Game saves on Android are not just progress, but hours of invested time, rare items and unique achievements. Transferring them to PC may be necessary if you change platforms, make a backup, or want to continue the game on a larger screen. However, not all games automatically support cross-platform syncing. In some cases, you will have to manually copy files, use cloud services, or even edit system folders.

The transfer process depends on the type of game: online projects (for example, Genshin Impact or Honor of Kings) are usually tied to the account and are synchronized automatically, and offline games (like Minecraft or Stardew Valley) require manual copying of files. In this article, we will analyze both scenarios, and also consider universal methods that work for 90% of mobile games.

⚠️ Important: before any manipulations with save files make a backup copy. Some games encrypt data or store it in locked folders - incorrect copying can lead to loss of progress.

📊 What game do you want to transfer to PC?
Genshin Impact
Minecraft
Call of Duty Mobile
Stardew Valley
Another game

1. Method for online games: synchronization via account

If the game supports cross-platform account (for example, via Google Play Games, MiHoYo Account or Facebook), transferring saves will take only 5 minutes. It is enough to log in to your PC under the same profile, and your progress will be updated automatically.

Examples of games with such support:

  • 🎮 Genshin Impact — linking to MiHoYo Account or Twitter
  • 🎮 Call of Duty: Mobile — synchronization via Activision or Facebook
  • 🎮 Clash of Clans - account Supercell ID
  • 🎮 Honor of Kings (Arena of Valor) - linking to VK or Google

To check if your game supports cross-platform:

  1. Open settings games on Android.
  2. Find the section Account, Profile or Synchronization.
  3. If there is an option Link account or Login via..., which means the transfer is possible.

⚠️ Attention: some games (for example, PUBG Mobile) separate servers for mobile and PC versions. Check this in Game Rules or on the official website.

💡

If the game requires confirmation via SMS when logging in on a new platform, use the same phone number as on Android. Some services (for example Garena) block your account if you change devices frequently.

2. Manually copying saves for offline games

Most offline games store saves in folders /Android/data/ or /Android/obb/. To transfer them:

  1. Find the save folder:
    • 📁 For Minecraft: /games/com.mojang/minecraftWorlds/
    • 📁 For Stardew Valley: /Android/data/com.chucklefish.stardewvalley/files/
    • 📁 For The Room: /Android/data/eu.firedawn.games.theroom/files/
  2. Copy files to PC:
    • 🔌 Connect your phone to the computer via USB cable mode (in File transfer).
    • 💾 Use Total Commander or FX File Explorerif the folder is hidden.
  • Paste the files into the game folder on PC:
    • 🖥️ For Minecraft Java Edition: %appdata%\.minecraft\saves\
    • 🖥️ For Stardew Valley (Steam): Steam\steamapps\common\Stardew Valley\Saves\

      • ⚠️ Attention: if the game uses cloud saving (for example, through Steam Cloud), local files can overwrite at the first launch. Disable cloud synchronization in the game settings before copying.

      ☑️ Preparation for manual transfer

      Done: 0 / 4

      3. Using ADB to access hidden folders

      Some games (for example, Another Eden or Alchemy Stars) store saves in protected system folders that are not visible through the standard explorer. will help Android Debug Bridge (ADB).

      Instructions:

      1. Install ADB Tools on your PC.
      2. Enable USB debugging on your phone: 
        Settings → About phone → Build number (press 7 times)

        Settings → System → For developers → USB debugging

      3. Connect your phone to the PC and run the commands: 
        adb devices

        adb pull /data/data/com.game.package/files/ C:\GameSaves\

        (replace com.game.package with the real game ID).

    🔍 How to find the game package ID?

    • 📱 Install App Inspector from Google Play.
    • 🔎 Find the game in the list - its package will be in the format com.company.game.

      • Important: ADB provides access to system files. Do not delete or edit anything other than save folders - this may disrupt Android operation.

      4. Cloud services: Google Drive, Dropbox, Mega

      If manual copying seems difficult, use cloud storage. This method is suitable for games where save files are not encrypted (for example, Terraria or Bloons TD 6).

      Step-by-step guide:

      1. Install on your phone Google Drive, Dropbox or Mega.
      2. Find the save folder (see section 2) and upload it to the cloud.
      3. Download the files to your PC and place them in the appropriate game directory.

      📊 Comparison of cloud services for transferring saves:

      Service Free space Max. file size Download speed
      Google Drive 15 GB 5 TB Medium
      Dropbox 2 GB 50 GB High
      Mega 20 GB 5 GB Low (encryption)
      OneDrive 5 GB 100 GB Average

      ⚠️ Attention: if the game uses binary save files (for example, .dat or .sav), do not open them through text editors - this may damage the data.

      5. Transfer through Android emulators (BlueStacks, LDPlayer)

      If you play on a PC via an emulator, you can transfer saves directly from your phone to a virtual machine. This method is suitable for Call of Duty: Mobile, Free Fire and other mobile games.

