Back Up Indie Game Saves Before Switching Devices

Switching to a new PC or laptop doesn’t have to mean losing your progress in Stardew Valley, Hades, or that obscure roguelike you’ve poured 80 hours into. This guide walks you through locating your save files, copying them safely, and restoring them on the new machine—so you can pick up right where you left off.

What You’ll Need

• The old device (the one with your current saves)
• The new device (where you want the saves to appear)
• A way to transfer files: USB flash drive, external hard drive, cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive), or a direct network transfer
• Optional but helpful: a text editor (Notepad, TextEdit) to keep notes

Step-by-Step

1. Identify which games have local saves. Most indie games save locally by default. Check if the game uses Steam Cloud, GOG Galaxy Cloud, or Epic Cloud Saves—if it does, your saves may already sync. But don’t rely on that alone; local backups are safer.
2. Find the save file location. Common places:
   • Windows: %APPDATA% (press Win+R, type %APPDATA%, Enter) or %LOCALAPPDATA%. Many Unity and GameMaker games store saves here in folders named after the developer or game.
   • Steam: steamapps/common/<game name> for some, but most saves are in %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\<game name> or %APPDATA%\<game name>.
   • GOG: Often in Documents\GOG Games\<game name> or the game’s install folder.
   • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/<game name> (in Finder, press Cmd+Shift+G and type the path).
   • Linux: ~/.config/<game name> or ~/.local/share/<game name>.
3. Search for known save file extensions. If you’re unsure, look for files with extensions like .sav, .dat, .json, .save, or a folder named “Saves”. You can also search the game’s name in File Explorer or Spotlight.
4. Check the game’s wiki or community hub. For popular indie games, a quick search like “<game name> save file location” will give you the exact path. Sites like PCGamingWiki are reliable.
5. Copy the entire save folder. Don’t just copy a single file—games often store settings, screenshots, and multiple save slots in the same folder. Right-click the folder and select Copy (or press Ctrl+C / Cmd+C).
6. Paste it to your transfer medium. Plug in your USB drive or open your cloud storage folder, then paste (Ctrl+V / Cmd+V). Keep the folder structure intact—don’t rename the folder or extract files individually.
7. On the new device, install the game first. Install the game via the same platform (Steam, GOG, Epic) and launch it once to generate default folders. Close the game completely.
8. Navigate to the same save location on the new device. Use the same path you found in step 2. If the folder doesn’t exist, create it (e.g., %APPDATA%\MyGame).
9. Copy your backup files into that folder. Overwrite any existing files when prompted. If the game asks about cloud sync, choose “Upload” or “Keep local files” depending on which version is newer—usually your backup is newer, so keep local.
10. Launch the game and verify. Load your save and check that your progress, settings, and unlockables are all there. If something’s missing, double-check the folder path and file names.

Common Mistakes

• Only copying one save file. Many games have multiple slots or separate files for settings, achievements, or world data. Copy the whole folder.
• Renaming folders or files. The game expects specific names. Keep them exactly as they were.
• Forgetting cloud sync conflicts. If the game has cloud saves, the new device may overwrite your local files with older cloud data. Disable cloud sync or choose “local” when prompted during the first launch.
• Copying to the wrong platform folder. A Steam save won’t work if you switch to GOG or Epic—the game may look in a different folder. Stick to the same platform if possible.
• Not backing up before uninstalling. If you’ve already uninstalled the game, the saves might still be in AppData, but if you used a cleaner tool, they could be gone. Always back up before uninstalling.

Tips

• Use a dedicated backup folder. Create a folder like GameSavesBackup on your USB drive and organize by game name and date.
• Take advantage of cloud saves. Even if you back up manually, enable Steam Cloud or GOG Galaxy Cloud for extra safety. But remember, cloud isn’t a substitute for a local copy.
• Check for modded saves. If you use mods, the save may reference mod files. Copy the mods too, or the save might not load correctly.
• Make a text note. Write down the exact path you used for each game. It’ll save time if you need to do this again.
• Test the backup before wiping the old device. Once you’ve verified the save works on the new device, you can safely delete or reformat the old one.

Troubleshooting

• Save isn’t showing up. Double-check the folder path. Some games use a numbered folder (e.g., steamapps/common/MyGame/saves vs Documents/My Games/MyGame). Search your new device for a file name you know from the old one.
• Game crashes on load. The save may be corrupted or from a different game version. Try loading an older backup, or update the game to the same version as before.
• Cloud sync overwrites your backup. Disable cloud sync in the game’s properties (Steam: right-click game → Properties → Updates → disable Steam Cloud). Then copy your files again.
• Files are there but the game says “No saves found”. The game might be looking for a subfolder you didn’t copy. Check the game’s wiki for the exact file structure, or copy the entire parent folder (e.g., copy MyGame instead of just the Saves subfolder).
• Permission errors on macOS/Linux. Right-click the folder → Get Info (macOS) or check permissions in terminal. Ensure the game user has read/write access.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to back up saves if the game uses Steam Cloud?

Not strictly, but it’s safer. Cloud saves can fail to sync, or you might have local-only mods that don’t transfer. A manual backup takes minutes and gives you full control.

Can I transfer saves between different platforms (Steam to GOG)?

Sometimes, but not always. The save file format is often the same, but the folder location differs. You can try copying the save files to the new platform’s folder, but some games check for platform-specific metadata. It’s best to stick to the same platform.

What if I can’t find the save folder at all?

Search your entire user folder for the game’s name, or check the game’s official wiki. If it’s a very old game, it might save in the game’s install folder (e.g., steamapps/common/MyGame).

Is it safe to edit save files to transfer them?

Generally, no. Editing can corrupt the save. Only copy and paste the original files. If you need to move a save from one platform to another, try just copying the folder first.

How do I know if a game saves locally vs in the cloud?

Check the game’s store page—Steam shows a “Cloud Saves” icon. Or look for a “Save” option in the game’s settings. If you’re unsure, just back up the local files anyway.

What about games that save to a registry or system folder?

Very few indie games do this. If you suspect it, search the registry (regedit) for the game’s name, but be careful—editing the registry can break things. Usually, copying the AppData folder is enough.

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