On a Windows PC, your Cyberpunk 2077 saves are normally in %userprofile%Saved GamesCD Projekt RedCyberpunk 2077. Close the game, copy that entire Cyberpunk 2077 folder to another location—preferably a different drive or removable device—and leave the original untouched while you install and test mods. If you need to roll back, copy the backed-up save files into a newly created folder at the same path.
This procedure protects your existing characters, but it does not make every mod compatible. Mod support, launcher cloud synchronization and save-folder locations differ by platform and can change with game updates, so the instructions below focus on the documented Windows PC workflow.
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What to back up before modding
Back up the complete Cyberpunk 2077 save folder, not just one apparently current file. The folder can contain several manual saves, autosaves and quick saves for different characters. Keeping the whole folder preserves your available restore points and avoids guessing which file belongs to which playthrough.
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The documented Windows location is:
%userprofile%Saved GamesCD Projekt RedCyberpunk 2077
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The %userprofile% variable points to your Windows user account. You do not need to replace it with a name manually; File Explorer and the Run dialog resolve it for you.
Save folder versus game installation folder
Your saves and your installed game files are separate. The save backup belongs under your Windows user profile, while REDmod-compatible files go in the game’s installation directory, specifically its mods folder. A backup placed in the installation directory is not a substitute for a separate copy of the save folder, and a mod copied into the save directory will not be installed correctly.
This distinction also matters during troubleshooting. Restoring saves can return your characters to an earlier state, but it does not remove incompatible mod files from the game installation. Handle those files according to each mod’s removal instructions or the launcher and game’s clean-install procedure.
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1. Close Cyberpunk 2077 completely
Exit to the desktop before copying anything. A running game may still be writing an autosave or changing metadata while Windows is copying the folder. Closing the game is a practical file-handling precaution that gives you a stable set of files to duplicate.
2. Open the save folder
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog, or open File Explorer.
- Paste
%userprofile%Saved GamesCD Projekt RedCyberpunk 2077into the address field. - Press Enter. File Explorer should open the folder containing your local Cyberpunk 2077 saves.
If the path does not open, check that the game has been launched at least once on this Windows account. Also check spelling and capitalization of the folder names. Do not create a replacement folder merely because you entered a path incorrectly; first confirm that you are looking under the correct Windows user profile.
3. Copy the complete folder
- In File Explorer, go up one level so that the
Cyberpunk 2077folder itself is selected. - Right-click the folder and choose Copy.
- Open a destination outside the active save path and choose Paste.
Copying the folder, rather than moving it, leaves the working saves in their expected location. Never rename, move or delete the only original copy as part of the backup operation.
4. Use a clear backup name
Rename the copied folder with a date and purpose, for example Cyberpunk 2077 - pre-mod backup - 2026-10-13. A dated label matters when you later make several backups for different mod sets or game versions. Keep the label outside the original save directory so the game does not mistake the backup for active saves.
5. Prefer separate storage when practical
CD PROJEKT RED’s clean-install guidance recommends a different hard drive or an external device when possible, naming an SD card as an example. An external hard drive for a separate backup is optional, not a requirement: a spare internal drive, removable storage or another location you already own can be sufficient. The cited guidance does not specify a required capacity, speed, manufacturer or model.
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Do not place the only backup inside the same folder you are modifying, and avoid relying on a second copy on the same physical drive as your sole protection. If that drive fails or the installation is replaced, both copies could be lost.
6. Compare practical destination options
| Destination | Cost consideration | Strength | Pitfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spare internal drive | No new cost if you already own one | Convenient for frequent dated copies | It can be lost with the PC if the computer or drive fails |
| External hard drive | Purchase cost varies; buying one is optional | Separate physical location and ample room for multiple backups | Must be connected and kept somewhere safe |
| SD card or other removable storage | Use existing media or buy it separately | Portable and easy to store away from the computer | Small removable devices can be misplaced or damaged |
These are practical trade-offs, not a requirement to buy hardware. CD PROJEKT RED specifically gives a different drive or external device, including an SD card, as examples. Choose the option that leaves at least one intact copy outside the active save location.
7. Verify the copy before installing mods
- Open the dated backup and confirm that it contains the expected save files and subfolders.
- Check the folder’s properties to ensure Windows finished copying rather than reporting an error.
- Keep the original and backup visibly separate in File Explorer.
- For an especially important playthrough, make a second copy on another device before experimenting.
These checks do not test whether a save is valid inside the game; they confirm that a separate, readable copy exists before you alter the installation.
