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Skyrim Special Edition Save File Location

Last verified: 2026-09-20

Save file location (Windows (Steam)): %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Skyrim Special Edition\Saves

Quick answer: On PC, Skyrim Special Edition save files are stored in %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Skyrim Special Edition\Saves. Copy that folder to back up your progress before modding or moving to a new PC.
Windows (Steam)
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Skyrim Special Edition\Saves
Steam Deck / Linux (Proton)
~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/489830/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/My Games/Skyrim Special Edition/Saves
Windows (Game Pass / MS Store)
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\BethesdaSoftworks.SkyrimSE-PC_3275kfvn8vcwc\SystemAppData\wgs
PlayStation 5 / PS4
Settings › Saved Data and Game/App Settings › Saved Data
Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One
My games & apps › <Game> › Manage game › Saved data

Here's exactly where Skyrim Special Edition keeps your saves on every platform, how to open the folder, and how to back them up before you mod.

Save file locations

Windows (Steam)
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Skyrim Special Edition\Saves

Full path: C:\Users\<YourName>\Documents\My Games\Skyrim Special Edition\Saves\ . Saves end in .ess with a matching .skse co-save if you use SKSE.

Steam Deck / Linux (Proton)
~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/489830/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/My Games/Skyrim Special Edition/Saves

Skyrim Special Edition has no native Linux build, so on Steam Deck it runs under Proton and the save lives inside the game's Proton prefix, not your Linux home. AppID 489830. Proton always names the Windows user "steamuser" (never your Linux username). Save files are .ess (plus matching .skse if you use SKSE). If the game is installed on a microSD card, the compatdata folder is on the card instead of internal storage.

Windows (Game Pass / MS Store)
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\BethesdaSoftworks.SkyrimSE-PC_3275kfvn8vcwc\SystemAppData\wgs

The Microsoft Store / Game Pass version stores saves in this container folder instead of Documents.

PlayStation 5 / PS4
Settings › Saved Data and Game/App Settings › Saved Data

Console saves are sealed and can't be copied as raw files. Back them up to PS Plus cloud or a USB drive from this menu.

Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One
My games & apps › <Game> › Manage game › Saved data

Xbox saves sync automatically to the cloud with your Microsoft account; there is no user-accessible save file on disk.

Cloud saves

On PC, the Steam version uses Steam Cloud for saves. The original Skyrim (not Special Edition) uses a separate folder: Documents\My Games\Skyrim\Saves — the two games do not share saves.

Cloud save conflict & platform recovery

Skyrim Special Edition saves live in %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Skyrim Special Edition\Saves and Steam Cloud syncs that folder. The classic conflict: Steam Cloud syncs the .ess/.skse pair but if the co-save (.skse) uploads out of sync with its .ess — or you run SKSE on one PC and not another — the save loads to a black screen or silently rolls back. Cloud sync overwrites, never merges, so back up the whole Saves folder before letting Steam resolve.

  1. Fully quit Skyrim and close Steam before copying files, so the client doesn't re-sync mid-copy.
  2. Back up the whole folder: %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Skyrim Special Edition\Saves — keep each .ess together with its matching .skse co-save; separating them breaks SKSE loads.
  3. If you use SKSE, verify both PCs run the same SKSE version before syncing; a mismatched or missing co-save is the #1 cause of a 'save loads then rolls back' after cloud sync.
  4. Anniversary Edition and the base Special Edition share this Saves folder but not always compatible mod lists — note which build made a save before overwriting, or it can fail to load on the other setup.
  5. When Steam Cloud shows a conflict, pick the copy whose timestamp matches your real last session; the 'cloud' copy is not always the newest one you played.
  6. Moving to a new PC: sign into the SAME Steam account, let it sync once, then confirm the newest .ess timestamp in the folder before playing so cloud doesn't roll you back.
Back up first (Windows) — copy & run

Skyrim SE saves bloat and corrupt with heavy mod lists, so a dated backup before a load-order change is the only safe rollback. Run this first:

robocopy "%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Skyrim Special Edition\Saves" "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\SkyrimSE-Save-Backup" /E /COPY:DAT /R:1 /W:1

This mirrors every .ess/.skse save to the Desktop without touching the originals. Keep the copy until a fresh save proves your new mod order is stable.

Moving to a new PC? Follow the step-by-step Skyrim Special Edition 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%\Documents and press Enter.
  3. Open My Games, then Skyrim Special Edition, then Saves.
  4. Copy the whole save folder somewhere safe before editing, modding, or moving PCs.

Save problems & fixes

Skyrim Special Edition 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 Skyrim Special Edition 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.

Skyrim Special Edition 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 Skyrim Special Edition corrupted save fix guide to recover your progress step by step.

Want to edit this save (money, items, stats)? See the Skyrim Special Edition save editor guide — which fields are safe to change and how to back up first.

FAQ

Where is the Skyrim Special Edition save file on PC?

It's at C:\Users\<YourName>\Documents\My Games\Skyrim Special Edition\Saves. Press Win+R, type %userprofile%\Documents, then open My Games\Skyrim Special Edition\Saves. Files end in .ess.

Why can't I find my Skyrim saves?

If you play the Game Pass or Microsoft Store version, saves are in the Packages\BethesdaSoftworks.SkyrimSE-PC...\SystemAppData\wgs container under %localappdata%, not in Documents.

Do original Skyrim and Special Edition share saves?

No. They use separate folders (Skyrim vs Skyrim Special Edition under My Games) and the save formats are not compatible.

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.