Ren'Py is the standard engine for Visual Novels, and because it is cross-platform, the location of your save files depends heavily on the operating system you are using. Below are the default directories where you can find your save data.
~/Library/RenPy/game_name/
Cmd + Shift + G, paste ~/Library/RenPy/, and navigate to your game’s folder..save files.If you’re a player, simply copy the entire game‑named folder to back up all your progress. If you’re a developer, remember that changing config.save_directory mid‑project can orphan your players’ saves—plan ahead!
Where Are My Ren'Py Saves? A Guide to Finding Your Game Data Whether you’re playing a classic like Doki Doki Literature Club!
or a new indie visual novel, Ren'Py games usually store their data in one of two places: the game folder itself or a hidden system folder. If you are looking to back up your progress or use a save game editor
, here is how to find those elusive files across different platforms. 1. The "Base" Folder (Easiest to Find)
Many developers configure their games to store saves directly within the game’s directory. This is common for "portable" versions of games. How to find it:
Open the folder where the game is installed. Look for a subfolder named /game/saves/ What’s inside: You will see files ending in 1-LT1.save persistent file that tracks your overall unlocks and achievements. 2. The System "AppData" Folder (Most Common)
If you don't see a "saves" folder in the game directory, Ren'Py is likely using your computer's local application storage. This prevents save files from being deleted if you update or reinstall the game. The most common path is: %AppData%/RenPy/ Windows Key + R and hit Enter. Look for a folder named , then find the subfolder named after your specific game. On a Mac, Ren'Py typically hides files in the Library: ~/Library/RenPy/ key and click in the top menu bar. , then navigate to the For Linux users, check your home directory: (Note the dot, as it is a hidden folder). 3. How to Delete or Reset Saves
If you’re a player wanting to start fresh, you can simply delete the files in the However, if you are a developer testing your game, the Ren'Py Launcher
provides a "Delete Persistent" button. This is much safer than manual deletion, as it clears variables and achievements specifically for your project without affecting other games. Pro-Tip: The "Save Name"
If you are searching for a specific game's folder in your AppData, look for the save_directory defined in the game's options.rpy file. Developers often use a unique string (like MyGame-123456789
) to ensure their saves don't overwrite another developer's work. renpy game save location
Are you having trouble finding a specific game's directory? Let me know the name of the game you're playing and I can help you track it down!
Finding the Ren'Py game save location is crucial for players looking to back up progress or developers managing persistent data. Most Ren'Py games utilize a dual-saving system, meaning files are often stored in both a centralized system folder and the game's local installation directory. Standard Save Locations by Platform
The exact path depends on your operating system and how the developer configured the game. Below are the default paths where most Ren'Py titles store save files: Windows:
Primary System Folder: %APPDATA%/RenPy/. (You can access this by pressing Win + R, typing %appdata%, and hitting Enter).
Local Game Folder: Inside the game's directory at game/saves/. macOS: Library Path: ~/Library/RenPy/.
Note: The Library folder is hidden by default; you may need to hold the Option key in the "Go" menu of Finder to reveal it. Linux: Home Directory: ~/.renpy/. Android:
Internal Storage: Typically found in Documents/RenPy_Saves/ or within the app's internal asset directory. Steam:
Saves are often mirrored in both the %APPDATA%/RenPy/ folder and the standard Steam userdata directory. Understanding the Dual-Save "Quirk"
Ren'Py is designed to be user-friendly, but its save system can be confusing because it often creates two separate save locations.
System Directory (AppData/Library): This is usually the "active" directory the game reads from. If you delete files in the local game folder but the game still shows your saves, it is because it is pulling them from this system-wide folder.
Local Folder (game/saves): This folder is often used as a fallback or for portability. However, manual manipulations here may not affect the game if the system-wide folder takes priority. Developer Customization Ren'Py Game Save Location: Where Are Your Files
Developers can change these defaults using configuration variables in their options.rpy file: Save File Location? - Lemma Soft Forums
The location of game saves depends on your operating system and how the developer configured the project. 📁 Standard Save Locations Windows: %APPDATA%/RenPy/game_directory_name
To find this, press Win + R, type %APPDATA%, and look for the RenPy folder. macOS: ~/Library/RenPy/game_directory_name Open Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G, and paste the path. Linux: ~/.renpy/game_directory_name This is a hidden folder in your Home directory. ⚙️ Alternative Locations
Sometimes developers choose to keep saves local to the game itself:
Internal Folder: Check the /game/saves folder inside the main game directory.
Steam Cloud: If playing via Steam, saves are often synced to Steam/userdata/[your_id]/[game_id]. 🛠️ How to Force a Specific Location
If you are a developer and want to change where your game saves:
Default Behavior: Ren'Py saves to the user's "AppData" or "Library" folder to ensure the game has write permissions. Change via options.rpy: Look for config.save_directory.
If you set this to None, the game will attempt to save in the game folder itself (not recommended for modern OS permissions).
Setting it to a unique string (e.g., "MyGame-12345") ensures it creates a specific folder in the system's RenPy directory. Since you mentioned "— story" in your query,
Help you recover a corrupted save for a specific visual novel? Explain how to transfer saves between different devices? 🍎 macOS ~/Library/RenPy/game_name/
game saves are typically stored in two primary locations depending on the operating system and whether the game was configured to use a "local" or "system-wide" save directory. Windows
On Windows, Ren'Py games usually save data in one of these two places:
AppData (Recommended): Most modern Ren'Py games use the system-wide path to ensure saves aren't lost if you delete the game folder.
%APPDATA%/RenPy/ (usually C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\RenPy\)
Local Game Folder: Some games (especially older or portable versions) save directly within their own directory. [Game Folder]/game/saves/ macOS
Mac users can find their save data hidden in the Library folder: ~/Library/RenPy/ ~/Library/Application Support/RenPy/ Linux
Ren'Py follows standard hidden directory conventions on Linux: ~/.renpy/
Alternatively, check ~/.config/renpy/ if the developer has opted for XDG specifications. Android
If you are playing a Ren'Py port on mobile, the path is generally: /Android/data/[package.name]/files/saves/ How to Identify the Specific Folder
Ren'Py creates a unique subfolder for each game based on the config.save_directory defined by the developer. This folder is usually named after the game (e.g., .../RenPy/GameName-123456789/).
Pro Tip: If you can't find the folder, open the game and look at the "About" or "Preferences" screen; some developers include a "Open Save Directory" button. You can also search your computer for a file named persistent, which is the core file Ren'Py uses to track unlocks and progress across all save slots.