diff --git a/internal/storage/read.go b/internal/storage/read.go
index cc37a998..fed995b3 100644
--- a/internal/storage/read.go
+++ b/internal/storage/read.go
@@ -12,29 +12,30 @@ import (
 	"golang.org/x/text/language"
 )
 
-// readFromFile reads the servers from server.json.
+// readFromFile reads the servers data starting from the given manifest file path.
 // It only reads servers that have the same version as the hardcoded servers version
 // to avoid JSON decoding errors.
-func (s *Storage) readFromFile(filepath string, hardcodedVersions map[string]uint16) (
-	servers models.AllServers, err error,
+func (s *Storage) readFromFile(manifestPath string, hardcodedVersions map[string]uint16) (
+	servers models.AllServers, found bool, err error,
 ) {
-	file, err := os.Open(filepath)
+	file, err := os.Open(manifestPath)
 	if os.IsNotExist(err) {
-		return servers, nil
+		return servers, false, nil
 	} else if err != nil {
-		return servers, err
+		return servers, false, err
 	}
 
 	b, err := io.ReadAll(file)
 	if err != nil {
-		return servers, err
+		return servers, true, err
 	}
 
 	if err := file.Close(); err != nil {
-		return servers, err
+		return servers, true, err
 	}
 
-	return s.extractServersFromBytes(b, hardcodedVersions)
+	servers, err = s.extractServersFromBytes(b, hardcodedVersions)
+	return servers, true, err
 }
 
 func (s *Storage) extractServersFromBytes(b []byte, hardcodedVersions map[string]uint16) (
@@ -46,6 +47,12 @@ func (s *Storage) extractServersFromBytes(b []byte, hardcodedVersions map[string
 	}
 
 	// Note schema version is at map key "version" as number
+	if rawVersion, ok := rawMessages["version"]; ok {
+		err := json.Unmarshal(rawVersion, &servers.Version)
+		if err != nil {
+			return servers, fmt.Errorf("decoding servers schema version: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
 
 	allProviders := providers.All()
 	servers.ProviderToServers = make(map[string]models.Servers, len(allProviders))
@@ -86,25 +93,20 @@ func (s *Storage) readServers(provider string, hardcodedVersion uint16,
 ) {
 	provider = titleCaser.String(provider)
 
-	var versionObject struct {
-		Version uint16 `json:"version"`
+	var metadata struct {
+		Version   uint16 `json:"version"`
+		Timestamp int64  `json:"timestamp"`
+		Filepath  string `json:"filepath"`
 	}
 
-	err = json.Unmarshal(rawMessage, &versionObject)
+	err = json.Unmarshal(rawMessage, &metadata)
 	if err != nil {
 		return servers, false, fmt.Errorf("decoding servers version for provider %s: %w",
 			provider, err)
 	}
 
-	persistedVersion := versionObject.Version
-
-	versionsMatch = hardcodedVersion == persistedVersion
-	if !versionsMatch {
-		s.logger.Info(fmt.Sprintf(
-			"%s servers from file discarded because they have "+
-				"version %d and hardcoded servers have version %d",
-			provider, persistedVersion, hardcodedVersion))
-		return servers, versionsMatch, nil
+	if metadata.Filepath != "" {
+		return s.readServersFromFilepath(provider, metadata.Filepath, hardcodedVersion)
 	}
 
 	err = json.Unmarshal(rawMessage, &servers)
@@ -113,5 +115,55 @@ func (s *Storage) readServers(provider string, hardcodedVersion uint16,
 			provider, err)
 	}
 
