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On Windows, Witcher 3 saves are in %userprofile%DocumentsThe Witcher 3gamesaves. Each save uses two matching files: a .sav file containing the save data and a same-named .png image. Copy the folder, or the matching file pairs you need, to another drive or external device so you have a separate backup instead of relying only on cloud synchronization.
Where are Witcher 3 saves stored on PC?
The documented Windows location is:
%userprofile%DocumentsThe Witcher 3gamesaves
The %userprofile% variable automatically points to your Windows user folder, so you do not need to know your account name. This is a folder under Documents, not the directory where the game itself is installed. Searching the installation directory alone will not locate the documented save files.
Open the folder in File Explorer
- Press Windows key + E to open File Explorer.
- Click the address bar at the top of the window.
- Paste
%userprofile%DocumentsThe Witcher 3gamesaves. - Press Enter.
Windows should open the folder directly. You can also press Windows key + S, paste the same path into search, and open the resulting location, as described in CD PROJEKT RED’s support instructions. Pasting the full path is generally quicker and avoids guessing which Documents folder is being used.
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If the folder does not open
- Check that you are using backslashes and the folder name
The Witcher 3exactly. - Confirm that you are looking at the Windows user account that actually runs the game.
- Look in your Documents folder manually for
The Witcher 3, then opengamesaves. - If Documents is redirected to another location by Windows or an organization-managed profile, the path may differ. The documented location applies to a standard Windows Documents folder.
- If the game has not yet created a save on that Windows account, the folder may not contain the files you expect. Create and save a game first, then check the path again.
- The evidence here does not establish a Linux, Proton, or Wine location, so do not assume this Windows path applies to those environments.
Do not substitute the folder where Steam, GOG, or another launcher installed the game. The official Windows instructions place saves in the user’s Documents directory.
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Which Witcher 3 files do you copy?
Inside gamesaves, each save is represented by a pair of files with the same base name. For example, a file named AutoSave_001.sav belongs with AutoSave_001.png. CD PROJEKT RED identifies the .sav as the save data and the matching .png as its associated image.
| File | Purpose | Backup treatment |
|---|---|---|
.sav |
The actual Witcher 3 save data. | Always preserve it. |
.png |
The image associated with that save. | Keep the same-named image with its .sav. |
Do not copy only the visible save images or only the .sav files when you can avoid it. The safest manual backup is the complete gamesaves folder, because it retains every matching pair. If you want a smaller backup, select the exact .sav/.png pairs you intend to preserve.
File extensions may be hidden in File Explorer. If you cannot see .sav or .png, use the file names and icons carefully, or enable visible extensions in Explorer’s view settings before selecting files. Never rename one member of a pair so that its base name no longer matches the other.
How to back up Witcher 3 saves before reinstalling
A manual backup is simply a separate copy of the local files. CD PROJEKT RED’s clean-install guidance recommends moving that copy to a different hard drive or an external device when possible. An existing USB drive, external disk, or SD card can serve this purpose; no particular capacity, speed, or brand is required by the instructions. You do not need to buy a new device if you already have suitable storage available.
Copy the complete save folder
- Open
%userprofile%DocumentsThe Witcher 3gamesaves. - Right-click the
gamesavesfolder and choose Copy. - Open a destination that is separate from the Windows system drive when possible, such as another internal drive, an external drive, or an SD card.
- Right-click an empty area and choose Paste.
- Give the copied folder a clear name, such as
Witcher3-gamesaves-before-reinstall, so it is not confused with a newly created folder later.
Copying the whole folder is the least error-prone method because it keeps all save types and their associated images together. It also avoids overlooking an autosave, manual save, or another file you did not remember to select.
Copy only selected saves
- In the
gamesavesfolder, identify the save names you want to retain. - Select both files for every save: the matching
.savand.png. - Use Copy, open a separate destination, and use Paste.
- Check that every selected
.savhas its same-named.pngbeside it in the backup.
Selected-file backups are useful when you want an archive of particular playthroughs, but they require more care than copying the entire folder. If you are uncertain which saves matter, preserve the entire folder first and sort copies later.
Make the backup genuinely separate
A second folder on the same disk protects against accidental deletion but does not protect against a failed drive. For stronger protection, keep the copied folder on a different physical drive or external device. CD PROJEKT RED’s instruction is explicit: “Make sure to backup your save files. If possible, transfer them to a different hard drive or an external device (for example, SD card).” This is a recommendation, not a guarantee that any device will recover a damaged installation.
