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Finish an in-game save, quit No Man’s Sky, and make a separate copy before installing or launching the updated build. On Windows Steam or GOG, copy the complete %APPDATA%HelloGamesNMS folder to another location and give the copy a date-based name. Steam normally keeps saves in an st_<steamid> folder; GOG normally uses DefaultUser. Cloud synchronization is useful for continuity, but it is not an immutable pre-update archive. PlayStation, Switch, Xbox and cross-save use different safeguards, so follow the platform-specific procedure below rather than copying a PC path onto a console.
Updates do not automatically destroy every No Man’s Sky save, but an update can expose a bad sync, an incompatible file, or a mistake made while troubleshooting. A backup made after the new version has already opened the save may preserve the changed state instead of the last known-good state. Treat the pre-update copy as a snapshot: do not edit it, overwrite it with a newer copy, or let a cloud-conflict dialog silently replace it.
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What should I do immediately before installing the update?
Make one clean save, close the game completely, pause any process that could rewrite the files, and then copy the save using the method for your platform. Do not launch the updated game “just to see whether it works” before creating that copy.
- Load the save you want to protect and perform a normal in-game save. If you have several characters or modes, save each one you intend to preserve.
- Exit to the title screen and then quit No Man’s Sky. On a PC, wait until the game process has closed before copying files.
- Create a destination that is separate from the live save, preferably on another internal drive, an external drive, or a USB flash drive. A second location protects against a failed update or an accidental overwrite of the original.
- Copy the entire platform save container, not just one file whose name looks important. Keep the account folder and all of its contents.
- Name the copy with the game, platform and date, such as
NMS-Steam-pre-update-2026-11-03. Do not rename files inside the copy. - Install the update only after the copy finishes. Keep the snapshot unchanged until you have opened the updated game and checked the expected save, inventory, base and expedition progress.
This sequence is cautious file-management advice, not a claim that Hello Games requires a particular naming convention. The important properties are timing, completeness and independence from the live folder.
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How do I back up a Windows Steam save?
For the Windows Steam edition, copy the complete NMS directory under your roaming application-data folder. Steam commonly stores the account-specific data in st_<steamid>, so copying the parent folder avoids leaving related files behind.
- Press Windows key + R, enter
%APPDATA%HelloGamesNMS, and press Enter. You can also paste that path into File Explorer’s address bar. - Confirm that the folder contains an account directory with your No Man’s Sky data. Do not assume the first folder you see is yours if more than one Steam account has used the computer.
- Close the game and, if possible, avoid starting Steam’s cloud reconciliation while the copy is being made.
- Right-click the
NMSfolder, choose Copy, open your separately named destination, and choose Paste. Copy; do not cut or move, the original. - Open the copied folder once to verify that the account directory and its contents are present. The verification should only confirm the copy; do not edit or save from it.
The documented Windows location is under %APPDATA%HelloGamesNMS. The Steam account folder is typically st_<steamid>; the exact identifier is account-specific. If the folder is missing, check that you are looking at the same Windows user profile that runs the game and that the game has created a local save. Do not create a guessed folder and paste files into it.
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How do I back up the GOG Windows edition?
GOG normally uses the same %APPDATA%HelloGamesNMS parent but identifies the account container as DefaultUser. The safe operation is still a complete copy of the parent folder while the game is closed.
- Open File Explorer and paste
%APPDATA%HelloGamesNMSinto the address bar. - Look for the
DefaultUserdirectory and verify that it is populated with the save data created by your GOG installation. - Copy the whole
NMSfolder to a dated destination on a different storage location. - Leave the original folder in place and retain the dated copy until the updated game has been checked.
Do not substitute the Steam st_<steamid> path for a GOG installation, and do not assume that moving a save between storefronts is supported merely because both editions use an NMS parent folder.
Where are saves for Windows Xbox Game Pass?
Xbox Game Pass for Windows does not use the normal Steam account directory. The NMSE project documents a structured container under the package’s SystemAppData, with either an xgs<id> path or, on older installations, a wgs<id> path.
