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Transport Fever 3 Save File Location

Last verified: 2026-09-29

Save file location (Windows (Steam) – main save via Steam Cloud): C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<YourSteamID>\3493540\local\save\

Quick answer: Transport Fever 3 does NOT store saves in the Documents folder. On PC (Steam) your saves live in the Steam userdata folder at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<YourSteamID>\3493540\local\save\ (synced via Steam Cloud), with a local mirror under %APPDATA%\Transport Fever 3\ (i.e. C:\Users\<YourName>\AppData\Roaming\Transport Fever 3). To move your empire to a new PC or Steam Deck, copy the whole save folder or let Steam Cloud sync it — progress is on disk plus cloud, not locked to the launcher.
Windows (Steam) – main save via Steam Cloud
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<YourSteamID>\3493540\local\save\
Windows (local / non-Steam mirror)
%APPDATA%\Transport Fever 3\
Steam Deck / Linux (Proton)
~/.steam/steam/userdata/<YourSteamID>/3493540/local/save/
macOS
~/Library/Application Support/Transport Fever 3/

Transport Fever 3 (Paradox, 2026) stores your maps and logistics networks in the Steam userdata folder and an %APPDATA% mirror — not in Documents. Here is exactly where the save folder lives, how Steam Cloud can overwrite it, and how to move to a new PC or Steam Deck.

Save file locations

Windows (Steam) – main save via Steam Cloud
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<YourSteamID>\3493540\local\save\

App ID 3493540. This is the primary folder Steam Cloud syncs. If you have multiple Steam accounts there will be several numbered userdata folders — the one containing 3493540 is yours.

Windows (local / non-Steam mirror)
%APPDATA%\Transport Fever 3\

Full path C:\Users\<YourName>\AppData\Roaming\Transport Fever 3. Check here if the Steam userdata folder looks empty, or for the settings/mods folders alongside the save data.

Steam Deck / Linux (Proton)
~/.steam/steam/userdata/<YourSteamID>/3493540/local/save/

Under Proton the Windows path is routed here. Steam Cloud carries your desktop empire to the Deck automatically once both are signed into the same account.

macOS
~/Library/Application Support/Transport Fever 3/

Mac builds keep local save data under Application Support. Back this folder up before verifying game files or reinstalling.

Cloud saves

Transport Fever 3 uses Steam Cloud (App ID 3493540), so your maps and logistics networks mirror to Steam and download on any machine you sign into — including a Steam Deck. The catch common to sim games: if the cloud copy is older or empty after a crash, it can overwrite a newer local save on next launch. Before restoring a backup or moving PCs, set the game to offline / disable Steam Cloud for Transport Fever 3, copy your local\save folder, then re-enable it.

Cloud save conflict & platform recovery

Transport Fever 3 syncs its save tree through Steam Cloud (App ID 3493540). If you play on two PCs (or a Steam Deck), mod, or the game crashes mid-upload, the local ...\3493540\local\save copy and the Steam Cloud copy can diverge. Steam then shows a cloud-conflict dialog on next launch — and whole-map .sav files do NOT merge, so picking the wrong side overwrites hours of logistics network. Decide by timestamp and back up the LOCAL save folder before you let Steam Cloud win.

  1. Quit Transport Fever 3 fully and watch for the Steam 'Cloud Sync Conflict' dialog — do NOT click a side yet.
  2. Back up the local copy first: open C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<YourSteamID>\3493540\local\save and copy the whole save folder somewhere safe.
  3. Exact backup command (Windows CMD): robocopy "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<YourSteamID>\3493540\local\save" "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\TpF3-Save-Backup" /E
  4. Compare timestamps: check the modified date of the newest .sav in local\save against when you last played on the other machine — the most recent file is your real empire.
  5. If the local copy is newer, in the conflict dialog choose 'Upload to the Steam Cloud' (keep local); if the cloud copy is newer, choose download — but only after the backup above exists.
  6. To force the local copy to win cleanly: set Transport Fever 3 to offline (disable Steam Cloud for the game in its Properties), launch once so your local save uploads as the new cloud copy, then re-enable cloud.
Back up first (Windows) — copy & run

Transport Fever 3 keeps large whole-map .sav files that Steam Cloud can overwrite after a crash or a second-PC session. Back up the entire save folder before editing, modding, or moving machines — paste into Command Prompt:

robocopy "C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\%STEAMID%\3493540\local\save" "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\TpF3-Save-Backup" /E

Replace %STEAMID% with your numbered Steam ID (the userdata subfolder that contains 3493540). /E copies the whole save subtree including autosaves. Also copy the local mirror at %APPDATA%\Transport Fever 3 — settings and some data live there, outside Steam Cloud.

How to open the save folder

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run box.
  2. Type %APPDATA%\Transport Fever 3 and press Enter to reach the local data, or open Steam → right-click Transport Fever 3 → Manage → Browse local files for the install.
  3. For the Cloud save, open C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<YourSteamID>\3493540\local\save and copy the whole save folder to a USB drive or cloud storage.
  4. To move to a new PC: install Transport Fever 3, launch once so the folders are created, close the game, then paste your backed-up save files over the new save folder (or just let Steam Cloud sync).

Save problems & fixes

Transport Fever 3 save won’t load or says it’s corrupt

Transport Fever keeps autosaves alongside your manual saves — close the game, open the local\save folder, and load the most recent autosave (sorted by date) instead of the broken file. On Steam, also right-click the game → Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files, then relaunch.

Progress looks rolled back after playing on another PC or Steam Deck

This is a Steam Cloud conflict — the older cloud copy overwrote your newer local save. Restore from the backup you made (see the backup command above). In future, let Steam finish syncing (watch the launcher) before quitting, and never launch on a second machine until the first has fully uploaded.

Can't find the save folder — it's not in Documents

Transport Fever 3 does NOT use Documents. The real saves are in Steam userdata\<YourSteamID>\3493540\local\save, with a local mirror at %APPDATA%\Transport Fever 3. Press Win+R and paste %APPDATA%\Transport Fever 3, or use Steam → right-click the game → Manage → Browse local files to orient yourself.

FAQ

Where is the Transport Fever 3 save file on PC?

In the Steam userdata folder at ...\userdata\<YourSteamID>\3493540\local\save\ (Steam Cloud), with a local mirror at %APPDATA%\Transport Fever 3. It is NOT in the Documents folder, which is where many players first look.

How do I back up or move my Transport Fever 3 saves?

Copy the whole save folder from the Steam userdata path (or %APPDATA%\Transport Fever 3) to a USB drive or cloud storage. On a new PC, install the game, launch once, close it, then paste the files back — or sign into Steam and let Steam Cloud restore them.

Why can Steam Cloud overwrite my Transport Fever 3 save?

If the cloud copy is older or empty (e.g. after a crash or on a fresh PC) it can sync over your good local save on launch. Disable Steam Cloud for the game before restoring an older backup, then copy your files, then re-enable it.

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.