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Where mod files belong
Backups protect saves, while mod installation changes game files. Those are related operations but not the same folder. CD PROJEKT RED’s REDmod documentation says: “New, REDmod compatible mods should be placed in the Cyberpunk 2077mods folder.” REDmod-compatible packages can be enabled or disabled through supported controls in REDlauncher or GOG Galaxy.
Older mods that use the archive folder can continue to load, but they do not appear in the REDmod menu. A mod’s own installation instructions take priority because not every mod uses the same path or packaging method. Do not put a mod in the save folder, and do not put your save backup in the game’s installation directory unless you have another independent copy elsewhere.
Keep a record of the mod state
Before installing the first mod, record the game version, launcher, mod names and installation locations in a text file next to (not inside) your dated save backup. This is a practical way to remember which character state belongs to which mod set. Include whether each item is REDmod-compatible or an older archive-based mod, since those types are managed differently.
Make the note part of your backup routine whenever you create a new dated copy. A save from one game version may not be the right test case for a different mod set, and the record helps you reproduce the conditions that produced a problem.
Cloud saves: avoid overwriting the known-good copy
Launchers may synchronize saves, but the available controls and conflict behavior are not universal. CD PROJEKT RED’s clean-install instructions tell users performing that procedure to disable cloud saves and re-enable them afterward if desired. For a routine pre-mod backup, check your launcher’s current cloud-save setting and understand which copy it will upload or download.
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The safest practice is to treat the dated local folder as authoritative while you are testing:
- Do not assume that a cloud copy is identical to the local files you just backed up.
- Do not let an unfamiliar synchronization prompt overwrite the dated backup.
- If the launcher offers a conflict choice, pause and identify the local and cloud timestamps before selecting one.
- Keep the backup outside any folder that the launcher monitors for automatic synchronization.
The available support material does not define one cloud-conflict procedure that works for every launcher, so follow the prompts shown by your installed launcher and preserve the local backup independently.
Install mods only after the backup is secure
Check compatibility with your game version
Game updates can change the files on which mods depend. GOG support advises waiting for the modding community to update mods after a new version is released. Before installing or re-enabling a mod, check its stated game-version support and its installation instructions. A save backup cannot make a mod built for another game version compatible.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWhen an update has just installed, record the new version before changing anything else. If a mod page has not yet confirmed support, waiting is safer than using the dated backup as a test of an unverified combination.
Add one change at a time
For troubleshooting, install a small number of mods, launch the game and test loading your character before adding more. This makes it easier to identify the change associated with a crash or a missing feature. Keep the backup untouched even if the first launch appears successful; problems can surface later when a quest, inventory item or scripted event loads.
Do not confuse a mod failure with save corruption
A crash, missing asset or launch failure can result from an incompatible mod or a changed game version. The cited support pages do not establish that every mod problem corrupts saves. Preserve your dated copy, remove or disable the suspect mod according to its instructions, and test the unmodified installation separately before deciding that the save itself is damaged.
Restore a backed-up save
CD PROJEKT RED’s clean-install instructions describe restoring by copying the saved files into the newly created Cyberpunk 2077 folder at the same user-profile path. Use this sequence when you need to return to the pre-mod state or when a clean installation has created a fresh save directory.
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- Open
%userprofile%Saved GamesCD Projekt RedCyberpunk 2077in File Explorer. - If the folder currently contains newer saves, copy that current folder to a separate dated location first. This gives you a way back if you chose the wrong restore point.
- Open your dated pre-mod backup.
- Copy the backed-up save files into the newly created
Cyberpunk 2077folder. If Windows asks whether to replace files, confirm only after checking that the destination is the intended profile and the backup date is correct. - Start the game and inspect the load menu. Confirm that the expected character and save timestamps are present before continuing to play.
If cloud synchronization is enabled, it may present a conflict after restoration. Stop at that prompt, compare timestamps and choose the local restored files only when they are the known-good set you intend to use. The general support instructions do not prescribe a single choice for every launcher.
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Restoring after a clean install
A clean installation may create a new, empty save directory. In that situation, place the backed-up save files in the newly created folder at the documented user-profile path rather than leaving them nested inside the dated backup directory. Keep the dated copy unchanged until you have launched the game and verified the expected saves.
If the game still shows only new saves, close it again and check for an extra nested folder such as Cyberpunk 2077Cyberpunk 2077. The active folder should contain the save files directly, not another copy of the folder name.
Troubleshooting the backup and restore process
The official path appears empty
- Confirm that you are signed into the Windows account that ran the game.
- Launch the game once, exit normally, and check the path again.
- Use File Explorer’s address bar or the Run dialog with the exact variable path rather than browsing to a similarly named folder.
- Check whether your launcher or Windows profile redirects user folders; the documented path is for the standard Windows arrangement.