- In File Explorer, inspect
%LOCALAPPDATA%Packagesfor the package whose name begins withHelloGames. - Inside that package, look under
SystemAppDatafor anxgscontainer. If it is not present, an older installation may usewgs. - Identify the real numbered or otherwise opaque
<id>directory on your computer. Do not infer it from a Steam ID. - With the game closed, copy the relevant container to a dated backup location without changing its internal structure.
Game Pass save containers are not ordinary Steam files. Because the package path and format can vary by installation, a file-level restore should be attempted only after you have first preserved the current container and confirmed that the replacement corresponds to the same installation and account. Do not tell a Game Pass user to paste files into st_<steamid>.
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The Steam configuration commonly displayed for macOS places the Steam-ID folder under ~/Library/Application Support/HelloGames/NMS/. Verify the location on the Mac before copying because the relevant folder must actually contain your save.
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- In Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder… and enter
~/Library/Application Support/HelloGames/NMS/. - Look for the Steam-ID directory and confirm that its modification time and contents match the account you use in No Man’s Sky.
- Quit the game, copy the complete
NMSfolder to another location, and add the date and “pre-update” to the backup name. - Keep the backup outside the live
Application Supportpath so Steam or the game cannot treat it as the active save.
This macOS location is corroborative Steam-configuration information rather than a guarantee that every installation has identical folders. If the expected directory is empty, stop and locate the actual save before updating.
Is Steam Cloud enough to protect a pre-update save?
No. Steam Cloud can restore continuity after a device change, but it is synchronization, not a permanently frozen history of every prior save. Valve warns that synchronization can fail and that support cannot recover lost saves or resolve every cloud conflict.
Keep the independently named local copy even when Steam Cloud is enabled. After an update, compare the local progress and file times with what the game presents before accepting a conflict dialog. Choosing “newest” is not automatically safe: a newer timestamp can represent a damaged or unwanted state.
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If Steam reports a conflict, do not immediately launch the game and save again. Preserve the dated backup, copy aside the currently present NMS folder, and decide which state is the intended one. The conservative restore sequence is to close the game, stop the relevant syncing activity, return the backed-up folder to its corresponding original location, and then review the cloud prompt rather than blindly selecting the newest file. This is a cautious procedure based on the documented paths and Steam’s synchronization warnings, not a guaranteed restore result for every installation.
How can I restore a Windows backup safely?
Restore only after preserving the state that currently exists. A restore that overwrites the only current folder removes your ability to compare or reverse the decision.
- Close No Man’s Sky and confirm that the game process has ended.
- Copy the currently active
NMSfolder to a new “before-restore” location. Keep both the dated pre-update backup and this current-state copy. - Temporarily prevent the storefront’s cloud service from immediately replacing files while you put the local copy back. Do not delete the backup.
- Return the backed-up
NMSfolder to the same parent path from which it came. For Steam, that means the corresponding%APPDATA%HelloGamesNMSlocation; for GOG, preserve theDefaultUserstructure. - Start the game only after confirming that the folder replacement is complete. If a cloud-conflict prompt appears, inspect the dates and progress represented by each side before choosing.
- Load the save and check more than the title-screen timestamp: verify the character, ship, freighter, base and other progress that matters to you.
A backup from one storefront or account should not be treated as a universal interchange format. If the game does not recognize the restored state, stop rather than repeatedly launching and saving; return to the preserved current-state copy and reassess the path and account container.
What is the safest PS5 backup method?
For a selectable game-save copy, PlayStation Plus cloud storage is the practical PS5 route. Sony’s USB option is a full PS5 console backup, not a simple export of one No Man’s Sky PS5 save; restoring that console backup erases the console’s current data.
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Use PlayStation Plus cloud storage
- Ensure the console is connected to the PlayStation Network account that owns the save and that the game is closed.
- Check the saved-data synchronization status before making changes. You can use the game’s saved-data upload/download controls or the console’s Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings area.
- Upload the No Man’s Sky saved data to online storage, then confirm that the upload completed.
