Where Are My Games Saved?
As a gaming enthusiast, you’ve probably found yourself wondering where your progress is saved, especially in the middle of an important quest or mission. Save files are crucial to reliving the excitement and making progress in your favorite video games. In this article, we’ll explore how to locate your saved game files on various platforms.
PC (Steam, GoG, etc)
For PC gamers who use Steam, GoG, or other platforms other than Microsoft Game Store (more on that later!), the default location for game saves is the "AppDataLocalLow" directory. Enter the folder of the specific game you’re playing in this directory, and within it, you’ll likely find the "SAVED GAME" (or a similar name dependent on the game) saving the game’s progress data.
Here’s a bullet list of the steps involved:
- Open File Explorer (Win+E)
- Type
shell:LocalLowin the address bar and press Enter
Windows
For traditional Windows games, the common locations for saved games on the C drive are
- "C:Users{username}AppDataLocal", for games that specifically store saves in this file
- "C:Users{username}Documents", for games that save progress in "My Documents" folder structure
You can also browse through the "Saved Games" folder:
- Open File Explorer -> Navigate to "c:users{your_username}Saved Games"{ (or similar); this should contain your recently played games’ save file
Android
With Android devices, saved files are usually stored in two main locations:
- Android’s "Internal SD Card" (visible in the File Manager/Media Manager)
- User’s "Google Account" (accessible remotely through Google Drive)
Search for your game’s associated folder in the internal/external storage, and see if it has a respective save folder. For added convenience, you can usually find save files in Google Drive by connecting your Android device to WiFi and searching for the ‘Google Drive’ app;
Microsoft Game Store
For games downloaded from the Windows Store (Microsoft Game Store), you’ll find
- "C: Program FilesMicrosoft Games" for recent games (if they maintain a specific save folder named after the game)
You can check the game stores’ settings to see if users can choose a custom ‘Save Game’ location – this varies between games/
External Storage (Multi-platform)
Some consoles and platforms allow you play games directly from external or removable storage devices. Consider the following:
- Your game may be stored along with save files on internal storage
- If necessary, save files might live on external storage devices.
- Keep in mind devices’ limited storage capacity!