Windows 11 didn’t change where games store save files compared to Windows 10 — but if you’re on a fresh install, setting up a new account, or dealing with unexpected OneDrive syncing, the folder structure can be confusing. Here’s a complete reference for every location Windows 11 games use.
The Five Default Save Locations
Most PC games on Windows 11 save to one of these five paths:
| Path | Games That Use It |
|---|---|
%APPDATA%\[GameName]\ | Very common — RPGs, strategy, older titles |
%LOCALAPPDATA%\[GameName]\ | Unreal Engine games, many newer releases |
Documents\My Games\[GameName]\ | Bethesda, 2K, and many mid-size publishers |
C:\Users\[Name]\Saved Games\[GameName]\ | Microsoft first-party and some indie titles |
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\[SteamID]\[AppID]\remote\ | Steam games using Steamworks cloud API |
Open any of the first four by pressing Win + R and typing the path directly (e.g., %APPDATA%).
Why AppData Is Hidden on Windows 11
The AppData folder is hidden by default. In File Explorer on Windows 11:
- Click View in the top menu bar
- Hover over Show
- Check Hidden items
Once enabled, AppData appears under C:\Users\[YourName]\. It contains three subfolders: Roaming (used by %APPDATA%), Local (used by %LOCALAPPDATA%), and LocalLow (less common, used by some Unity games).
OneDrive and Windows 11: What You Need to Know
Windows 11 ships with OneDrive tightly integrated, and it will often redirect your Documents folder to C:\Users\[Name]\OneDrive\Documents\ instead of C:\Users\[Name]\Documents\. Some games write saves to the old path, some follow the redirect — and the two don’t always match.
If you’re looking for saves in Documents\My Games\ and the folder is empty, check OneDrive\Documents\My Games\ as well. You may find saves in one location and not the other depending on when the game was last launched and whether OneDrive sync was active.
To check which path your Documents folder resolves to: right-click Documents in File Explorer › Properties › Location tab.
Launcher-Specific Save Locations on Windows 11
Different PC storefronts use different default paths:
Epic Games Launcher:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\[GameName]\Saved\SaveGames\Documents\My Games\[GameName]\
EA App:
Documents\EA Games\[GameName]\%APPDATA%\EA Games\[GameName]\
GOG Galaxy:
%APPDATA%\[GameName]\%LOCALAPPDATA%\GOG.com\Galaxy\Applications\[AppID]\
Xbox / Microsoft Store (UWP games):
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\[PackageName]\SystemAppData\wgs\- This path uses a long GUID-style folder name — navigate there manually via File Explorer after enabling hidden files
Microsoft Store Games Are Sandboxed
Games installed through the Microsoft Store run in a sandboxed container. Their save folders are inside %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\ and may require elevated permissions to access. In some cases you’ll need to take ownership of the folder before you can copy from it — right-click the folder › Properties › Security › Advanced › Change owner.
Finding the Exact Path for Any Game
Rather than trial-and-error across all five locations, look up the exact verified path for any game on this site. Each entry lists the full save folder path for Windows — and flags if the game is cloud-synced.