Where To Find Save Files For Every Emulator And Custom Firmware? Complete Guide (2026)

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Where to find save files for every emulator and custom firmware is one of the most common questions among retro gaming enthusiasts, Nintendo Switch emulator users, PlayStation emulation fans, and handheld console owners. Save files contain all your game progress, unlocked content, achievements, and custom settings, making them one of the most valuable files in your gaming setup.

Whether you’re using Ryujinx, Yuzu, RPCS3, PPSSPP, Dolphin Emulator, RetroArch, Atmosphère CFW, Luma3DS, or other custom firmware solutions, understanding save file locations can help prevent data loss and make it easier to transfer progress between devices.

In this guide, I’ll explain the actual save locations used by popular emulators and custom firmware platforms based on real-world usage and current emulator structures.

Why Save Files Matter

Where to find save files for every emulator and custom firmware becomes important when you want to:

Migrate from emulator to real hardware

Backup game progress
Transfer saves to another PC
Move saves between emulators
Restore lost data
Share save files with friends
Upgrade hardware without losing progress
Use save editors and cheats
Migrate from emulator to real hardware

Also see: How to Fix“Ryujinx has encountered an error

Best Ryujinx Settings for Low-End PC (2026 Guide)

Understanding Save Files vs Save States

Before locating save data, it is important to understand the difference.

Save Files

Save files are created by the game and are usually stored in dedicated folders. They work across emulator versions and can often be transferred to real hardware.

Examples include:

.sav
.dat
.srm
SaveData folders
User saves archives

Save States

Save states are emulator-specific snapshots.

Examples include:

.state
.ss
.savestate

Save states are useful for quick progress saving, but may break after emulator updates.

For long-term backups, always prioritize actual save files.

Also see: Ryujinx Controller Setup Guide (2026) – Complete Controller Configuration for Xbox, PlayStation, Switch Pro & PC Controllers

Nintendo Switch Emulators

1. Ryujinx Save File Location

Ryujinx save files are stored inside the emulator’s user profile directory.

Windows

C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\Ryujinx\bis\user\save

Linux

~/.config/Ryujinx/bis/user/save

macOS

~/Library/Application Support/Ryujinx/bis/user/save

Quick Method

Open Ryujinx
Right-click a game
Select “Open User Save Directory”

Also see: NSP Files Not Showing Up in Ryujinx? Complete Troubleshooting Guide (2026)

Ryujinx Nintendo Firmware Download (Latest Version)

2. Yuzu Save File Location

Yuzu save files are stored in the NAND user directory.

Windows

C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\yuzu\nand\user\save

Linux

~/.local/share/yuzu/nand/user/save

Quick Method

Open Yuzu
Right-click the game
Click “Open Save Data Location”

Also see: Uzuy Firmware 22.1.0 Download Latest Version (China, Global)

3. Eden Emulator Save File Location

Eden save files generally use a structure similar to Yuzu because it is based on Yuzu’s codebase.

Windows

AppData\Roaming\Eden\nand\user\save

Also see: Eden Prod Keys and Title Keys v22.1.0 Download Latest (2026)

Eden Firmware V22.1.0 ZIP File Download (Latest Versions) 2026

Nintendo 3DS Emulator

Citra Save File Location

Citra save files are usually stored inside the NAND folder.

Windows

C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\Citra\nand

Portable Version

Citra\User\nand

Quick Method

Right Click Game > Open Save Data Location

Nintendo DS Emulators

melonDS Save File Location

melonDS save files are stored in the same folder as the ROM by default.

Example:

Pokemon.nds
Pokemon.sav

Portable installations may keep savings inside:

melonDS\saves

DeSmuME Save File Location

DeSmuME save files are usually stored beside the ROM.

Example:

Game.nds
Game.dsv

PlayStation Emulators

DuckStation Save File Location

DuckStation save files are stored inside the memory card folder.

Windows

Documents\DuckStation\memcards

DuckStation\memcards

PCSX2 Save File Location

PCSX2 save files are located in the memory card folder.

Windows

Documents\PCSX2\memcards

Portable Version

PCSX2\memcards

Extensions:

.ps2

RPCS3 Save File Location

RPCS3 save files are stored inside the virtual PS3 hard drive.

Windows

RPCS3\dev_hdd0\home\00000001\savedata

PPSSPP Save File Location

PPSSPP save files are located in the PSP folder.

Windows

Documents\PPSSPP\PSP\SAVEDATA

Android

PSP\SAVEDA

Xbox Emulators

Xenia Save File Location

Xenia save files are typically stored inside the content folder.

Documents\Xenia\content

Depending on the game version, save locations may vary.

Retro Console Emulators

RetroArch Save File Location

RetroArch save files are usually found in:

RetroArch\saves

Save States:

RetroArch\states

You can verify the location through:

Settings > Directory > Save Files

MAME Save File Location

MAME save files are stored in:

MAME\nvram

and

MAME\sta

for save states.

Nintendo Wii and GameCube Emulators

Dolphin Save File Location

Dolphin save files are located in:

Windows

Documents\Dolphin Emulator\GC

GameCube Memory Cards:

Documents\Dolphin Emulator\GC

Wii Saves:

Documents\Dolphin Emulator\Wii\title

Luma3DS (Nintendo 3DS CFW)

Luma3DS save files remain inside the console NAND.

Most users access saves using:

Checkpoint
JKSM

Backup folders:

SD Card\3ds\Checkpoint\saves

Save File Extensions by Emulator

Emulator	Save Extension
Ryujinx	Save Folder
Yuzu	Save Folder
Citra	Save Folder
melonDS	.sav
DeSmuME	.dsv
Dolphin	.gci, .raw
PCSX2	.ps2
PPSSPP	Save Folder
DuckStation	.mcd
RetroArch	.srm
RPCS3	Save Folder

How to Back Up Emulator Save Files

Where to find save files for every emulator and custom firmware is only useful if you regularly back them up.

Recommended backup methods:

Copy save folders weekly.
Store backups on an external drive.
Use cloud storage.
Keep multiple backup versions.
Backup before emulator updates.
Backup before changing custom firmware.

Common Save File Problems

1. Save Files Missing

Possible causes:

Wrong user profile
Emulator update changed directories
Antivirus removed files
Portable installation moved folders

2. Save Not Detected

Possible causes:

Incorrect folder placement
Different game region
Corrupted save data
Different user account

3. Save File Corruption

Possible causes:

Sudden power loss
Emulator crash
Faulty storage drive
Incomplete file transfer

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find save files for a specific game?

Most emulators allow you to right-click a game and select options such as “Open Save Directory” or “Open User Save Folder.” This is usually the quickest way to locate a game’s save data.

Do emulator updates delete save files?

Normally, emulator updates do not delete save files. However, it is always recommended to back up your saves before updating, especially when switching to a new emulator version.

Can I recover deleted emulator save files?

If a save file was recently deleted, you may be able to recover it using Windows File History, cloud backups, the Recycle Bin, or data recovery software. Success depends on whether the file has been overwritten.

Can I transfer save files between Ryujinx and Yuzu?

Yes, many Nintendo Switch game saves can be transferred between Ryujinx and Yuzu if the game version and user profile are compatible.

Final Thoughts

Where to find save files for every emulator and custom firmware is essential knowledge for every emulator user. Whether you use Ryujinx, Yuzu, Citra, Dolphin, PCSX2, RPCS3, PPSSPP, RetroArch, or custom firmware such as Atmosphère and Luma3DS, knowing the exact save location allows you to safely backup, restore, transfer, and protect your gaming progress. Always create backups before updating an emulator, changing firmware, or moving games to a new device.