-	return servers, versionsMatch, nil
+	versionsMatch = servers.Version == hardcodedVersion
+	if !versionsMatch {
+		if servers.Preferred {
+			s.logger.Warn(fmt.Sprintf(
+				"%s preferred servers from file discarded because they have version %d and hardcoded servers have version %d",
+				provider, servers.Version, hardcodedVersion))
+		} else {
+			s.logger.Info(fmt.Sprintf(
+				"%s servers from file discarded because they have version %d and hardcoded servers have version %d",
+				provider, servers.Version, hardcodedVersion))
+		}
+		return servers, false, nil
+	}
+
+	return servers, true, nil
+}
+
+func (s *Storage) readServersFromFilepath(provider, filepath string, hardcodedVersion uint16) (
+	referencedServers models.Servers, versionsMatch bool, err error,
+) {
+	providerFile, err := os.Open(filepath)
+	if os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		return models.Servers{}, false, nil
+	} else if err != nil {
+		return models.Servers{}, false, fmt.Errorf("opening servers file %s for provider %s: %w",
+			filepath, provider, err)
+	}
+	defer providerFile.Close()
+
+	err = json.NewDecoder(providerFile).Decode(&referencedServers)
+	if err != nil {
+		return models.Servers{}, false, fmt.Errorf("decoding servers file %s for provider %s: %w",
+			filepath, provider, err)
+	}
+
+	versionsMatch = referencedServers.Version == hardcodedVersion
+	if !versionsMatch {
+		if referencedServers.Preferred {
+			s.logger.Warn(fmt.Sprintf(
+				"%s preferred servers from file %s discarded because they have version %d and hardcoded servers have version %d",
+				provider, filepath, referencedServers.Version, hardcodedVersion))
+		} else {
+			s.logger.Info(fmt.Sprintf(
+				"%s servers from file %s discarded because they have version %d and hardcoded servers have version %d",
+				provider, filepath, referencedServers.Version, hardcodedVersion))
+		}
+		return models.Servers{}, false, nil
+	}
+
+	referencedServers.Filepath = filepath
+	return referencedServers, true, nil
 }
diff --git a/internal/storage/read_test.go b/internal/storage/read_test.go
index 20bbe17a..8be4f2ad 100644
--- a/internal/storage/read_test.go
+++ b/internal/storage/read_test.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/golang/mock/gomock"
 	"github.com/qdm12/gluetun/internal/constants/providers"
 	"github.com/qdm12/gluetun/internal/models"
+	"github.com/qdm12/log"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
@@ -27,10 +28,15 @@ func populateProviderToVersion(providerToVersion map[string]uint16) map[string]u
 func Test_extractServersFromBytes(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 
+	type logLine struct {
+		level   log.Level
+		message string
+	}
+
 	testCases := map[string]struct {
 		b                 []byte
 		hardcodedVersions map[string]uint16
-		logged            []string
+		logged            []logLine
 		persisted         models.AllServers
 		errMessage        string
 	}{
@@ -42,7 +48,9 @@ func Test_extractServersFromBytes(t *testing.T) {
 			b:                 []byte(`{"cyberghost": "garbage"}`),
 			hardcodedVersions: populateProviderToVersion(map[string]uint16{}),
 			errMessage: "decoding servers version for provider Cyberghost: " +
-				"json: cannot unmarshal string into Go value of type struct { Version uint16 \"json:\\\"version\\\"\" }",
+				"json: cannot unmarshal string into Go value of type struct { Version uint16 \"json:\\\"version\\\"\"; " +
+				"Timestamp int64 \"json:\\\"timestamp\\\"\"; " +
+				"Filepath string \"json:\\\"filepath\\\"\" }",
 		},
 		"bad servers array JSON": {
 			b: []byte(`{"cyberghost": {"version": 1, "servers": "garbage"}}`),
@@ -81,13 +89,30 @@ func Test_extractServersFromBytes(t *testing.T) {
 			hardcodedVersions: populateProviderToVersion(map[string]uint16{
 				providers.Cyberghost: 2,
 			}),
-			logged: []string{
-				"Cyberghost servers from file discarded because they have version 1 and hardcoded servers have version 2",
+			logged: []logLine{
+				{level: log.LevelInfo, message: "Cyberghost servers from file discarded because they have version 1" +
+					" and hardcoded servers have version 2"},
 			},
 			persisted: models.AllServers{
 				ProviderToServers: map[string]models.Servers{},
 			},
 		},
+		"preferred_different_versions": {
+			b: []byte(`{
+				"cyberghost": {"version": 1, "timestamp": 1, "preferred": true}
+			}`),
+			hardcodedVersions: populateProviderToVersion(map[string]uint16{
+				providers.Cyberghost: 2,
+			}),
+			logged: []logLine{
+				{level: log.LevelWarn, message: "Cyberghost preferred servers from file discarded because they have version 1" +
+					" and hardcoded servers have version 2"},
+			},
+			persisted: models.AllServers{
+				ProviderToServers: map[string]models.Servers{},
+			},
+			errMessage: "",
+		},
 	}
 
