Save file guide
Stardew Valley Save File Location for Windows, Mac, Linux and Mobile
Your Stardew Valley farm is stored in a platform-specific folder, not inside the normal Steam game installation directory. This guide shows the exact Stardew Valley save file location for Windows, macOS, Linux, Steam Deck, Android and iPhone or iPad, explains which folder is the real farm save, and gives a safe workflow for backup, transfer and browser-based prediction.
On Windows, press Win + R and open %AppData%\StardewValley\Saves. On macOS or Linux, open ~/.config/StardewValley/Saves. Each farm normally appears as a folder named with your farmer or farm name plus a numeric ID. Copy the entire folder before editing, moving or uploading anything.
Exact paths
Where are Stardew Valley saves located?
The path depends on the operating system and store version. Steam Cloud may synchronize copies, but the folder below is the local save used by the game. Do not confuse it with the Stardew Valley installation folder that contains the executable and game content. A valid farm folder usually contains a main save file and a matching SaveGameInfo file, often with _old backup versions beside them.
Windows
%AppData%\StardewValley\Saves
Press Win + R, paste the path and press Enter. %AppData% expands to your user Roaming folder, so you do not need to reveal hidden folders manually.
macOS
~/.config/StardewValley/Saves
In Finder choose Go, then Go to Folder, paste the path and confirm. The leading dot means .config is hidden during ordinary browsing.
Linux and Steam Deck
~/.config/StardewValley/Saves
Open the folder from a file manager with hidden files enabled. On Steam Deck, switch to Desktop Mode first if you want normal file-manager access.
Android
Internal storage/StardewValley
The mobile folder is generally in shared internal storage. Android version and file-manager permissions can change what is visible, so grant file access when prompted.
Recognize the farm folder: a name such as Meadow_123456789 identifies one farm. Inside it, Meadow_123456789 is the main save and SaveGameInfo supplies the load-menu summary. Keep both together. Files ending in _old are the game's previous-save backup and should not be deleted casually.
Choose the correct file
How to find the Stardew Valley save you actually need
Players with several farms, co-op characters or copied backups may see many similarly named folders. Use the folder name, modified date and in-game load screen together rather than choosing the newest-looking file blindly. Closing the game before copying prevents a save from changing while it is being read.
- 1
Close Stardew Valley
Return to the title screen and exit the game completely. If Steam Cloud is active, wait a moment for synchronization to finish before opening the save directory.
- 2
Match the farmer or farm name
Farm folders usually begin with a recognizable character or farm name. The number after the underscore is part of the identity, so two folders with similar names are not interchangeable.
- 3
Check the modified time
The farm you played most recently should have a recent timestamp. Compare it with the date and time of your last session, but remember that cloud restoration or manual copying can alter timestamps.
- 4
Copy the whole folder
For backup or transfer, copy the complete farm folder instead of selecting only SaveGameInfo. The predictor needs the main save file, while the game expects the related files to stay together.
Mobile notes
Android and iPhone save access is different
Mobile platforms add permission and transfer steps that do not apply on desktop. The exact interface can change with operating-system updates, so focus on exporting or copying the complete farm folder rather than relying on one app-specific button name.
Android file access
Use a file manager that can read shared internal storage. If the StardewValley folder is missing, verify storage permission and confirm that the mobile game has created at least one save.
iPhone and iPad
Use the Files app, Finder device sharing or the current iOS export workflow available to the game. Keep the exported folder intact when moving it to a computer.
Co-op farms
The host owns the farm save. A farmhand cannot reconstruct the full hosted world from a local character reference alone, so request the host's complete farm folder for analysis.
Safety first
Back up a Stardew Valley save before moving or reading it
Reading a save in Stardew Predictor does not require changing the original file, but a backup is still the best habit before transfers, mod testing, manual edits or recovery work. A good backup is separate from the live Saves folder and has a date in its name so you can tell versions apart.
A save can contain player and farm names, multiplayer identifiers, progress details and other personal choices. Use trusted tools, prefer local browser processing, and share only the minimum file needed. Stardew Predictor performs its ordinary save parsing in your browser.
From folder to forecast
How to use the save with Stardew Predictor
The homepage predictor reads the main save to recover the Game ID, counters, unlock flags and player-specific state needed by RNG tools. This is more reliable than entering a seed alone when geode counts, Mystery Box progress, multiplayer IDs or other save-dependent values affect the result.
- 1
Open the homepage tool
Go to Stardew Predictor and choose the save-upload workflow rather than the seed-only form.
- 2
Open the farm folder
Navigate to the platform path above, then open the folder that matches the farm you want to analyze.
- 3
Select the main save
Choose the large file with the same name as the farm folder. Do not choose SaveGameInfo or a file ending in _old unless you intentionally want the older backup state.
- 4
Review the summary first
Confirm farmer name, farm name, days played and game version before trusting the geode, cart, mine, weather or event predictions.
Common problems
Why the save folder or farm file may be missing
Most location problems come from hidden folders, looking inside the installation directory, mobile permissions or cloud synchronization. Use this table before assuming the save has been deleted.
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| The Saves folder is not visible | Paste the exact path into Run, Finder's Go to Folder or the Linux file manager. Enable hidden files because AppData and .config are normally hidden. |
| Only SaveGameInfo appears useful | Move up one level and choose the main file whose name matches the farm folder. SaveGameInfo is a smaller summary file, not the complete world state. |
| The newest farm is not present | Close the game, allow Steam Cloud to finish, and check whether you played on another account, device or operating-system user profile. |
| Android shows an empty folder | Confirm that the game has created a local save and that the file manager has storage permission. Some Android versions restrict access through particular apps. |
| Predictor reports the wrong farm state | Verify the selected file is not SaveGameInfo or an _old backup, then compare farmer name, days played and version in the result summary. |
FAQ
Stardew Valley save file location FAQ
Where is the Stardew Valley save file on Windows?
Open %AppData%\StardewValley\Saves. The fastest method is Win + R, paste the path and press Enter. Each farm has its own folder.
Is the Stardew Valley save inside the Steam installation folder?
No. The Steam installation contains game files, while personal farms are stored under your user profile. Use the platform path in this guide rather than Browse Local Files in Steam.
Which file should I upload to Stardew Predictor?
Upload the main file whose name matches the farm folder, for example Meadow_123456789. Do not select SaveGameInfo for a full prediction.
Can I use the _old file?
Yes, but it represents the previous save state. Make a backup first, then use the _old copy only when you intentionally want to inspect or recover the earlier state.
Does Stardew Predictor upload my save to a server?
The site's ordinary save parsing runs locally in the browser. You should still avoid posting a save publicly because it can contain names, identifiers and progress data.
Where is a multiplayer Stardew Valley save stored?
The host stores the complete farm save in the normal platform Saves folder. Farmhands need the host's full save if they want to analyze the hosted farm state.
Next steps
Use your save with these Stardew tools
Sources and media
- Stardew Valley Wiki — Saves — community-maintained save paths, folder structure and transfer guidance
- Stardew Valley on Steam — official store page and artwork source