      Action algorithm:

      1. Install the emulator (BlueStacks, LDPlayer, MuMu).
      2. Log in to it using the same account Google Playas on phone.
      3. Copy the save folder (see section 2) to the emulator directory:
        • 🖥️ BlueStacks: C:\ProgramData\BlueStacks\Engine\UserData\SharedFolder\
        • 🖥️ LDPlayer: C:\LDPlayer\LDPlayer9\data\
    • Run the game in the emulator - the saves will be loaded automatically.

    💡 Tip: if the game is in the emulator is running slowly, reduce the graphic settings in Settings → Performance.

    What to do if the emulator does not see the save?

    Check that the folder with the files has an extension .sav or .dat. Some emulators require manual import through the menu File → Import data. Also make sure that the version of the game on your phone and in the emulator is the same.

    6. transferring saves

    For some games there are utilities that automate the transfer. For example:

    • 🎮 Minecraft: MCPE Master or Toolbox for Minecraft
    • 🎮 Stardew Valley: SMAPI (mod manager with backup function)
    • 🎮 Terraria: Terraria Save Manager

    Example of working with SMAPI:

    1. Download SMAPI from official website.
    2. Install the mod Save Backup via SMAPI.
    3. Copy the folder Saves from /Android/data/com.chucklefish.stardewvalley/files/ to Stardew Valley\Mods\Save Backup\ on PC.
    4. Start the game via SMAPI —the saves will be loaded.

    ⚠️ Attention: use only proven utilities from official sources. Some. "hacked" apps for transferring saves contain viruses or may block your account (especially in online games).

    7. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

    Even if you follow the instructions exactly, problems may arise. Let's look at typical errors:

    Error Cause Solution
    Saves are not loaded Game version mismatch Update the game on both devices
    The files are damaged Incorrect copying or editing Restore the backup
    The game shows a loading error The path to the files is incorrect Check the folder structure (see section 2)
    The emulator does not see the save There is no account synchronization Log in Google Play in the emulator

    🔧 If nothing works:

    • 📌 Check permissions to read/write for the save folder.
    • 📌 Make sure that the PC and phone have the same version of the game.
    • 📌 Try transferring the saves to another PC - the problem may be in your system configuration.
    💡

    If the game uses an anti-cheat (for example, Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile), manual editing of saves can lead to account ban. In such cases, use only official synchronization methods.

    Is it possible to transfer saves from a pirated version of the game?

    Technically yes, but there are risks:

    • 🚫 Pirated versions often modify save files - they may not be suitable for a licensed game on a PC.
    • 🚫 Some games (for example, Genshin Impact) block accounts for using hacked APKs.
    • 🔄 If the game is offline (for example, Minecraft), try copying the folder com.mojang completely.

    💡 Advice: before transferring, check the files with an antivirus - pirated APKs often contain malware.

    How to transfer saves if the game is deleted from the phone?

    If you did not make a backup copy, chances are small, but you can try:

    1. Check Google Drive —some games automatically load saves into the folder Android/backups/.
    2. If the phone is rooted, use DiskDigger to recover deleted files.
    3. Contact game support—some developers can restore progress using the account ID.

    ⚠️ Attention: data recovery apps like Recuva or EaseUS work only if no new files were written to the phone after deletion.

    Is it possible to transfer saves from Android to iOS?

    Yes, but the process is more complicated:

    • 🍎 For online games (for example, Clash Royale) it is enough to log in under the same account.
    • 🍎 For offline games you will need iTunes or Finder (on macOS) + access to the iPhone file system via iMazing.
    • 🚫 Some games (for example, Minecraft Bedrock) do not support cross-platform transfer between Android and iOS.

    📌 Important: iOS has strict restrictions on access to file system. Most often you will have to use cloud services or specialized utilities.

    Why does the game start from scratch after transferring saves?

    Probable reasons:

    • 🔄 Save files do not match the version (for example, you copied saves from Minecraft 1.18 to Minecraft 1.19).
    • 📁 Save folder is not there —check the correct path (see section 2).
    • 🔐 The game uses encryption —in this case, transfer is only possible through the account.
    • 🖥️ Installed on the PC another edition of the game (for example, Minecraft Java instead of Bedrock).

    🔧 Solution: compare the folder structure on the phone and PC. If the files are named the same, but do not work, try rename them manually (for example, save1.dat → save.dat).

    How to transfer saves if the phone does not have root access?

    You can do without root in 90% of cases:

    • 📂 Use FX File Explorer or Solid Explorer —they show hidden folders without root.
    • 🔌 Connect the phone to the PC and turn on USB debugging (see section 3).
    • ☁️ Upload saves to the cloud directly from your phone (if the folder is available).

    💡 Exception: if the game stores data in /data/data/, without root or ADB access will be limited.