- After the update, use the corresponding download control only if you have decided that the cloud copy is the version you want. Downloading replaces the console’s local copy.
Cloud storage is account- and subscription-dependent, and it remains a synchronized service rather than a guaranteed historical archive. Check the displayed date and sync status before accepting an overwrite.
Use a USB drive for a complete console backup
Sony supports compatible FAT32 or exFAT USB drives for a PS5 console backup under Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Back Up Your PS5. The operation covers console data and is useful when your goal is disaster recovery for the whole system, but it is not an individual PS5-save file you can casually copy back. Sony says a full-console restore erases the console’s current data.
Do not use a USB drive formatted as PS5 extended game storage for this backup purpose, and do not assume every USB device is compatible. Sony separately allows individual PS4 game saves to be copied to USB; that rule does not make individual PS5 saves exportable as PS4 saves.
Can I back up a PS4 copy of No Man’s Sky to USB?
Yes, Sony distinguishes PS4 saved data from PS5 saved data: PS4 game saves can be copied to a compatible USB drive, while individual PS5 saves cannot be copied to USB in the same way. Use the PS4 saved-data controls and verify that you are handling the PS4 version, not a PS5 save presented through backward compatibility.
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How do I back up No Man’s Sky on Nintendo Switch?
Nintendo Switch requires Nintendo Switch Online for eligible software’s Save Data Cloud. Confirm that your installed No Man’s Sky edition shows Save Data Cloud support in the software’s + menu; eligibility should not be assumed for every title or edition.
- Close No Man’s Sky so the final save is written.
- From the HOME Menu, highlight the game, press +, and open its software information.
- Choose Save Data Cloud, select the correct user, and choose Back Up Save Data.
- Wait for the backup status to confirm completion. Record the date mentally or in your backup notes before installing the update.
Nintendo warns that a manual upload overwrites the server copy. Downloading a cloud copy likewise replaces the console copy, and overwritten data cannot be recovered. Therefore, do not upload after the update merely because the game opened; first decide whether the updated local state is the one you want to preserve.
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What backup option exists on an Xbox console?
Hello Games lists Xbox among the platforms supported by its cross-save system, but an official Xbox-native sequence for creating an independent, frozen pre-update save export was not established here. Do not invent a USB-export procedure or assume that an Xbox cloud save provides historical versions.
On Xbox, finish and close the game before the update, avoid overwriting a known-good state after a problem appears, and use the account and cross-save safeguards only with an understanding of their limits. If the update produces a sync prompt or an unexpected save, pause before choosing a replacement and preserve any selectable version offered by the platform or the game.
How does Hello Games cross-save help?
Cross-save can provide an additional selectable copy across supported platforms, but it is not a guaranteed historical archive. After connecting a supported platform account, an in-game icon lets you upload a selected local save, and the Cross-Save Manager lets you download one later.
Hello Games states: “You can store up to 5 saves in cross-platform storage.” That is the developer’s cross-platform storage limit, not a quota for Steam Cloud, PlayStation cloud storage or Nintendo’s service. Cross-save also automatically uploads the most recent save, may ask you which version to keep after a mismatch, and can be disabled or removed under its terms.
Use cross-save as a second, selectable copy when available, not as the only protection. Upload the intended save before the update, note which slot you selected, and do not allow an automatically uploaded post-update state to replace the pre-update slot without checking the version choices.
Which backup method should I choose?
The best method depends on whether you need an independent snapshot, a single-save download, or full-console recovery.
