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First identify which problem you have: importing story choices into the next game, copying an original PC save into its Legendary Edition counterpart, or moving a save to another machine. The fixes differ. For trilogy continuity, finish the earlier Legendary Edition game and use the import-character option when starting the next one. If a career is missing on Windows, check the Legendary Edition save folder before moving files. An original PC Mass Effect 1 save is not compatible with Legendary Edition; changing its location will not fix it.
Electronic Arts describes the intended feature this way: “Your choices seamlessly travel from one game to the next.” That means a completed career can feed the next Legendary Edition game; it does not mean every old-format file, console save or second computer will synchronize automatically.
Which kind of save problem are you fixing?
Mass Effect Legendary Edition has three separate save workflows, and a folder fix for one will not solve the others. Start with the source edition, game, platform and destination:
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11- Continue the trilogy: import a completed Legendary Edition career from one game into the next.
- Reuse an original PC save: move an original-release Mass Effect 2 or Mass Effect 3 save into the matching Legendary Edition game folder. Original PC Mass Effect 1 saves are the exception.
- Move to another machine: copy PC save files manually; console-to-console and PC-to-console transfers have different constraints.
EA says choices carry across the three Legendary Edition games, but that describes the intended trilogy feature—not compatibility with every old file or automatic syncing to every device. See EA’s Legendary Edition product page, which also advertises a collection containing more than 40 DLC items. That number describes the package, not a save-transfer success rate.
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A quick decision guide
| What you have | What you are trying to do | First action |
|---|---|---|
| Completed Legendary Edition ME1 | Start ME2 with the same Shepard and choices | Use ME2’s new-game import route and look for Import ME1 Character. |
| Completed Legendary Edition ME2 | Start ME3 with the same career | Use ME3’s import-character route and inspect the source career under the ME2 folder on PC. |
| Original PC ME2 or ME3 save | Use it in the corresponding Legendary Edition game | Back it up, then copy it into the matching ME2 or ME3 subfolder. |
| Original PC ME1 save | Use it in Legendary Edition | Do not keep changing folders; the format is incompatible. Complete Legendary Edition ME1 instead. |
| Legendary Edition PC save | Play on another PC | Manually copy the career from the local save root to the same path on the destination PC. |
| PC save and console destination | Cross-save between platforms | Do not assume it works. An EA community manager said PC-to-Xbox cross-saving was not planned. |
This distinction prevents the most common mistake: moving a valid file into a folder that cannot make an incompatible format appear in an import menu.
How do I import a completed career into the next game?
Complete the source game, then use the import-character route in the next game’s new-game flow. If the career does not appear, verify that the source career is complete and check that the expected save exists before changing any files. Importing is a game-to-game continuity feature, not the same operation as copying a file between computers.
Mass Effect 1 into Mass Effect 2
- Finish the Mass Effect 1 campaign in Legendary Edition so the game has a completed career to import. A partial or merely started career is not the intended source for the next game.
- Launch Legendary Edition’s Mass Effect 2 and start a new game.
- Choose Import ME1 Character rather than starting with an ordinary fresh character.
- If the career is absent on Windows, check
DocumentsBioWareMass Effect Legendary EditionSaveME1. TheME1subfolder is identified in a secondary save-location guide; EA documents the parent save root in its community response about local saves. - Confirm that you are looking at the same Windows user profile that completed ME1. A redirected Documents folder can place the real files on another drive or location.
Do not create an old-style DocumentsBioWareMass Effect 2SaveME1 path for this purpose. An EA forum page carrying that instruction explicitly distinguishes it as an original-release location, not the Legendary Edition structure.
Mass Effect 2 into Mass Effect 3
- Finish the Mass Effect 2 career you want to continue.
- Launch Legendary Edition’s Mass Effect 3 and use the import-character route when creating a character, not the ordinary new-character route.
- On Windows, inspect the source career in
DocumentsBioWareMass Effect Legendary EditionSaveME2. The source save belongs underME2; do not move it intoME3simply because Mass Effect 3 is the destination. - If more than one career is present, identify the completed one you intend to continue and keep the others untouched while testing.
A 2026 secondary guide reports the Mass Effect 3 menu wording as IMPORT ME2 CHARACTER, but that exact capitalization is not independently confirmed against an official manual. The important distinction is to select the import-character route rather than a fresh game.
What completion means for troubleshooting
When an import list is empty, first ask whether the source game was actually completed and saved through its ending. Then quit the destination game, verify the source folder and relaunch. Repeatedly moving files cannot substitute for a completed source career. Keep the original source copy until the imported career has loaded and you have made a new save in the destination game.
Where are Legendary Edition saves on Windows?
EA gives the default Windows save root as DocumentsBioWareMass Effect Legendary EditionSave. The game-specific folders are ME1, ME2 and ME3; inspect the folder for the source game when troubleshooting an import.
