Your Witcher 3 saves are normally in %userprofile%DocumentsThe Witcher 3gamesaves. Open that folder in File Explorer, then copy each save’s matching .sav and .png files to another location. For the safest backup, keep a second copy on a different drive or external device rather than relying only on synchronization.
The instructions below cover finding the files, choosing what to copy, backing up before a reinstall, restoring the files, and understanding how manual copies differ from Steam Cloud and the game’s cross-progression feature.
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Where are Witcher 3 saves stored on PC?
On a Windows installation, CD PROJEKT RED documents this save location:
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The path begins with your Windows user profile, so you do not need to know your account folder’s exact name. It points to the Documents directory belonging to the Windows account that plays the game, then to The Witcher 3 and its gamesaves subfolder.
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This is not the game’s installation directory. Looking beside the executable or in the folder where the launcher installed the game will not take you to the documented save location. The official instructions place saves under the user’s Documents folder instead.
Open the folder from File Explorer
- Press Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
- Click the address bar at the top of the window.
- Paste
%userprofile%DocumentsThe Witcher 3gamesaves. - Press Enter.
You can also press Windows key + S, paste the same path into Windows search, and open the resulting folder, as described by CD PROJEKT RED’s support instructions.
What the percent signs mean
%userprofile% is a Windows shortcut for the profile of the account currently in use. Leaving it in the path is useful because it avoids manually typing the profile name. Paste the complete path as written; do not replace the percent signs with a game-installation path.
If the folder does not open
Check that the path was pasted exactly, including the backslashes and the gamesaves folder name. Confirm that you are signed in to the Windows account that owns the Documents folder you are checking. A Documents folder redirected to another location can also change what you see when you browse manually; the documented path is the Windows PC location, not a guarantee for every redirected-folder setup.
If the folder has not appeared yet, launch the game and create a save, then exit and check the documented location again. This does not change the location documented by CD PROJEKT RED; it simply gives the game a save to place there.
The available instructions do not establish a Linux, Proton, or Wine location. Do not assume that a path from one of those environments applies to a native Windows installation.
Which Witcher 3 files should you copy?
CD PROJEKT RED says each save consists of two files with the same name:
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.savfile: the save data..pngfile: the image associated with that save.
For every save you want to preserve, copy both files together. Matching means that the filename before the extension is identical; only .sav and .png differ. Do not select only the image because it is not the playable save data, and do not separate a save from its same-named image when making your archive.
How can I recognize a complete save pair?
Compare the names from left to right, stopping at the extension. If one entry ends in .sav and another ends in .png, the portion before those extensions should match exactly. Keep that pair in the same backup location. If you cannot confidently match individual files, copy the entire folder instead of guessing.
Leave the names and extensions unchanged. The goal of a backup is to preserve the files the game created, not to rename them for convenience. When restoring, place the original pair back in the recreated gamesaves folder.
Copy the whole folder or selected saves?
You have two sensible choices:
- Whole-folder backup: copy the entire
gamesavesfolder. This is the simplest option when you want every available save and do not want to decide which files matter. - Selected-save backup: choose particular save pairs, selecting both the
.savand same-named.pngfor each one. This creates a smaller backup but requires careful matching.
If you are unsure which saves you may need after a reinstall, a whole-folder copy avoids accidentally leaving out an older checkpoint, manual save, or other save type. It also gives you a straightforward folder to restore rather than a collection of individually selected files.
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Make the local copy before uninstalling, deleting folders, or starting a clean-install procedure. The developer’s clean-install guidance specifically says to back up the saves first and, if possible, transfer that backup to a different hard drive or an external device such as an SD card.
The reason for using another destination is separation: if the original Documents location is removed or recreated during troubleshooting, a copy stored there may disappear with it. A second drive, removable device, or other separate storage keeps the preserved files distinct. You do not need a particular brand, capacity, speed, or paid service for this step; any suitable device you already have can work.
Step 1: Close the game
Exit The Witcher 3 normally before copying its files. Closing the game gives you a stable set of files to preserve and avoids copying while a save is being written. If you have just reached an important milestone, make the desired in-game save first, quit, and then perform the copy.
Step 2: Open the save folder
Use the File Explorer path %userprofile%DocumentsThe Witcher 3gamesaves. Leave the original folder in place until you have verified the backup copy. Do not cut or drag the only copy to another drive.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsStep 3: Create a backup destination
Choose a location separate from the original Documents folder. Suitable destinations include another internal drive, an external drive, or an SD card. An existing device is sufficient; the important distinction is that the copy is stored separately from the files you are protecting.
If you use removable storage, keep it connected long enough to finish the copy and verification, then store it somewhere you can find again. The developer’s guidance recommends a different hard drive or external device when possible, but it does not require a specific medium.
