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Hollow Knight Save File Location

Last verified: 2026-09-11

Save file location (Windows): %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Team Cherry\Hollow Knight

Quick answer: On PC, Hollow Knight save files are stored in %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Team Cherry\Hollow Knight. Copy that folder to back up your progress before modding or moving to a new PC.
Windows
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Team Cherry\Hollow Knight
macOS
~/Library/Application Support/unity.Team Cherry.Hollow Knight
Linux
~/.config/unity3d/Team Cherry/Hollow Knight
Steam Deck (native Linux)
~/.config/unity3d/Team Cherry/Hollow Knight
Steam (cloud copy)
Steam\userdata\<SteamID3>\367520

Here's exactly where Hollow Knight stores your saves on every platform, how to open the folder, and how to back them up.

Save file locations

Windows
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Team Cherry\Hollow Knight

Full path: C:\Users\<YourName>\AppData\LocalLow\Team Cherry\Hollow Knight\ . Save files are user1.dat, user2.dat, etc. (one per save slot).

macOS
~/Library/Application Support/unity.Team Cherry.Hollow Knight

In Finder use Go > Go to Folder and paste the path.

Linux
~/.config/unity3d/Team Cherry/Hollow Knight

Save files userN.dat live in this Unity config folder.

Steam Deck (native Linux)
~/.config/unity3d/Team Cherry/Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight has a native Linux build, so on Steam Deck it uses the same Unity config folder as desktop Linux — there is no Proton compatdata path. Save slots are userN.dat. AppID 367520. Switch to Desktop Mode and enable 'show hidden files' to reach ~/.config.

Steam (cloud copy)
Steam\userdata\<SteamID3>\367520

With Steam Cloud enabled, a synced copy of your Hollow Knight saves also lives under the Steam userdata folder for app ID 367520.

Cloud saves

On PC, Hollow Knight uses Steam Cloud, so your userN.dat saves sync across machines with the same account. If a cloud and local save conflict, choose the newer copy to keep your progress.

Cloud save conflict & platform recovery

Hollow Knight stores PC saves in %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Team Cherry\Hollow Knight\ as user1.dat through user4.dat (one per slot) plus user1.dat.bak backups. Steam Cloud syncs this folder, and the GOG build syncs it via GOG Galaxy. A conflict shows up if you played on two PCs or reinstalled: Steam Cloud overwrites, never merges, so a newer-but-shorter session can wipe a longer local run. The .bak files are the game's own last-good snapshot and are your fastest local recovery.

  1. Fully exit Hollow Knight and close Steam/GOG Galaxy before touching files so the client doesn't re-sync mid-copy.
  2. Back up the folder: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Team Cherry\Hollow Knight\ (copy userN.dat and userN.dat.bak together).
  3. If a slot looks wrong after a sync, rename the matching userN.dat.bak to userN.dat to roll back to the last good save.
  4. When Steam Cloud offers a conflict choice, pick the copy whose playtime matches your real progress, then confirm it loads before clearing the backup.
  5. To prevent re-overwrites after moving machines, disable Steam Cloud for Hollow Knight until the correct local save is verified.
Back up first (Windows) — copy & run

Steam Cloud can overwrite Hollow Knight saves after a re-link or second-PC session. Copy the save folder first:

robocopy "%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Team Cherry\Hollow Knight" "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\HollowKnight-Save-Backup" /E

Restore by copying userN.dat (and its .bak) back with the game closed and cloud sync disabled, or the launcher will re-overwrite them on next launch.

Moving to a new PC? Follow the step-by-step Hollow Knight save transfer guide to copy your progress across without losing anything.

How to open the save folder

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run box.
  2. Type %userprofile%\AppData\LocalLow and press Enter.
  3. Open Team Cherry > Hollow Knight.
  4. Copy the whole save folder somewhere safe before editing, modding, or moving PCs.

Save problems & fixes

Hollow Knight save won’t load or says it’s corrupt

Many games keep an automatic backup next to the save (a .bak or numbered copy) — close the game, copy that backup over the broken file, and reopen. On Steam, also right-click the game → Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files.

My Hollow Knight save is missing or the folder is empty

You are usually looking in the wrong sub-folder — open the numbered profile/Steam-ID folder inside the path above, not the parent. If it is still empty, cloud sync may not have finished before the game overwrote the local copy; reconnect and let the cloud sync complete before launching.

Hollow Knight progress rolled back after a cloud conflict

When Steam or the console reports a save conflict, always keep the version with the LATER timestamp. Choosing the older cloud copy overwrites newer local progress — the most common cause of “lost hours.” If unsure, disable cloud sync, back up the local folder first, then re-enable it.

Save won't load or shows as corrupted? See the Hollow Knight corrupted save fix guide to recover your progress step by step.

FAQ

Where is the Hollow Knight save file on PC?

It's at C:\Users\<YourName>\AppData\LocalLow\Team Cherry\Hollow Knight. Press Win+R, type %userprofile%\AppData\LocalLow, then open Team Cherry\Hollow Knight. Slots are user1.dat, user2.dat, etc.

How do I back up a Hollow Knight save?

Copy the userN.dat file for your slot to a safe location, then paste it back to restore.

Can I move a Hollow Knight save between PC and Mac?

Yes — the userN.dat format is compatible. Copy the file from one platform's save folder to the other's.

Other games

Need another game or a quick backup? Use the Save Location Finder — pick any game to get its exact save path plus a ready-to-run backup command.