Saves

The game saves progress when the in-game day ends, i.e., when the farmer goes to bed, collapses from exhaustion, or collapses at 2am. All progress during a day is lost if the player quits the game without ending the day.

Save format

The saves are stored as XML files on your computer. They're stored separately from your game, so you can safely reinstall or update the game without losing them. They're shared between different copies of the game (e.g. if you buy it from both GOG and Steam).

Each save has a folder like JonSnow_123456789, with two main files inside it: JonSnow_123456789 and SaveGameInfo. Both files are needed to load the save.

How to...

Find your save files

Windows

To find your save files:

1. Press Windows + R to show a 'run' dialogue box.
2. Paste this exact text:

   %appdata%\StardewValley\Saves

3. Click 'OK' to open the folder.

Linux

To find your save files:

1. From Files, click Go » Enter Location.
2. Enter this exact text:

   ~/.config/StardewValley/Saves

3. Submit to open the folder.

Mac

To find your save files:

1. From Finder, click Go » Go to Folder.
2. Enter this exact text:

   ~/.config/StardewValley/Saves

3. Submit to open the folder.

Back up or share a save

Find your save files, then zip the entire folder that looks like JonSnow_123456789.

Undo the last save

If something went wrong, you can undo the last save.

1. Find your save files.
   You should see two files with an _old suffix in the name; if not, ask for help instead!
2. Back up your save folder just in case.
3. Delete SaveGameInfo and the file that looks like YourName_123456789.
4. Remove the _old suffix from SaveGameInfo_old and the file that looks like YourName_123456789_old.

Edit a save

A save file open in Sublime Text with formatted XML.

You can edit your save to fix some common issues or change your choices. This can permanently break your save; don't forget to create a backup first. You should also avoid save editor tools, since they often break the save.

1. Install Sublime Text for Linux, Mac, or Windows. (If you already have another text editor which supports XML formatting, feel free to use that instead.)
2. Install the Package Control extension for Sublime Text.
3. Use the Package Control extension to install the Indent XML plugin (see documentation).
4. Open your save file (the file that looks like Name_0123456789) in Sublime Text.
5. Click Selection > Format > Indent XML.
6. Make any changes you want and save. (See a guide for common changes.)

Duplicate a save

You can duplicate a save for testing purposes, or to explore different options without starting over.

1. Find your save files.
2. Create the new save folder:
   1. Duplicate the target save folder.
   2. Rename the new folder:
      • change the name so you can recognise it in-game;
      • change the number at the end to any number that's not used by another save.
   3. Open the new folder for the next steps.
3. Prepare the new files:
   1. Delete any file whose name ends with _old or .back.*.
   2. Rename the file that looks like Name_0123456789 to match your new folder name.
4. Edit the save metadata:
   1. Open the SaveGameInfo file in a text editor like Notepad.
   2. Look for <name> on the first line. Your farmer's name should be right after that. Change it to your new name.
5. Edit the save file:
   1. Open the file that looks like Name_0123456789 in a text editor like Notepad.
   2. Look for <name> on the first line. Your farmer's name should be right after that. Change it to your new name.
   3. Search for the old save ID (the number from the filename). Change it to your new number.

That's it! Launch the game and check the load menu; you'll see both saves now.