Step 4: Copy the files
- For a complete backup, select the
gamesavesfolder and choose Copy. - Open the separate destination and choose Paste.
- For a selective backup, open
gamesaves, select each desired.savfile and its same-named.pngfile, then copy the selected pairs.
Copy rather than move. A move would remove the original files from the location the game uses, while a backup should leave the working saves untouched.
Step 5: Verify the copy
Open the destination after copying and check that the files are present. For each preserved save, confirm that both extensions appear and that their names match before the extension. If you selected the whole folder, confirm that the copied folder contains the same collection you intended to preserve.
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Verification is especially important before an uninstall. Finding the folder was only the first step; the backup is useful only if the destination contains the files you meant to preserve. Keep the original and copied folders visually separate so you do not accidentally verify the source twice.
Step 6: Keep the backup separate during the reinstall
Do not leave the only backup inside the same Documents location that may be removed or recreated during troubleshooting. Keep the separate copy available until the game has been reinstalled and the restored saves have been checked. If you make another copy later, retain the earlier one until the newer version is confirmed.
Manual backup versus cloud synchronization
A copied folder and a cloud service solve different problems. A manual copy is a distinct set of files that you control. Cloud synchronization is an account- or platform-dependent copy whose contents and conflict behavior depend on the service.
| Approach | What you control | What can complicate recovery | Setup effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual local copy | The exact .sav/.png pairs and the destination device |
The copy can be lost or damaged if it is kept on the same storage as the original | Copy the folder or pairs to a separate location |
| Platform cloud sync | Your account and whether the platform’s cloud feature is enabled | Synchronization state or a cloud conflict may not contain the version you expected | Usually less manual work, but it depends on the platform and account |
| Cross-progression | The CD PROJEKT RED account used to connect supported platforms | It is not the same as retaining an offline folder; access depends on setup and the same account | Set up the feature and create a new save so the latest save for each save type can be uploaded |
Steam says Steam Cloud can store save games, but Steam Support states that it cannot recover lost saves or resolve cloud conflicts. Treat cloud storage as a convenience, not as your only independent backup.
A cloud icon or an enabled setting is therefore not proof that a particular older save is safely recoverable. If the local folder contains the version you want, preserve that folder manually before allowing a reinstall or synchronization process to make changes.
How to restore saves after a clean install
CD PROJEKT RED’s clean-install sequence puts the local backup first and temporarily disables the game’s cloud-save feature. Follow the order rather than allowing synchronization to decide which files remain.
- Preserve the local backup. Confirm that the copied folder or selected save pairs are on a separate drive or external device.
- Disable Cloud Saves if enabled. Do this before carrying out the clean installation, following the game’s or launcher interface for that setting.
- Complete the clean installation. Allow the game to recreate its files and its save-folder structure.
- Open the recreated save folder. Use
%userprofile%DocumentsThe Witcher 3gamesavesin File Explorer. - Copy the backed-up files into it. Restore the complete folder or the selected matching
.sav/.pngpairs. Keep the original names and extensions. - Start the game and check the saves. Look for the expected entries before changing any synchronization setting.
- Re-enable cloud saving only afterward, if desired. The developer says cloud saves can be enabled again after the local files have been restored.
If the clean installation creates an empty gamesaves folder, paste the backed-up files into that folder rather than placing the backup beside it. Avoid creating an extra layer such as gamesavesgamesaves; the game should see the files directly in the documented folder.
Why the order matters
Disabling cloud saving during the reinstall prevents the synchronization layer from becoming the only authority while you are rebuilding the local folder. Your separate copy remains the known set of files. Re-enabling the feature after restoration is optional, so you can continue with a manual-only arrangement if that better fits your backup routine.
Check the saves in the game before turning synchronization back on. If you enable it immediately and a conflict appears, keep the local backup untouched while you decide which version should remain. Never overwrite your only preserved copy while experimenting with a cloud choice.
Using cross-progression on another platform
Cross-progression is different from copying the Windows folder to removable storage. CD PROJEKT RED’s instructions say that, after the feature is set up and you create a new save, the latest save for each save type is uploaded. To access that progress elsewhere, connect the destination platform using the same CD PROJEKT RED account.
What this means for a PC player
- Setting up the feature is required before expecting an uploaded save.
- The upload is associated with the latest save for each save type after a new save is created.
- The destination platform must use the same CD PROJEKT RED account to access the cross-progression data.
- This account-based workflow does not replace a separately stored copy of the Windows files.
If your immediate goal is protection before reinstalling Windows or the game, make the manual backup first. Cross-progression can be an additional way to access progress, but it should not be described as guaranteed recovery for every loss or synchronization problem.
Cross-progression also should not be confused with Steam Cloud. Steam Cloud concerns platform synchronization, while cross-progression depends on the CD PROJEKT RED account and the feature’s setup. They may both be available in a particular configuration, but they are not interchangeable backup folders.