 	for name, testCase := range testCases {
@@ -98,7 +123,15 @@ func Test_extractServersFromBytes(t *testing.T) {
 			logger := NewMockLogger(ctrl)
 			var previousLogCall *gomock.Call
 			for _, logged := range testCase.logged {
-				call := logger.EXPECT().Info(logged)
+				var call *gomock.Call
+				switch logged.level { //nolint:exhaustive
+				case log.LevelInfo:
+					call = logger.EXPECT().Info(logged.message)
+				case log.LevelWarn:
+					call = logger.EXPECT().Warn(logged.message)
+				default:
+					t.Fatalf("invalid log level %d in test case", logged.level)
+				}
 				if previousLogCall != nil {
 					call.After(previousLogCall)
 				}
diff --git a/internal/storage/servers.go b/internal/storage/servers.go
index d02eeebb..111ffe64 100644
--- a/internal/storage/servers.go
+++ b/internal/storage/servers.go
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ package storage
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/qdm12/gluetun/internal/constants/providers"
@@ -10,12 +12,12 @@ import (
 
 // SetServers sets the given servers for the given provider
 // in the storage in-memory map and saves all the servers
-// to file.
+// to files.
 // Note the servers given are not copied so the caller must
 // NOT MUTATE them after calling this method.
 func (s *Storage) SetServers(provider string, servers []models.Server) (err error) {
 	if provider == providers.Custom {
-		return
+		return nil
 	}
 
 	s.mergedMutex.Lock()
@@ -26,10 +28,24 @@ func (s *Storage) SetServers(provider string, servers []models.Server) (err erro
 	serversObject.Servers = servers
 	s.mergedServers.ProviderToServers[provider] = serversObject
 
-	err = s.flushToFile(s.filepath)
+	if s.directoryPath == "" {
+		return nil // no disk writing
+	}
+
+	manifestPath := filepath.Join(s.directoryPath, manifestFilename)
+	err = s.flushToFile(manifestPath)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("saving servers to file: %w", err)
 	}
+
+	if !s.hasLegacy() {
+		return nil
+	}
+	s.logger.Infof("removing legacy %s which is now migrated to %s", s.legacyFilepath, s.directoryPath)
+	err = os.Remove(s.legacyFilepath)
+	if err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		s.logger.Warn("failed removing legacy servers file " + s.legacyFilepath + ": " + err.Error())
+	}
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/storage/storage.go b/internal/storage/storage.go
index ab0378f8..88366e11 100644
--- a/internal/storage/storage.go
+++ b/internal/storage/storage.go
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 package storage
 
 import (
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/qdm12/gluetun/internal/models"
@@ -14,31 +16,36 @@ type Storage struct {
 	// SyncServers method.
 	hardcodedServers models.AllServers
 	logger           Logger
-	filepath         string
+	directoryPath    string
+	legacyFilepath   string
 }
 
+const manifestFilename = "manifest.json"
+
 type Logger interface {
 	Info(s string)
+	Infof(format string, args ...any)
 	Warn(s string)
 }
 
 // New creates a new storage and reads the servers from the
-// embedded servers file and the file on disk.
-// Passing an empty filepath disables the reading and writing of
+// embedded servers files and the files on disk.
+// Passing an empty directoryPath disables the reading and writing of
 // servers.
-func New(logger Logger, filepath string) (storage *Storage, err error) {
-	// A unit test prevents any error from being returned
+func New(logger Logger, directoryPath, legacyFilepath string) (storage *Storage, err error) {
+	// A unit test prevents [parseHardcodedServers] from ever failing,
 	// and ensures all providers are part of the servers returned.
-	hardcodedServers, _ := parseHardcodedServers()
+	hardcodedServers := parseHardcodedServers()
 
 	storage = &Storage{
 		hardcodedServers: hardcodedServers,
 		mergedServers:    hardcodedServers,
 		logger:           logger,
-		filepath:         filepath,
+		directoryPath:    directoryPath,
+		legacyFilepath:   legacyFilepath,
 	}
 
