Where are game save files stored on Android: all ways to find and copy progress

Losing progress in your favorite mobile game due to a phone reset, breakdown, or switching to a new device is a nuisance that many gamers have encountered. Fortunately, save files on Android do not disappear without a trace: they can be found, copied, or even restored if you know where and how they are stored. In this article, we will analyze all possible locations - from standard folders to cloud storage, and also tell you how to safely transfer saves to another smartphone or to a backup copy.

It is important to understand that the storage location depends on the type of game: some developers save data locally in the device’s memory, others synchronize them with your account Google Play Games or their own servers (as in Genshin Impact or Clash of Clans). We will look at both options, as well as rare cases when files are hidden in non-obvious directories. If you are looking for a way to save your progress or just want to make a backup, read on.

Standard paths for storing saves on Android

Most games on Android save data in one of two main folders: the device's internal memory or on SD card (if supported). The paths to these folders are standard, but may differ depending on the version of the operating system and the smartphone manufacturer. Here are the key directories where you should look:

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ - data for most modern games is stored here (including saves, cache and settings). The folder is visible only through a file manager with rights root or when connected to a PC.
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Android/obb/ — often used for large files (for example, additional levels or textures). The saves themselves are rarely found here, but sometimes they appear.
• 📁 /data/data/ —the system folder where application data is stored. Available only with root access or through ADB.
• 📁 /sdcard/ or /storage/extSdCard/ if the game supports saving to an external memory card (relevant for older devices).

For example, saving Minecraft usually lie in /storage/emulated/0/games/com.mojang/, and progress in Brawl Stars is synchronized with servers Supercell and is not stored locally. To accurately determine the path, you can use a file manager (for example, Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer) and search by the name of the game or its package (you can find it in Google Play).

On devices with Android 11+ access to these folders is limited by default due to the policy. Scoped StorageTo bypass the restrictions, you will need either rootor connecting to a PC via ADB (we'll talk about this below). Also, some manufacturers (for example, Xiaomi or Huawei) add their own layers of protection - in such cases you may need to enable developer mode or use proprietary backup tools.

How to find saves through a file manager

The easiest way to find save files is to use a file manager with access to system folders. We recommend Solid Explorer or MiXplorer (the latter requires manual configuration of rights). Here are step-by-step guide:

1. Install a file manager from Google Play (for example, Solid Explorer).
2. Open the manager and give it access to the device memory (permissions are requested upon first launch).
3. Go to the root directory (/) and open the folder Android, then data.
4. Find the folder with the name of the game package (for example, com.supercell.clashofclans for Clash of Clans).
5. Inside look for files with extensions .sav, .dat, .json or folder files/shared_prefs.

If the folder Android/data is empty or inaccessible, this means that:

• 🔒 You have Android 11+, and access is blocked (need ADB or root).
• 🎮 The game does not save data locally (for example, PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile linked to an account).
• 🗑️ The data was deleted after uninstalling the game (some applications clear saves when deleting).

Enable the display of hidden files in the manager

Check free space on the device

Remember the name of the game package (can be found on Google Play)

Connect your smartphone to charger (long search drains the battery)-->

On smartphones Samsung s shell One UI access to folders can be limited even to Android 10. In this case, the application My Files from Samsung (it has the option "Show hidden files") or connecting to a PC via the MTP-protocol will help. If the game is synchronized. s Google Play Games, local files may be absent altogether - progress is stored in the cloud.

Search for saves via ADB (without root)

If the file manager does not show the necessary folders, but root access no, come to the rescue Android Debug Bridge (ADB) a debugging tool that allows you to access system directories without full root. Here's how to use it:

1. Download ADB for your OS (for example, Platform Tools from Google).
2. Enable developer mode on smartphone: go to Settings → About phone → Build number and tap on it 7 times.
3. Return to Settings → System → For Developers i activate USB Debugging.
4. Connect the phone to the PC, open the command line (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and do:

   adb devices

   Make sure that the device is detected.

5. Copy the saves to the PC with the command:

   adb pull /data/data/com.package.name.game/save_files/

   Replace com.name.package.game to a real package (for example, com.mojang.minecraftpe for Minecraft).

If the command adb pull gives an error Permission denied, then you do not have read permissions folders. In this case, only root or backup via Titanium Backup will help (also requires root). An alternative is to use ADB Backup:

adb backup -f backup.ab com.name.package.game

This command will create a file backup.ab on a PC, which can then be restored on another device. However, not all games support such backup - some developers block backup of their data.