| Method | Independence from automatic sync | Can you select a particular save? | Restore scope and main risk | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows Steam or GOG folder copy | High when stored separately and left unchanged | Yes, by retaining dated copies | Save-container replacement; wrong path or cloud conflict can overwrite the intended state | Access to the PC save folder and separate storage |
| Windows Game Pass container copy | High if the real package container is copied separately | Potentially, but the structured container must match the installation | Container-level replacement; guessing a Steam path is unsafe | Correct xgs or legacy wgs location |
| PlayStation Plus cloud | Low to medium; it synchronizes an account copy | Usually one current cloud state, subject to sync controls | Downloading replaces local data | PlayStation account and eligible subscription/service access |
| PS5 USB console backup | High as a physical console snapshot | No, not as an individual PS5 save export | Full-console restore erases current console data | Compatible FAT32 or exFAT USB drive |
| Nintendo Switch Save Data Cloud | Low to medium; manual upload overwrites the server copy | One cloud copy per user and title | Download replaces console data; overwritten data cannot be recovered | Nintendo Switch Online and eligible software |
| Hello Games cross-save | Medium; latest save can upload automatically | Yes, within its stored slots | Mismatch prompts and service changes can affect availability | Connected supported platform account |
For a PC, the separately retained folder copy is the clearest pre-update snapshot. On PS5, distinguish a per-game cloud operation from a full-console USB backup. On Switch, verify eligibility and remember that a manual upload replaces the server copy. On Xbox, rely only on documented platform or in-game controls rather than an assumed file-export workflow.
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What should I check after the update?
Open the updated game only after the backup is safely stored, then verify the save before doing anything that creates another save.
- Confirm the expected character or expedition slot appears.
- Check a recognizable base, ship, freighter, inventory and currency balance.
- Look for the correct expedition or milestone progress if that is what you protected.
- Confirm that the platform’s cloud status is settled rather than waiting for a conflict decision.
- Keep the pre-update copy until you have played long enough to establish that the updated save behaves normally.
If a save is missing, stop before creating a replacement save. Preserve the current state, review the dated copy or cloud slot, and restore only after you understand which version each location contains.
What are the most common backup mistakes?
- Launching first: Opening the updated game can trigger an automatic upload or rewrite the local save before a snapshot exists.
- Copying only one visible file: The documented structure includes an account or package container; copy the complete container.
- Moving instead of copying: A move removes the original safety net and makes a path mistake harder to undo.
- Trusting “newest” in a cloud conflict: A newer timestamp is not proof that the state is healthy or wanted.
- Using the wrong platform path: Steam, GOG and Game Pass use different containers; macOS uses a different parent path from Windows.
- Calling a PS5 USB backup a single-save export: It is a console backup and restoration can erase current console data.
- Uploading on Switch after the update without checking: The manual upload overwrites the cloud copy.
- Relying only on cross-save: Cross-save can upload the newest state automatically and is not promised as a permanent archive.
How we chose these procedures
The procedures prioritize an independently retained copy, a clearly identified save container, the ability to choose a particular version, and a restore process that exposes overwrite risks. Platform instructions are separated because each service documents different storage, subscription, synchronization and restore behavior. Where an official menu sequence or Xbox file-export method was not established, the article deliberately avoids guessing.
Bottom line: what is the safest pre-update routine?
Save in-game, quit completely, and make a dated copy before the update launches. On Windows, copy the complete documented save container to separate storage; on PS5, use PlayStation Plus for per-game cloud storage or understand that USB is a full-console backup; on Switch, verify Save Data Cloud eligibility and avoid overwriting the server copy; and on Xbox, do not rely on an undocumented export. Keep the snapshot untouched until the updated game has been checked, and treat cloud or cross-save synchronization as an additional convenience rather than a frozen historical backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a backup after the update has already started?
You can still copy the current save, but it may already reflect an automatic upload, conversion or other change made by the updated game. Close the game, preserve the current state in a newly dated folder, and look for an older cloud or cross-save version before attempting any restore.
How many No Man’s Sky saves can Hello Games cross-save store?
Hello Games says cross-platform storage can hold up to five saves. That limit applies to its cross-save storage, not to Steam Cloud, PlayStation cloud storage or Nintendo Switch Save Data Cloud.
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Do not choose a version solely because its timestamp is newer. Compare the actual in-game progress and preserve both folders before resolving any cloud conflict or attempting a restore.
Can I use a PS5 USB backup to restore only No Man’s Sky?
No. Sony’s PS5 USB operation is a console backup rather than an individual PS5-save export, and restoring it erases the console’s current data. Use the PlayStation Plus saved-data controls when you need a per-game cloud operation.
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