Where Are Borderlands 3 Save Files: Find, Manage, and Transfer

Many players wonder where Borderlands 3 stores its save files, especially when they want to back up their progress or transfer data between platforms. The save files are located in the “Documents\My Games\Borderlands 3\Saved\SaveGames” folder on the player’s PC. Each folder within this location corresponds to a specific Steam or Epic Games account, identified by unique strings of numbers and letters.

Understanding the exact location of these files is crucial for managing game saves, whether for creating backups or transferring progress between Steam and Epic versions. Moving save files requires manual copying between platform-specific folders, which makes knowing where they are stored essential to maintaining game data without loss. This information is valuable to anyone looking to secure their in-game achievements or switch platforms smoothly.

Key Takeways

• Save files are stored locally in the Documents folder under Borderlands 3.
• Each platform uses a unique folder identified by a string of characters.
• Manually copying save data enables transferring progress between platforms.

Locating Borderlands 3 Save Files

Borderlands 3 save files are stored locally on a user’s computer, organized by platform. These files include character progress, game settings, and other player-specific data. The location varies slightly between launchers but generally resides within the user’s Documents folder.

Default Save File Locations

Borderlands 3 save files are found in the Documents directory under the following path on Windows:

C:\Users\[Username]\Documents\My Games\Borderlands 3\Saved\SaveGames\

Each game launcher creates unique folders within this directory. These contain subfolders corresponding to individual save profiles. The files are not easily human-readable, as they use strings of letters and numbers as folder names.

Users can access this path directly through file explorer by inserting the above path and replacing [Username] with their system account name. This location is consistent across different launchers but contains platform-specific subfolders.

Steam Save File Path

For Steam users, Borderlands 3 save files are stored within the default save directory mentioned above. Steam creates a unique folder under the SaveGames directory with a long alphanumeric identifier representing the Steam account.

The typical path for Steam save data is:

C:\Users\[Username]\Documents\My Games\Borderlands 3\Saved\SaveGames\[SteamID]\

This folder contains character save files and options data. Steam’s cloud save system can also sync these save files, but backup copies should be maintained when transferring or modifying files to prevent data loss.

Steam achievements linked to save files may not sync properly if saves are manually moved from other platforms.

Epic Games Launcher Save File Path

Epic Games Launcher stores Borderlands 3 save files in the same main directory used by Steam but under a different folder tied to the Epic account’s unique identifier.

The path is:

C:\Users\[Username]\Documents\My Games\Borderlands 3\Saved\SaveGames\[EpicID]\

Users must launch the game once on the Epic platform for this folder to be created. Save files from Epic can be copied into the Steam folder or vice versa, but the transfer is manual, and cloud syncing will not cross platforms.

Manual transfers do not carry over Epic-specific achievements or cloud progress.

Understanding profile.sav and Save File Types

Inside the save folders, multiple file types exist. The most crucial are the numbered .sav files and profile.sav.

Numbered .sav files represent individual Vault Hunters or player characters. Each file corresponds to one character’s progress, items, and story state.

The profile.sav file stores broader user options such as bank inventory, Guardian Rank, and customization preferences. This file impacts game settings and overall account data independent of specific characters.

Backing up both types of files is recommended before modding or transferring saves to avoid progress loss.

Managing and Transferring Save Files

Borderlands 3 save files require careful management to avoid loss and ensure seamless gameplay across platforms. Players should consistently back up their files, understand the process for moving saves between Steam and Epic Games launchers, and know how to address issues like missing or corrupted data.

Backing Up Save Files

Backing up save files is essential before making any changes, such as transferring or modifying game data. Save files are stored in the local folder:
Documents\My Games\Borderlands 3\Saved\SaveGames\.

This folder contains multiple files, including profile.sav, which holds settings and options, and numerical .sav files representing individual Vault Hunters. Players should copy the entire contents of this folder to a secure location before proceeding with any file operations.

Backups protect against accidental deletion, corruption, or issues caused by mods. Using cloud save features, where available, can provide an additional layer of security but does not replace manual backups.

Moving Save Files Between Platforms

Transferring save files between the Steam and Epic Games versions of Borderlands 3 is possible but requires manual file copying. Both platforms store saves in the same default directory but segregate files using unique account identifiers.

To transfer:

1. Launch Borderlands 3 on the destination platform once to create the folder with its unique ID.
2. Exit the game completely.
3. Copy all saved files, including profile.sav and .sav files, from the source folder to the destination folder.

It is crucial to note save data does not sync across platforms after the transfer. Steam achievements tied to previously earned progress may not carry over fully and might need to be earned again.

Troubleshooting Missing or Corrupted Save Files

If save files are missing or corrupted, first verify the correct folder location:
Documents\My Games\Borderlands 3\Saved\SaveGames\.

Check that the folder corresponds to the active game launcher account. Corrupted save files can sometimes be restored from backup copies or the “backups” subfolder if available.

Players should also disable cloud sync temporarily to prevent overwriting local files during troubleshooting. If issues persist, reinstalling the game launcher or verifying game file integrity can help restore or rebuild missing components.

Keeping a manual backup of the profile.sav file and Vault Hunter files ensures recovery is possible in most cases.