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Most Windows games running through Proton store local saves inside that game’s compatibility prefix, not in one universal Steam Deck folder:
~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/<APPID>/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/The final location depends on the game. Native Linux games may use directories such as ~/.local/share, ~/.config, or ~/Documents, while Steam Cloud may keep a synchronized copy under userdata. The paths below help you locate, back up, transfer, and restore local saves safely.
The three places Steam Deck saves commonly live
- Windows game running through Proton:
steamapps/compatdata/<APPID>/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/, followed by the game’s normal Windows save path. Valve documents this Wine-prefix behavior in its Proton FAQ. - Native Linux game: often somewhere under
~/.local/share/,~/.config/, or~/Documents/. There is no single standard folder; the game determines its location. - Steam Cloud: a local or cached copy may appear under
userdata/<USER-ID>/<APPID>/remote/. This is not necessarily the game’s primary save folder. Steam Cloud roots and file rules are configured by each developer.
Find a Proton save in Desktop Mode
- Open the Steam Deck power menu and choose Switch to Desktop.
- Open Dolphin.
- Press Ctrl+H to show hidden files. Directories beginning with a dot, such as
.localand.steam, are hidden by default. - Open
Home/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/. - Open the folder matching the game’s numeric Steam App ID.
- Browse to
pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/, then follow the game’s Windows save path.
Common destinations include:
Documents/ My Documents/
Saved Games/
AppData/Local/
AppData/LocalLow/
AppData/Roaming/For example, a Windows path such as C:UsersusernameDocumentsMy GamesExamplesave.dat normally maps to:
compatdata/<APPID>/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/My Games/Example/save.datThe exact subfolder is game-specific. Check the game’s PCGamingWiki data page for “Save game data location,” “Configuration file(s) location,” and Proton or Linux notes.
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Find saves with Konsole
In Desktop Mode, open Konsole. For a game installed in the default internal library:
ls ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/<APPID>/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/To search for common save extensions:
find ~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/<APPID>/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser
-type f ( -iname '*.sav' -o -iname '*.save' -o -iname '*.dat' )This is only a starting point. Saves can be extensionless or use JSON, XML, SQLite, folders, or unrelated-looking filenames.
Cloud-related files can be inspected with:
ls ~/.local/share/Steam/userdata/<USER-ID>/<APPID>/An equivalent installation may use ~/.steam/steam/. If the game is on a microSD card or another Steam library, use that library’s steamapps/compatdata/ and userdata/ directories instead.
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App ID, user ID, and prefix: what each means
- App ID: the game’s numeric Steam identifier, used as the
compatdatafolder name. - Steam user ID: identifies your account and appears under
userdata. - Compatibility prefix: the per-game Windows environment represented by
pfx.
They are different numbers. Using the wrong App ID is a common reason a folder appears empty.
Back up a save safely
- Exit the game completely.
- Wait for any visible Steam Cloud activity to finish.
- Copy the entire save folder, rather than moving one file.
- Store the copy outside the Proton prefix—for example in
Documents, on an external drive, or on another computer. - Keep the original untouched until the replacement has been tested.
- Record the game version, Proton version, and whether the save came from Windows, Linux, or another Deck installation.
Save folders may include profiles, metadata, thumbnails, and backup slots that work together.
Transfer a save between PC and Deck
Windows PC to Deck
For a Proton game, copy the PC’s save files into the same relative Windows path below:
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compatdata/<APPID>/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/For instance, a PC DocumentsMy GamesExample folder belongs under Documents/My Games/Example in the prefix. Launch the game and verify the save. For a native Linux build, use that game’s documented Linux path instead of compatdata.
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Reverse the process: copy a Proton save from pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/... to the corresponding Windows location. Native Linux saves are transferable only when the game supports compatible formats. Steam Cloud does not guarantee compatibility between Windows, Linux, and Proton builds; developers can configure platform-specific roots and overrides. See the Steamworks Cloud documentation.
If the save is missing
- Confirm the build: native Linux games may not create a Proton prefix.
- Check every library: a microSD installation stores its prefix on the card’s library.
- Verify the App ID: do not confuse it with your Steam user ID.
- Show hidden files: enable Dolphin’s hidden-file view.
- Inspect all likely Windows folders:
Documents,Saved Games, and the threeAppDatadirectories. - Search Linux locations:
~/.local/share,~/.config, and~/Documents. - Check
userdatacautiously: it may contain a Cloud cache, not the working save. - Consider online saves: publisher servers may hold progression that cannot be recovered from local files.
Multiple prefixes can remain after changing Proton versions, moving a game, reinstalling, or switching between native and Proton builds. Compare modification dates and back up every candidate before editing anything.
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Steam Cloud conflict recovery
Quit the game and back up both candidate local folders and the relevant userdata directory. Avoid repeatedly launching the game while testing: Steam Cloud can download a newer remote file before launch or upload changes after exit. Replace the local save, launch once, and resolve any conflict deliberately instead of automatically choosing “local” or “remote.”
Important safety warnings
- Copy saves; do not move the only original.
- Do not delete
compatdataas a routine fix. Removing a prefix can erase local saves and settings; only consider it after a verified backup. - Do not assume a save from another game version, operating system, or build is compatible.
- Encrypted, signed, account-bound, hardware-bound, or server-side saves may not work after copying or editing.
For a game-specific answer, consult its PCGamingWiki game-data entry and identify whether Steam is launching the native Linux build or Windows build through Proton.
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