The displayed Documents path is a default, not proof that every Windows account uses that physical location. If the folder appears empty, check which Windows profile is running the game and whether Documents has been redirected to another drive or synced location. Do not conclude that the career is gone until you have checked the actual Documents location for that account.
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For an ME2-to-ME3 import, the source career remains in SaveME2. Putting it in SaveME3 because ME3 is the destination can make the file invisible to the import process. The same principle applies when checking ME1 careers for an ME1-to-ME2 import.
Avoid following older instructions that create DocumentsBioWareMass Effect 2SaveME1. That path is for the original release, not Legendary Edition, according to the EA forum page discussing the distinction.
Check for accidental nesting
When you copy a career, open the destination folder and verify that the character folder is directly inside the intended game directory. A common file-handling error is ending up with a duplicated level such as SaveME2ME2character instead of SaveME2character. The backup, close-game and nesting checks are prudent troubleshooting steps; they are not a promise that every file will load.
Can I copy an original Mass Effect save into Legendary Edition?
Compatibility depends on which original game produced the save. Published launch-era reporting describes original PC Mass Effect 2 and Mass Effect 3 saves as usable in their corresponding Legendary Edition games when placed in the matching game folders; the original PC Mass Effect 1 save format is incompatible.
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| Original save | Reported result in Legendary Edition | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Mass Effect 1 for PC | Not compatible; relocating it does not convert the format. | Play through Legendary Edition’s Mass Effect 1 to create a career that can be imported into Legendary Edition’s Mass Effect 2. |
| Mass Effect 2 for PC | Reported compatible with Legendary Edition’s Mass Effect 2. | Copy the intact career into the matching ME2 folder. |
| Mass Effect 3 for PC | Reported compatible with Legendary Edition’s Mass Effect 3. | Copy the intact career into the matching ME3 folder. |
| Console save or modded file | The cited compatibility reporting does not establish a general result. | Do not assume the PC result applies; retain the original and check support information for the exact platform and file. |
GameSpot’s May 2021 report on old-save compatibility covers the PC Mass Effect 2 and 3 cases. It does not establish that every modified file or console save will load. No credible publication has established a universal percentage for successful transfers.
Safe steps for a compatible PC save
- Close the game before reorganizing save files so it cannot overwrite or rescan the folder during the copy.
- Make an untouched backup of the original career folder. Keep that copy separate from the working destination.
- Identify whether the save came from Mass Effect 2 or Mass Effect 3, then place it in the corresponding Legendary Edition subfolder.
- Check that the character folder is not accidentally nested inside an extra folder level.
- Reopen the corresponding game and look for the career in its appropriate load or import flow.
- If it appears, make a new in-game save before deleting or replacing the backup.
If the file fails, restore your backup rather than repeatedly editing the only copy. A modded career may have dependencies or changes outside the specific compatibility cases reported for unmodified original PC saves.
What should I do if the game says the save is corrupted?
Check the save’s origin before trying another folder. If it is an original PC Mass Effect 1 save, the warning may reflect the incompatible format rather than a misplaced file; there is no path change that turns it into a Legendary Edition save.
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For an original PC Mass Effect 2 or 3 save, first restore your untouched backup, confirm the career is intact, and verify that it is in the corresponding game folder without an extra nesting level. Compatibility reporting covers those two original PC games, not every modded file. The cited sources do not establish a universal corruption-repair tool, so avoid utilities that promise to repair or convert any save without reliable documentation.
If a previously working Legendary Edition career suddenly produces a warning, stop and preserve the current files. Compare the working backup with the copy you moved, confirm the Windows account and redirected Documents location, and test the untouched backup in the correct game folder. Do not overwrite the only known-good copy while experimenting.
How do I move a save to another PC?
EA describes PC saves as local files that may be moved manually between PCs. Copy the relevant career from the source computer’s Legendary Edition save folder to the corresponding folder on the destination computer, preserving the original until you have confirmed the copy is present.
- On the source PC, locate
DocumentsBioWareMass Effect Legendary EditionSave, checking for a redirected Documents folder if needed. - Close the game and copy the relevant
ME1,ME2orME3career folder to separate storage or another safe location. A USB flash drive for a save backup can serve as a simple manual medium. - On the destination PC, install the same Legendary Edition collection and launch the relevant game once if necessary so its save structure exists, then close it before copying. Do not treat installation as proof that the source career has synchronized.
- Place the career in the matching Legendary Edition subfolder under that PC’s save root, checking for an extra nesting level.
- Reopen the relevant game and confirm that the career appears before removing the source copy.
Do not assume that installing the game or signing into the EA app on a second PC automatically reproduces the first PC’s local save. EA’s forum response describes manual PC-to-PC movement; it does not promise automatic cloud synchronization.
