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How to Back Up Crimson Desert Saves Before Installing DLC

Copy your Crimson Desert save folder to separate storage before installing DLC. Here are the Windows and Mac paths and cloud-sync precautions.

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Make a separate copy of your current Crimson Desert save before installing DLC. Pearl Abyss recommends keeping save files on another drive or external storage so you have a recovery copy if files are accidentally overwritten or corrupted. Its notice does not say that installing DLC itself damages saves, so treat this as a sensible precaution—not a DLC-specific fix.

Back up your Crimson Desert save on PC or Mac

  1. Save your current progress in the game. Crimson Desert supports automatic and manual saves; Pearl Abyss recommends saving frequently and keeping multiple save files.
  2. Open the save folder for your platform and version:
    • Windows: C:Users[Username]AppDataLocalPearl AbyssCDsave
    • Mac, Steam version: ~/Library/Application Support/Pearl Abyss/CD/save
    • Mac, App Store version: ~/Library/Containers/com.pearlabyss.CrimsonDesert/Data/Library/Application Support/Pearl Abyss/CD/save

    These are the locations listed by Pearl Abyss Support; on Mac, use the path matching the version you installed.

  3. Copy the numeric-name subfolder inside save. Pearl Abyss identifies this folder as containing the in-game saves. Put the copy on a different drive, an external storage device, or a USB flash drive—not in the game’s save directory. An existing external drive is fine; no particular product is required.
  4. Wait for cloud synchronization to finish before closing the game client or shutting down. Pearl Abyss warns that closing Steam too quickly can prevent an upload from completing.
  5. Install the DLC, then check your game and save. Confirm that your current progress loads as expected before you discard the separate copy. This final check is a conservative precaution, not a DLC procedure specified by Pearl Abyss.

Where are Crimson Desert save files located?

The default Windows location is C:Users[Username]AppDataLocalPearl AbyssCDsave. Mac installations have separate paths for Steam and the App Store, so use the matching path in the steps above. The numeric-name folder inside save is the one to copy for an independent backup.

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How to restore a backup without risking newer progress

Pearl Abyss says to copy the backup files back into the same save directory if recovery is needed. Before replacing anything, check local and cloud save dates and times if a conflict prompt appears. A cloud copy can be older than local progress and may overwrite it; do not choose an option blindly.

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Cloud-save precautions by platform

Steam

Wait until Steam Cloud synchronization is complete before quitting Steam or shutting down. If you played offline, verify that the latest local progress has uploaded before installing an update or launching online.

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PlayStation

When local and cloud saves conflict, compare the dates and times shown for the console and cloud copies before choosing one. Pearl Abyss also advises checking sync status from the PlayStation home screen and not putting the console into rest mode immediately after exiting while an upload is still underway.

Xbox and other console saves

Pearl Abyss mentions Xbox cloud saves, but its notice does not establish a manual console-export procedure. The PC and Mac folder paths above do not apply to console saves.

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Does cross-save replace a separate backup?

No. Pearl Abyss added cross-save support in Update 1.14, released July 16, 2026, but cross-save is not the same as keeping an independent copy on separate storage. Maintain the file backup as an additional recovery point.

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