20.12 folder
mklink /D "C:\Users\14077\AppData\Roaming\VintagestoryData" "C:\Users\14077\Desktop\games\Vintage Story 1.20.12\VintagestoryData"

REM Launch Vintage Story 1.20.12
start "" "C:\Users\14077\Desktop\games\Vintage Story 1.20.12\Vintagestory\Vintagestory.exe"
exit

 

My .bat file for running 1.21.0 - "VS 1.21.0.bat" 

@echo off
REM Remove existing VintagestoryData link/folder
rmdir "C:\Users\14077\AppData\Roaming\VintagestoryData" /s /q

REM Link AppData\Roaming\VintagestoryData to the 1.21.0 folder
mklink /D "C:\Users\14077\AppData\Roaming\VintagestoryData" "C:\Users\14077\Desktop\games\Vintage Story 1.21.0\VintagestoryData"

REM Launch Vintage Story 1.21.0
start "" "C:\Users\14077\Desktop\games\Vintage Story 1.21.0\Vintagestory\Vintagestory.exe"
exit

 

How to make the .bat files run as Administrator every time without needing to right click

Step 1: Save the batch files

Save LaunchVersion1.bat and LaunchVersion2.bat somewhere safe (for example: C:\Games\Launchers\).

Don’t put them directly on your desktop yet — shortcuts work better.

Step 2: Create shortcuts

Right-click each .bat file → Send to → Desktop (create shortcut).

You’ll now see LaunchVersion1.bat - Shortcut and LaunchVersion2.bat - Shortcut on your desktop.

Step 3: Force “Run as administrator”

Right-click the shortcut → Properties.

Go to the Shortcut tab.

Click Advanced….

Check Run as administrator → OK → Apply.

Now, double-clicking the shortcut will always launch as admin (no right-click needed).

 

Hopefully someone will see this and solve their own or at least one other vintage gamers problem with this specific issue.

Edited August 31, 2025 by Bomboclaat
added content on how it works

[Mrozak]

The absolute best way is to use some process sandbox which allows for separation of data and/or the installation folder and... well, everything/anything.

Judging by your seeming need to use help from ChatGPT, this may be too advanced for you, but if i am wrong, have a look at https://sandboxie-plus.com/
...the free version lacks security/hardening features, but that is not what you asked for anyway, and for the process/data separation it will work fine.

[idiomcritter]

if you have the patients to read the wall of text, this topic has been discussed here:

there is also a few mods that attempt to manage this issue as well (VS Launcher to name one i've used)

personally, under windows, i setup a second windows account, and toggle between the two depending on which version and settings i am wanting to play....

[Bomboclaat]

2 hours ago, idiomcritter said:

there is also a few mods that attempt to manage this issue as well (VS Launcher to name one i've used)

Even though I (ChatGPT) already solved the issue in my own way, the "easy solution to my problem" I was looking for was exactly something like VS Launcher.

Thank you very much! I appreciate the help. I will use it in the future once the next major update drops.

I don't really want to have to rely on two separate launchers for the game forever either way!