Renpy Game Save Location Guide

Where Are Your Ren’Py Saves? A Complete Guide Whether you are looking to backup your progress, transfer saves to a new computer, or clear out old data for a fresh start, finding where

games hide their save files can be tricky. Because the engine is cross-platform, the location changes depending on whether you are on a PC, a Mac, or a mobile device.

Here is exactly where to find your save files and persistent data on every major platform. Quick Summary of Locations Save Path Location %APPDATA%/RenPy/ or within the game’s own folder ~/Library/RenPy/ Android/data/com.domain.gamename/files/saves 1. Windows: The Dual-Folder System Ren’Py often stores saves in two places simultaneously, which can cause confusion.

Finding the Ren'Py game save location is essential for backing up progress, transferring saves to a new computer, or troubleshooting game errors. Depending on your operating system, the Ren'Py engine stores save data in specific system folders rather than just inside the game’s installation directory. Quick Summary of Save Locations Primary Save Path Windows %APPDATA%/RenPy/ macOS ~/Library/RenPy/ Linux ~/.renpy/ Android

/Android/data/[package.name]/files/saves or Documents/RenPy_Saves/ 1. Windows Save Location

On Windows, Ren'Py typically saves data in the hidden AppData folder. Standard Path: %APPDATA%\RenPy\ How to access: Press the Windows Key + R to open the "Run" dialog. Type %appdata% and hit Enter. Locate the folder named RenPy.

Inside, you will find subfolders named after specific games (e.g., GameName-1234567890) containing your .save files.

Note: Some older games or specific builds may also keep a secondary copy in the game/saves folder within the game's installation directory. 2. macOS Save Location

Mac users will find their Ren'Py saves tucked away in the user library. Standard Path: ~/Library/RenPy/ How to access: Open Finder. renpy game save location

Press Command + Shift + G to open the "Go to Folder" window. Paste ~/Library/RenPy/ and press Enter. 3. Linux Save Location

On Linux, save data is stored in a hidden directory within your home folder. Standard Path: ~/.renpy/ How to access: Open your file manager (like Nautilus or Dolphin). Navigate to your Home directory.

Press Ctrl + H to toggle hidden files. Look for the .renpy folder. 4. Android & Mobile Locations

Finding saves on Android can be more complex due to varying file permissions. Standard Paths: /Android/data/[com.developer.gamename]/files/saves Internal Storage/Documents/RenPy_Saves/

Access: Use a high-level file explorer (like ZArchiver) to navigate to the Android/data folder. Note that newer Android versions (11+) may restrict access to these folders without specific permissions. 5. Steam Save Locations

If you are playing a Ren'Py game through Steam, the engine often utilizes Steam Cloud.

Local Backup Path: Steam usually still saves to the standard OS paths listed above, but it may also store metadata in your Steam installation directory:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\[YourSteamID]\[AppID]\remote Why are there two save folders? Where Are Your Ren’Py Saves

You might notice a saves folder inside the game directory and another in AppData. Ren'Py often creates a local game/saves folder for convenience, but the system AppData folder is the authoritative location used by the engine to ensure saves aren't lost if you delete or update the game folder.

Need help transferring saves between devices? Just let me know which platforms you're moving between!

Question about save location · Issue #4186 · renpy ... - GitHub

How to Display Save Location In-Game (as a Feature)

Add an info screen accessible from the preferences or about menu.

Troubleshooting

• I can't find the AppData folder (Windows): The AppData folder is hidden. Ensure you have "Hidden items" checked in the "View" tab of File Explorer, or use the %APPDATA% run command method described above.
• The game isn't saving: Ensure you have write permissions for the folders listed above. Running the game as Administrator (Windows) can sometimes resolve permission issues.
• Moving Saves: To transfer saves to a new computer, simply copy the specific game folder from the old computer and paste it into the RenPy folder on the new computer.

Backing Up Manually

1. Navigate to the save location for your OS.
2. Copy the entire game-named folder (e.g., MyGreatVisualNovel).
3. Paste it to a backup location: cloud drive, USB, or external HDD.

Method 1: Using the Run Command (Fastest)

1. Press Windows Key + R on your keyboard to open the "Run" dialog box.
2. Paste the following command exactly: %APPDATA%\RenPy
3. Click OK.
4. Open the folder with the name of the game you are playing.
5. Inside, you will find the saves folder.

Conclusion

The default Ren’Py game save location varies by OS, but the pattern is consistent:

• Windows: %APPDATA%\RenPy\[GameName]\saves
• macOS: ~/Library/RenPy/[GameName]/saves
• Linux: ~/.renpy/[GameName]/saves
• Android: Android/data/[package]/files/saves (or root /RenPy)

Bookmark this guide. Next time you finish a breathtaking visual novel and want to preserve your journey before wiping your PC, you’ll know exactly where to dig. Take five minutes now to locate and back up your saves – your future self will thank you.

Happy reading, and may your choices always lead to the true ending.

game saves are typically stored in two primary locations depending on the operating system and whether the game was configured to use a "local" or "system-wide" save directory. Windows How to Display Save Location In-Game (as a

On Windows, Ren'Py games usually save data in one of these two places:

AppData (Recommended): Most modern Ren'Py games use the system-wide path to ensure saves aren't lost if you delete the game folder.

%APPDATA%/RenPy/ (usually C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\RenPy\)

Local Game Folder: Some games (especially older or portable versions) save directly within their own directory. [Game Folder]/game/saves/ macOS

Mac users can find their save data hidden in the Library folder: ~/Library/RenPy/ ~/Library/Application Support/RenPy/ Linux

Ren'Py follows standard hidden directory conventions on Linux: ~/.renpy/

Alternatively, check ~/.config/renpy/ if the developer has opted for XDG specifications. Android

If you are playing a Ren'Py port on mobile, the path is generally: /Android/data/[package.name]/files/saves/ How to Identify the Specific Folder

Ren'Py creates a unique subfolder for each game based on the config.save_directory defined by the developer. This folder is usually named after the game (e.g., .../RenPy/GameName-123456789/).

Pro Tip: If you can't find the folder, open the game and look at the "About" or "Preferences" screen; some developers include a "Open Save Directory" button. You can also search your computer for a file named persistent, which is the core file Ren'Py uses to track unlocks and progress across all save slots.