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Troubleshooting common backup and restore problems
The path shows no files
Make sure you are in the Windows user’s Documents path and that the game has created its save folder. Paste the documented path directly into File Explorer instead of navigating to the installation directory. If your Documents folder is redirected, the standard path may not reflect the actual location being used by that Windows profile; the supplied instructions do not establish a universal redirected-folder path.
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Only one extension is present
Do not treat a lone .sav or lone .png as a complete preserved save. Return to the source folder and locate the same-named partner. Copy the pair together, or copy the entire folder to avoid selection mistakes.
The restored save does not appear
Confirm that the files were placed in the recreated gamesaves folder, not in the game’s installation directory or an extra nested folder. Check that filenames and extensions were not changed during copying. If Cloud Saves is still enabled, repeat the developer’s sequence: preserve the local copy, disable cloud saving, restore the files, check the game, and only then decide whether to enable synchronization again.
A cloud conflict appears
Do not assume that the cloud version is the newest or that support can reconstruct a missing save. Steam’s support guidance says Steam Support cannot recover lost saves or resolve cloud conflicts. Use the separate local backup as the reference copy, and keep it untouched while deciding which files to restore.
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CD PROJEKT RED asks players to provide the relevant save files for support requests and to compress them as a .zip or .rar archive. Select the relevant files from the save folder, preserve each .sav/.png pairing, and create the requested archive before attaching it to the support request. If you are unsure which files are relevant, preserving the complete folder gives you the full set from which to select.
A practical backup routine
For ongoing protection rather than a one-time reinstall, use a simple routine that keeps the original and the backup distinct:
- After an important milestone, close the game.
- Open the documented
gamesavesfolder. - Copy the complete folder, or the save pairs you want to retain, to a separate drive or external device.
- Verify that the destination contains both extensions for each selected save.
- Leave the backup in place until you have made and verified a newer copy.
This approach does not require a particular device, storage capacity, or cloud quota. Any suitable separate drive or SD card can serve as the destination, provided it remains accessible and is not the same storage being protected.
For a reinstall, make the copy before uninstalling and keep it through the entire process. For ordinary play, repeat the routine after a milestone you would not want to lose. The key habit is not a special schedule; it is maintaining a known, separate copy that you can identify and restore.
Quick checklist
- Use
%userprofile%DocumentsThe Witcher 3gamesaveson Windows PC. - Remember that the install directory is not the documented save location.
- Keep each same-named
.savand.pngtogether. - Copy the whole folder when you want every save, or copy complete pairs for a selective backup.
- Store the copy on another drive or external device when possible.
- Before a clean install, preserve the backup and disable Cloud Saves.
- Restore the files to the recreated save folder, check them in-game, and only then re-enable cloud saving if you choose.
- For cross-progression, set up the feature, create a new save, and use the same CD PROJEKT RED account on the destination platform.
- Do not rely on Steam Support to recover lost saves or settle cloud conflicts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Witcher 3 saves stored on Windows PC?
Open File Explorer and go to %userprofile%DocumentsThe Witcher 3gamesaves. That is the Windows location documented by CD PROJEKT RED; it is separate from the game’s installation directory.
Which Witcher 3 save files do I copy?
Copy the matching .sav and .png files for every save you want to preserve. If matching files are difficult to identify, copy the entire gamesaves folder.
How do I back up saves before reinstalling?
Copy the whole save folder, or complete save pairs, to another hard drive, external device, or SD card before uninstalling. Verify the destination copy and keep it separate during the reinstall.
Should I disable cloud saves before restoring files?
Yes. CD PROJEKT RED’s clean-install sequence says to disable Cloud Saves during the process, restore the local files, check them in-game, and re-enable cloud saving afterward only if you want to.
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Can Steam Cloud recover a lost Witcher 3 save?
Steam Cloud can store save data, but Steam Support says it cannot recover lost saves or resolve cloud conflicts. Keep a separate manual copy instead of treating synchronization as your only backup.
How does cross-progression restore my progress on another platform?
Set up cross-progression and create a new save so the latest save for each save type can upload. On the destination platform, use the same CD PROJEKT RED account. This is separate from a manually copied Windows folder.
What format should I use when sending saves to CD PROJEKT RED support?
The developer asks for the relevant save files compressed as a .zip or .rar archive. Preserve each matching .sav/.png pair when selecting files.
The Bottom Line
On Windows, start with %userprofile%DocumentsThe Witcher 3gamesaves. Copy each matching .sav and .png together to a separate drive or external device, then disable Cloud Saves while reinstalling and restore the files before checking the game. Cloud sync and cross-progression can be useful conveniences, but a verified manual copy is the independent backup you control.
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