-	if filepath != "" {
+	if directoryPath != "" {
 		if err := storage.syncServers(); err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -46,3 +53,18 @@ func New(logger Logger, filepath string) (storage *Storage, err error) {
 
 	return storage, nil
 }
+
+// hasLegacy returns true if the legacy file `legacyFilepath` exists AND is
+// different from the manifest file defined by `directoryPath`/[manifestFilename].
+// This is used to determine if the legacy file should be read and removed after flushing servers data.
+func (s *Storage) hasLegacy() bool {
+	if s.legacyFilepath == "" {
+		return false
+	}
+	if filepath.Clean(filepath.Join(s.directoryPath, manifestFilename)) ==
+		filepath.Clean(s.legacyFilepath) {
+		return false
+	}
+	stat, err := os.Stat(s.legacyFilepath)
+	return err == nil && !stat.IsDir()
+}
diff --git a/internal/storage/sync.go b/internal/storage/sync.go
index de355c9c..540a9895 100644
--- a/internal/storage/sync.go
+++ b/internal/storage/sync.go
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@ package storage
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
+	"path/filepath"
 	"reflect"
 
 	"github.com/qdm12/gluetun/internal/models"
@@ -14,18 +16,31 @@ func countServers(allServers models.AllServers) (count int) {
 	return count
 }
 
-// syncServers merges the hardcoded servers with the ones from the file.
+// syncServers merges the hardcoded servers with the ones from on disk files.
+// It assumes s.directoryPath is set.
 func (s *Storage) syncServers() (err error) {
 	hardcodedVersions := make(map[string]uint16, len(s.hardcodedServers.ProviderToServers))
 	for provider, servers := range s.hardcodedServers.ProviderToServers {
 		hardcodedVersions[provider] = servers.Version
 	}
 
-	serversOnFile, err := s.readFromFile(s.filepath, hardcodedVersions)
+	sourceManifestPath := filepath.Join(s.directoryPath, manifestFilename)
+	destinationManifestPath := sourceManifestPath
+	serversOnFile, found, err := s.readFromFile(sourceManifestPath, hardcodedVersions)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("reading servers from file: %w", err)
 	}
 
+	hasLegacy := s.hasLegacy()
+	if !found && hasLegacy {
+		sourceManifestPath = s.legacyFilepath
+		s.logger.Infof("reading legacy servers file %s and migrating it to directory %s", sourceManifestPath, s.directoryPath)
+		serversOnFile, _, err = s.readFromFile(sourceManifestPath, hardcodedVersions)
+		if err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("reading servers from file: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
 	hardcodedCount := countServers(s.hardcodedServers)
 	countOnFile := countServers(serversOnFile)
 
@@ -34,13 +49,13 @@ func (s *Storage) syncServers() (err error) {
 
 	if countOnFile == 0 {
 		s.logger.Info(fmt.Sprintf(
-			"creating %s with %d hardcoded servers",
-			s.filepath, hardcodedCount))
+			"writing servers data files to %s with %d hardcoded servers",
+			s.directoryPath, hardcodedCount))
 		s.mergedServers = s.hardcodedServers
 	} else {
 		s.logger.Info(fmt.Sprintf(
-			"merging by most recent %d hardcoded servers and %d servers read from %s",
-			hardcodedCount, countOnFile, s.filepath))
+			"merging by most recent %d hardcoded servers and %d servers read from manifest file %s",
+			hardcodedCount, countOnFile, sourceManifestPath))
 
 		s.mergedServers = s.mergeServers(s.hardcodedServers, serversOnFile)
 	}
@@ -50,9 +65,18 @@ func (s *Storage) syncServers() (err error) {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	err = s.flushToFile(s.filepath)
+	err = s.flushToFile(destinationManifestPath)
 	if err != nil {
-		s.logger.Warn("failed writing servers to file: " + err.Error())
+		s.logger.Warn("failed writing servers to destination manifest: " + err.Error())
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	migratedFromLegacy := hasLegacy && sourceManifestPath == s.legacyFilepath
+	if migratedFromLegacy {
+		err = os.Remove(sourceManifestPath)
+		if err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+			s.logger.Warn("failed removing legacy servers file " + sourceManifestPath + ": " + err.Error())
+		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }