2016 • Steam Cloud supported
No Man's Sky
Save file location and backup guide for No Man's Sky, covering local progress protection and PC migration.
Note: Save paths may change with game updates or patches. Always verify the location before using it. Paths may vary by game version, launcher (Steam, Epic, GOG), or regional releases.
Save Locations
%APPDATA%\HelloGames\NMS\ Back up the full NMS folder so profile, slot, and restore data stay aligned. Steam Cloud may restore automatically, but verify after reinstalling.
Managed in console save data storage Cross-save and cloud behavior depend on current No Man's Sky account support and Nintendo Switch Online availability.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I back up No Man's Sky saves before reinstalling?
Copy the full NMS save folder before reinstalling or moving PCs. Keeping the complete save set together helps No Man's Sky restore the correct expedition, base, and slot data after migration.
Why is my No Man's Sky save not loading after I restore it?
Steam Cloud can overwrite a manual restore. Pause sync for No Man's Sky, restore the full save folder, launch once to verify the correct slot appears, then re-enable sync after confirming the restore worked.
Does No Man's Sky use different save folders on Steam and GOG?
Usually no. No Man's Sky generally uses the same Windows save path across PC launchers, although cloud features and update timing can differ between Steam and GOG.
Can I move my No Man's Sky save to another PC?
Yes. Copy the full save folder to the same Windows location on the new PC, then launch No Man's Sky and verify your progress appears correctly before deleting the old backup.
Is No Man's Sky online progress stored in local save files?
Most core No Man's Sky progression is tied to your local save data, while discovery services and other online features are separate. Back up the local folder if you want to preserve your main progress.