2018 • Steam Cloud supported
The Forest
Save file location and backup guide for The Forest, 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
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\SKS\TheForest\ Back up the full LocalLow save folder before reinstalling. Steam Cloud may restore automatically, but verify after reinstalling.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I back up The Forest saves before reinstalling?
Copy the full The Forest save folder before reinstalling or moving PCs. Keeping the complete save set together helps restore survival progress, inventory state, and hosted session data.
Why is my The Forest save not loading after I restore it?
Steam Cloud can overwrite a manual restore, or the game may miss part of the LocalLow save folder. Restore the full folder and verify the correct slot appears before syncing again.
Can I move my The Forest save to another PC?
Yes. Copy the full save folder to the same Windows location on the new PC, then launch The Forest and confirm your progress appears correctly before deleting the old backup.
Does The Forest multiplayer progress use local save files?
Yes. Hosted multiplayer progress still depends on local save data on the host machine, so backing up the LocalLow folder matters if you want to preserve co-op progress.
What should I do if my The Forest save looks corrupted?
Restore the newest working backup of the full save folder and keep Steam Cloud disabled until you confirm The Forest loads the correct restored state.