Using removable storage safely
A USB flash drive is an optional task-enabling item, not a repair product. Use it to hold an untouched backup or carry the career between PCs, eject it properly, and keep another copy until the destination has loaded the file. There is no established need to buy a converter, subscription repair utility or streaming service for this procedure.
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Can I transfer a save between PC and console?
Do not treat PC-to-Xbox transfer as the same feature as moving a save between console generations. An EA community manager said PC-to-Xbox cross-saving was not planned, while separate launch-era reporting discussed console-generation save roaming.
GameSpot reported on May 12, 2021 that Xbox supported save roaming across generations and PlayStation did not. That is a dated report, not a verified October 2026 procedure or current policy for a particular account, console generation or PS4-to-PS5 move. Before deleting or overwriting a source save, check current support guidance for your exact console and account. The evidence does not establish a current universal console-transfer method.
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If you are identifying which edition to buy rather than repairing a file, a Legendary Edition PS4 physical edition can help confirm that you have the remastered collection. Purchasing another copy will not convert an incompatible PC ME1 save or repair a damaged career.
Edition and platform checks
Confirm whether the source is the remastered Legendary Edition or an original release before following any path instructions. Confirm the destination platform as well: PC folder copying does not establish compatibility with PlayStation or Xbox storage. Keep the source console save intact while you verify the account-specific transfer method with support.
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What should I check before changing save files?
- Source edition: Legendary Edition or an original release?
- Source game: Mass Effect 1, 2 or 3? This determines compatibility and the correct subfolder.
- Platform: PC, PlayStation or Xbox? The PC file-copy guidance does not establish console compatibility.
- Destination: the next game in the trilogy or the same game on another machine?
- Career status: is the source playthrough completed for the intended in-game import?
- Windows location: is Documents redirected, and are you using the profile that created the save?
- Backup: is there an untouched copy before files are moved?
- File structure: is the career directly inside the matching game folder rather than an accidentally duplicated folder?
Answering these questions first prevents a common troubleshooting detour: moving a save to a folder that cannot make it compatible or visible in the destination workflow.
What the import does—and does not—promise
An imported career is intended to carry story choices from one Legendary Edition game to the next. That statement does not establish that DLC ownership, installation state or other content entitlements transfer with the character file. Treat access to DLC as separate from whether the career appears.
Likewise, an appearance discrepancy is not automatically a failed import. A launch-era report noted that an imported character’s face may need attention. If Shepard’s appearance looks different, check the game’s available customization options; do not use that visual issue alone as proof that the career or choices failed to load.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does importing a save transfer DLC too?
EA’s product information says choices travel between the three games, but it does not establish that an imported career transfers DLC ownership, installs or content entitlements. Treat DLC access as separate from whether the character career imports.
Why does my ME2 career not appear in ME3?
Confirm that the ME2 career is completed, choose ME3’s import-character route rather than a fresh game, and on Windows inspect the source career under DocumentsBioWareMass Effect Legendary EditionSaveME2. Do not move it into ME3 merely because ME3 is the destination.
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Can I use an original PC Mass Effect 1 save in Legendary Edition?
No. Contemporary compatibility reporting identifies the original PC ME1 format as incompatible. Relocating it cannot convert it; complete Legendary Edition ME1 to create an importable career.
Can original PC ME2 and ME3 saves work?
They were reported as compatible with their corresponding Legendary Edition games when copied into matching folders. Preserve a backup, close the game during the copy and do not assume the same result for modded files or console saves.
Does signing into the EA app sync my saves to another PC?
EA describes PC saves as local files that may be moved manually. Do not assume installation or account sign-in automatically reproduces a career on another computer; copy the relevant folder and verify it in the destination game.
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No credible success percentage is established. The reports describe specific PC save cases rather than a measured rate across platforms, file types or players.
Can I fix Shepard’s appearance after an old save imports?
A launch-era report noted that an imported character’s face may need attention, but that is an appearance issue rather than proof that the career failed to load. Check the game’s character customization options if the imported face does not look as expected.
Can I transfer a PC save to Xbox or PlayStation?
An EA community manager said PC-to-Xbox cross-saving was not planned. A May 12, 2021 report discussed Xbox save roaming across generations and no PlayStation equivalent at that time, but that is not a verified October 2026 procedure. Check current support guidance for your exact console and account.
Should I buy software or a converter to repair a save?
No documented universal converter or corruption-repair tool is established for these cases. Keep an untouched backup, verify the source format and folder, and avoid utilities that promise to repair every save without reliable documentation.
The Bottom Line
Use the import-character route for a completed Legendary Edition career, keep ME2 source saves under SaveME2 and ME1 source saves under SaveME1, and distinguish original PC compatibility from console or cross-platform transfer. Original PC ME2 and ME3 saves were reported compatible in matching Legendary Edition folders; original PC ME1 saves were not. Back up every career before moving it, and do not mistake a dated console-transfer report for a current universal method.
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