Through a file manager

Using ADB

Searched manually on PC

Never searched, plays with the cloud

Another option-->

Cloud saves: Google Play Games and other services

Many modern games (especially multiplayer ones) do not store progress locally, but synchronize it with cloud services. The most common option is Google Play Games, which automatically saves data for supported applications. You can check if you have cloud saves like this:

1. Open the application Google Play Games (if it doesn’t exist, install from Google Play).
2. Tap on profile avatar in the upper right corner and select Settings see the date of the last synchronization and the size of the saved data. Settings.
3. Go to section Game data management — all games with cloud saves will be displayed here.
4. Click on a game to see the date it was last synced and the size of the saved data.

If the game supports the cloud, but the saves are not displayed, try:

• 🔄 Update data manually: in the game settings in Google Play Games click Synchronize.
• 📱 Reinstall the game - sometimes this triggers re-sync.
• 🔧 Check your account settings: some games (for example, Honkai: Star Rail) require linking to Google, Facebook or your own account developer.

Some studios use their own cloud services. For example:

Important: if the game is linked to a social network (for example, Facebook), but you deleted your account or lost access to it, it will be impossible to restore progress. Always link games to several accounts (for example, Google Play + Facebook).

Transferring saves to another smartphone

If you found local save files and want to transfer them to a new device, follow this algorithm:

1. Copy the files from the original smartphone to a PC or cloud storage (for example, Google Drive). Use ADB, file manager or connection via USB.
2. Install the same version of the game on a new device (preferably from the same source - Google Play or APK).
3. Place the copied files in the same folder on the new smartphone. For example, if the saves were in /Android/data/com.game.example/files/on the old phone, they should be there on the new one.
4. Restart the game. If the progress is not loaded, check the folder permissions (on Android 11+ you may need to manually resolution via ADB).

For games with cloud synchronization, the transfer is easier:

• 📱 Install the game on a new device.
• 🔑 Log in to the same account (Google Play, Facebook etc.) that was linked earlier.
• 🔄 Wait for automatic synchronization (you may need to connect to Wi-Fi).

adb shell chmod -R 777 /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.package name/

For games with root access (for example, emulators or modified versions), transferring saves may require additional manipulations. For example, in PPSSPP (emulator PSP) save files are in /Android/data/org.ppsspp.ppsspp/files/PSP/SAVEDATA/, and you can simply copy them. But in Dolphin Emulator (for GameCube/Wii) the path will be different: /storage/emulated/0/Dolphin Emulator/Load/States/.

Recovering deleted saves

If you accidentally deleted save files or they disappeared after resetting the phone, the chances of recovery depend on several factors:

• 🗑️ Local files: if they were on the internal memory, you can try data recovery apps (for example, DiskDigger or Recuva when connecting to a PC). Success depends on whether the data was overwritten.
• ☁️ Cloud saves: if the game was synchronized with Google Play Games or another service, progress can be returned by simply reinstalling the game and logging into your account.
• 🔧 Backups: if you made a backup via Titanium Backup or Swift Backup (required root), restore the data from the archive.

To restore via ADB (if the files have not yet been overwritten):

1. Connect your smartphone to the PC and open ADB Shell:

   adb shell

2. Check if there are lost files in temporary folders:

   ls /data/local/tmp/

3. If you find something similar to saves, copy them back:

   cp /data/local/tmp/save.dat /data/data/com.name.package/files/

On devices with Android 10+ the chances of recovering local files are lower due to encryption of user data. If the game is not synchronized with the cloud, and there are no backups, it will most likely not be possible to return progress. In this case, all you have to do is start over or contact game support (sometimes developers can restore your account using additional data, for example, purchase receipts).

Games without local saves: what to do?

Some games (especially online multiplayer) do not store progress locally at all. In this case, the transfer or restoration depends only on the linked account. Here's what you can do:

• 🔍 Check the bindings: open the game settings and see which accounts it is linked to (Google, Facebook, Twitter, the developer's own account).
• 📧 Restore access: if you forgot your account password, use the recovery function (for example, via email or phone).
• 💬 Write to support: some games (for example, Genshin Impact) have a support service that can help restore your account using additional data (for example, UID, purchase history, profile screenshots).

If the game is not linked to any account and there are no local files, then progress is lost forever. To avoid such situations in the future:

• 🔗 Always link games to at least one account (preferably two).
• ☁️ Enable automatic synchronization in Google Play Games (in the application settings).
• 📁 Regularly make backup copies of local saves (for example, through ADB or a file manager).

For example, in Clash Royale linking to Supercell ID allows you to restore your account even after changing the device or reinstalling the game. And in Among Us progress is stored only locally - if you do not make a backup, after deleting the game the data will be lost.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about saving games on Android