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After copying, open the destination and compare the file names with the originals. Check that the folder contains the expected pairs and that the copy is not merely a shortcut to the original location. A clear name that records the purpose—such as Witcher3-gamesaves-before-clean-install—helps prevent accidentally overwriting it with a newer or incomplete set.
Keep the backup until you have confirmed that the restored game loads the saves you need. Do not delete the original local folder merely because the copy completed; the original is still your immediate source until the reinstall or migration is finished. If you make a new save before reinstalling, repeat the copy so the backup reflects the latest version you actually want.
How to restore Witcher 3 saves after a clean install
For a clean reinstall, follow the order in CD PROJEKT RED’s instructions. The important point is to preserve the local files and prevent cloud synchronization from replacing them while you are rebuilding the installation.
- Back up first. Copy the existing
gamesavesfolder, or the matching pairs you need, to another drive or external device. - Disable the game’s Cloud Saves feature. Do this before the clean-install process if cloud saving is enabled.
- Complete the clean installation. Let the game recreate its user-data folders under Documents.
- Open the recreated save location:
%userprofile%DocumentsThe Witcher 3gamesaves. - Copy your backed-up files into that folder. Restore the complete folder or the selected
.sav/.pngpairs. - Re-enable cloud saving only afterward, if you want to use it.
Keep the backup untouched while restoring. If the recreated folder already contains files, preserve those files in a separate temporary folder before replacing anything; that gives you a way back if you selected the wrong copy. Restore one clearly identified backup set rather than mixing files from multiple dated folders.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWhy cloud saving is disabled during the process
Cloud synchronization and a manual copy are separate mechanisms. If cloud saving is active while you reinstall, the platform or game may synchronize a different version than the files you intended to restore. Disabling it during the reinstall keeps the local restore sequence under your control. Once the restored files are in place, cloud saving can be enabled again according to the developer’s guidance.
Before re-enabling it, make sure the local folder contains the files you deliberately restored. If a cloud prompt appears later, preserve the local folder before choosing an option. Cloud storage should not be treated as an independently verified archive of every version you have ever saved.
Manual backup versus cloud synchronization
Cloud features are convenient, but they are not the same as maintaining an independently accessible copy. Use the following distinction when deciding how to protect a playthrough.
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| Approach | What you control | What can go wrong | Setup effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manual copy | You choose the files and destination. A second physical device can remain available even when the game installation or synchronization state is damaged. | You must copy the files yourself and keep each .sav with its same-named .png. |
One-time File Explorer copy, plus updates whenever you want a newer backup. |
| Platform cloud sync | The platform can upload and download save data when the relevant account and synchronization are working. | A conflict, wrong version, account problem, or synchronization mistake can leave you with an unwanted copy. Cloud storage is not an independently verified local archive. | Usually low after the feature is enabled, but the exact behavior depends on the game, platform, and account. |
The practical choice is not necessarily either/or: keep a manual copy for important milestones and use cloud synchronization as a convenience for moving between systems. A manual copy remains separately accessible if synchronization fails, while cloud sync avoids repeated file copying when its account and platform state are correct.
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CD PROJEKT RED’s cross-progression feature uploads the latest save for each save type after you complete its setup and create a new save. To access that save elsewhere, you must connect the same CD PROJEKT RED account on the destination platform. This is an account-based transfer feature, not a substitute for a manually copied Windows folder.
- Cross-progression depends on the current game setup and the same CD PROJEKT RED account.
- It is useful when moving between supported platforms after the feature has been configured.
- The latest save for each save type is uploaded after setup and creation of a new save; it is not described as an unlimited historical archive.
- It does not give you an offline folder that you can inspect, archive, or restore independently of the account and synchronization process.
If a particular playthrough matters, retain the local backup even after cross-progression is working. The account requirement also means that signing into a different CD PROJEKT RED account on the destination will not provide the same cross-progression access.
What Steam Cloud can and cannot do
Steam states that Steam Cloud can store save games, but Steam Support also says it cannot recover lost saves or resolve cloud conflicts. That limitation is why a manually copied folder remains valuable: it gives you a known file set outside the synchronization process.
When Steam or the game presents a conflict, do not assume that choosing a cloud option will recover the version you want. First preserve any local files that still exist, then decide which copy should become the restored version. The clean-install sequence above—backup first, disable cloud saving, restore locally, and optionally re-enable it—avoids treating cloud storage as guaranteed recovery.
Troubleshooting common save-file problems
The game is installed, but I cannot find the saves
Do not search only inside the game’s installation directory. The documented Windows saves are under the current user’s Documents folder. Paste the complete path into File Explorer’s address bar. If that fails, inspect Documents manually and check whether Windows has redirected it. The available instructions do not verify alternate Linux, Proton, or Wine paths.