Windows says a file is in use
Exit the game, launcher and any related process that may still be writing saves, then retry the copy. If the warning persists, restart Windows before copying. Do not force-delete or move a file simply to complete the backup.
The restored saves do not appear
- Verify that the files were copied into the active user’s
Cyberpunk 2077folder, not into the backup folder itself. - Check that you copied the save files from the dated backup and did not add an extra nested
Cyberpunk 2077directory. - Review any launcher cloud prompt; a newer cloud set may have replaced the local files.
- Close the game, restore again from the known-good copy and relaunch.
The game crashes after mods are installed
Keep the backup untouched. Consult each mod’s installation and compatibility notes, disable or remove the most recent change, and test with a supported game version. If you need to return to the pre-mod state, restore the saved files using the procedure above; restoring saves alone does not remove incompatible game files, so handle mod files separately according to their instructions.
Platform limits and what this guide does not establish
The path in this article is the documented Windows PC location. It should not be presented as a universal path for Linux, macOS or Steam Deck. Those systems may use compatibility-layer prefixes or different user-data layouts. If you play on another platform, consult the platform-specific support documentation and identify its save directory before copying anything.
The cited support pages also do not establish how saves reconcile between every combination of launcher, cloud service and local folder. Treat cloud behavior as launcher-specific, maintain an independent local copy, and avoid making a cloud copy your only backup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A repeatable pre-mod checklist
- Version: Note the installed game version and check that each mod supports it.
- Exit: Close the game before copying.
- Locate: Open
%userprofile%Saved GamesCD Projekt RedCyberpunk 2077. - Copy: Duplicate the complete
Cyberpunk 2077folder. - Separate: Store the copy outside the active folder, preferably on another drive or removable device.
- Label: Add a date and “pre-mod” description.
- Verify: Open the copy and confirm that Windows completed the transfer.
- Install carefully: Follow each mod’s instructions; REDmod packages use the game’s
modsfolder, while older archive-based mods may not appear in REDmod controls. - Preserve: Do not overwrite the dated copy while testing.
- Restore deliberately: Copy the known-good files into the newly created save folder only after confirming the correct Windows profile and backup date.
How often to make a new backup
Make a fresh dated copy before each major mod change, game update, clean-install attempt or large play session that you would not want to repeat. Keep at least one backup from before the current mod set and one recent backup of your unmodified or known-good state. Older copies are useful when a problem is discovered several sessions after installation, so do not delete every previous backup immediately after creating a new one.
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When storage is limited, retain a small rotation rather than deleting the only known-good copy: keep the pre-mod backup, the latest stable backup and any copy made immediately before a major game update. If a mod set proves stable over several sessions, you can archive older copies elsewhere, but never replace the original pre-mod set until you are certain you no longer need it.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly are Cyberpunk 2077 saves on Windows?
Open File Explorer or the Run dialog and enter %userprofile%Saved GamesCD Projekt RedCyberpunk 2077. This is the documented Windows PC location.
Do I need to buy an external hard drive?
No. A separate drive or removable device is recommended when practical, but an external hard drive, SD card or spare storage you already own is optional. No specific capacity, speed or brand is required.
Should I copy one save file or the whole folder?
Copy the complete Cyberpunk 2077 folder. It can contain manual saves, autosaves and quick saves for multiple characters, so copying everything preserves your restore choices.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhere do REDmod files go?
CD PROJEKT RED says new REDmod-compatible mods belong in the game’s Cyberpunk 2077mods folder. They can be managed through supported REDlauncher or GOG Galaxy controls; older archive-based mods may load without appearing in the REDmod menu.
Can a save backup make an incompatible mod safe?
No. Check that every mod supports your installed game version, especially after an update. GOG advises waiting for the modding community to update mods after a new release.
How do I restore the backup?
Close the game, open the documented save path, and copy the backed-up save files into the newly created Cyberpunk 2077 folder. Back up the current folder first if it contains newer saves, and review any cloud-sync conflict before choosing which files to keep.
Why are my restored saves missing?
Check that you used the correct Windows profile, copied files into the active folder rather than the dated backup, and did not create an extra nested Cyberpunk 2077 directory. A launcher may also replace local files through cloud synchronization.
Does this path work on Steam Deck, Linux or macOS?
It is the documented Windows path only. Other platforms can use compatibility-layer prefixes or different layouts, so verify the platform-specific save location before copying files.
The Bottom Line
For Windows PC, close Cyberpunk 2077, copy %userprofile%Saved GamesCD Projekt RedCyberpunk 2077 to a clearly dated location outside the active folder, and keep that copy untouched while testing mods. Use separate storage when practical, check version compatibility after updates, and restore by copying the known-good save files into the same path.
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