How to Transfer Game Saves to a New PC

Learn the manual process for locating, backing up, and restoring game save files when migrating to a new Windows PC.

1. Identify the save file directories. Save data is typically stored in three primary locations: the Documents folder, the AppData folder, or the Saved Games directory. Navigate to %LOCALAPPDATA% and %APPDATA% by typing these commands into the File Explorer address bar. Check the Documents folder and the C:\Users\[YourName]\Saved Games path for specific game titles.
2. Back up the save files. Select the identified save folders or files and copy them to an external drive or cloud storage provider. Ensure you preserve the folder structure, as some games require specific directory hierarchies to recognize save data. Verify that all selected files have successfully copied before proceeding.
3. Install the game on the target PC. Download and install the game on your new PC using your preferred distribution platform. Launch the game at least once to ensure the software creates the necessary directory structures on the new drive. Exit the game completely once the main menu loads.
4. Paste files to the destination directory. Navigate to the corresponding save directory on the new PC. Paste the files you copied from your old machine into this folder. If the system prompts you to replace existing files, select Replace to overwrite the newly generated empty save files with your original data.
5. Launch and confirm data integrity. Open the game and select the option to load your save data. Verify that your progress, inventory, and settings are present. If the game does not recognize the files, ensure you placed the folders in the exact path used by the new installation.