I see a save file but no matching image
Look for a file with the identical base name and the .png extension. If you are creating a backup, copy the complete folder instead of trying to reconstruct missing pairs. Do not rename one member of a pair independently. If you are unsure whether extensions are hidden, compare the full names in a details view or enable file-name extensions before copying.
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The restored files do not appear after reinstalling
- Confirm that the files are in
%userprofile%DocumentsThe Witcher 3gamesaves, not in the installation directory. - Check that the files were copied from the backup into the recreated folder rather than left in a separate archive folder.
- Verify that the backup contains the matching
.savand.pngnames. - Review whether Cloud Saves was disabled during the reinstall. If it was active, preserve the current files before making another change.
- Make sure you restored the files under the Windows account that runs the game, especially on a shared computer.
I have several versions and do not know which one to use
Keep every version in separately named folders instead of overwriting them. For example, use names that identify the date or event, such as gamesaves-before-update and gamesaves-before-reinstall. Restore one clearly identified set at a time, retaining the others until you have confirmed the result. This makes it possible to return to an earlier copy without depending on a cloud conflict dialog.
I copied the folder but the backup looks incomplete
Open the destination itself and check that it contains the save files, not just an empty folder or a shortcut. Every save you intend to preserve should have both its .sav and same-named .png. If the copy was interrupted, make a fresh copy of the complete gamesaves folder rather than trying to guess which individual files were missed.
Sending saves to CD PROJEKT RED support
For a support request, the developer asks for the relevant save files. Compress them as a .zip or .rar archive before uploading or attaching them as instructed by support. Include the files needed for the issue, and keep your complete personal backup separate so the support archive does not become your only copy.
When preparing the archive, preserve the original file names and include the matching pairs requested for the problem. Creating an archive is for transmitting files to support; it does not replace keeping an unmodified backup folder on your own storage.
Quick checklist
- Open
%userprofile%DocumentsThe Witcher 3gamesaveson Windows. - For every save you keep, preserve the matching
.savand.png. - Copy the whole folder when you want the simplest, most complete backup.
- Store the copy on another physical drive or an external device when possible.
- Use a clearly named destination so older backups are not overwritten accidentally.
- Before a clean install, back up first and disable Cloud Saves.
- After installation, copy the backup into the recreated
gamesavesfolder. - Re-enable cloud saving only after the local restore is in place, if desired.
- Use the same CD PROJEKT RED account for cross-progression on another platform.
- Do not rely on Steam Support to recover lost saves or settle cloud conflicts.
- Keep the manual copy until you have verified that the restored game loads the saves you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Witcher 3 saves stored on Windows PC?
Open %userprofile%DocumentsThe Witcher 3gamesaves in File Explorer. This documented location is under Documents, not the game’s installation directory.
Which Witcher 3 save files should I copy?
Copy the complete gamesaves folder when possible. If you select individual saves, copy both the matching .sav file and same-named .png file for every save.
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Copy the folder or selected file pairs to another hard drive, external device, or SD card. CD PROJEKT RED recommends a different physical destination when possible.
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Should I disable cloud saves before a clean install?
Yes. The developer’s clean-install sequence says to back up first, disable Cloud Saves during the process, restore the local files after installation, and optionally re-enable cloud saving afterward.
Can Steam Cloud recover a lost Witcher 3 save?
Steam says it can store save games, but Steam Support does not recover lost saves or resolve cloud conflicts. Keep a manual copy for an independently accessible backup.
Does cross-progression replace a manual PC backup?
No. Cross-progression uploads the latest save for each save type after setup and a new save, and access elsewhere requires the same CD PROJEKT RED account. It is not an offline folder you control.
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The documented path applies to a standard Windows Documents folder. If Windows or an organization-managed profile redirects Documents, locate the actual Documents folder manually; alternate Linux, Proton, and Wine paths are not established here.
How should I send saves to CD PROJEKT RED support?
Provide the relevant save files in a .zip or .rar archive as support requests. Keep your complete personal backup separate from the archive.
The Bottom Line
On Windows, open %userprofile%DocumentsThe Witcher 3gamesaves and preserve each save’s matching .sav and .png files. For a dependable backup, copy the complete folder to another physical drive or external device. Before a clean install, disable Cloud Saves, restore the local files after installation, and only then consider re-enabling synchronization. Cloud and cross-progression features are useful conveniences, but neither replaces a separate manual copy.
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