How to Transfer Your RimWorld Save to a New PC
Last verified: 2026-09-14
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Ludeon Studios\RimWorld by Ludeon Studios\Saves
Copy the entire save folder from %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Ludeon Studios\RimWorld by Ludeon Studios\Saves on your old PC to the exact same path on the new PC — that folder is your whole RimWorld progress.
Before you move anything, make a full backup of every RimWorld save on the OLD PC in one command. Press Win+R (or open Command Prompt), paste this, and hit Enter:
robocopy "%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Ludeon Studios\RimWorld by Ludeon Studios\Saves" "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\RimWorld-save-backup" /E /COPY:DAT /R:1 /W:1
/E mirrors the whole save tree (every profile sub-folder and slot) to a backup folder on your Desktop without touching the originals. Copy that folder to the new PC, then restore by swapping the source and destination paths.
Move your RimWorld save to a new PC — the exact folder to copy, cloud-sync notes, and the mistakes that lose progress.
Where the files live: see the full RimWorld save file location guide for every platform path (PS5, Xbox, Steam Cloud).
How to transfer your RimWorld save to a new PC
- On the old PC, press Win+R, paste %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Ludeon Studios\RimWorld by Ludeon Studios\Saves, and press Enter to open the RimWorld save folder.
- Select everything inside that folder and copy it to a USB drive, a cloud folder (OneDrive/Google Drive), or a network share.
- Install RimWorld on the new PC and launch it once, then quit — this creates the empty save folder so the path exists.
- On the new PC, open the same path (%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Ludeon Studios\RimWorld by Ludeon Studios\Saves) and paste the copied files in, overwriting if asked.
- Launch RimWorld and confirm your progress loaded before deleting the backup copy.
Does cloud sync move it for you?
The Steam version does NOT use Steam Cloud for RimWorld by default — your colonies exist only in the LocalLow folder above. That means a fresh Windows install or new PC will not have them unless you copy the Saves folder yourself. Always back up before a wipe.
Common mistakes
- Copying only a single save file instead of the whole folder — many games keep settings, profiles, or rolling backups alongside the main save.
- Forgetting to launch RimWorld once on the new PC first, so the destination folder doesn't exist yet when you paste.
FAQ
How do I move my RimWorld save to a new PC?
Copy the save folder at %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Ludeon Studios\RimWorld by Ludeon Studios\Saves from the old PC to the exact same path on the new PC, then launch the game. Use a USB drive, cloud storage, or a network share to move the files.
Will RimWorld cloud saves transfer automatically?
The Steam version does NOT use Steam Cloud for RimWorld by default — your colonies exist only in the LocalLow folder above. That means a fresh Windows install or new PC will not have them unless you copy the Saves folder yourself. Always back up before a wipe.
Where is the RimWorld save folder on the old PC?
It's at %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Ludeon Studios\RimWorld by Ludeon Studios\Saves. Paste that into the File Explorer address bar (or Win+R) to open it. See our full location guide for every platform.
Do I need to copy any other files?
Copy the whole save folder, not just one file — some games store settings, backups, or profile subfolders alongside the main save. Copying the entire folder avoids missing anything.
Other games
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- Celeste Save File Location (PC, Steam, GOG, itch)
- Content Warning Save File Location (PC, Steam Deck)
- Batman: Arkham Knight Save File Location (PC, PS, Xbox)
- BioShock Remastered Save File Location (PC, PS, Xbox)
- Sid Meier's Civilization V Save File Location (PC, PS, Xbox)
- Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin Save File Location (PC, PS, Xbox)
- Far Cry 3 Save File Location (PC, PS, Xbox)
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.