Where games are stored on Android: folder names, paths and hidden files

Have you ever wondered where exactly games are installed on your Android smartphone? Why do some take up gigabytes of memory, while others only take a few megabytes? And most importantly - what is the name of the folder with gamesif you suddenly need to find it manually?

The answer is not as obvious as it seems. The fact is that Android distributes game files into several directories, and the APKfiles and application data are stored in different places. In this article we will look at:

• 📁 Where is the folder with installed games (and why it is not in the root memory)
• 🔍 How the paths for internal memory differ data-i="42">SD cards and SD cards
• 🎮 Why games weigh more than their .apkfiles, and where additional data is stored
• ⚙️ How to manually find, copy or delete game files (including saves)

If you are trying to free up space, transfer game on a memory card or just curious - you are in the right place. Let's start with the main thing: On Android there is no single “Games” folder in the usual sense. Instead, the files are distributed across system directories, and their location depends on the OS version, smartphone manufacturer, and even the game itself.

1. Where are the APK files of installed games stored?

The executable file of the game itself (with the extension .apk) after installation is placed in a protected system folder. You will not see it in a standard file manager without root access or special utilities. The path looks like this:

/data/app/[random_set of_characters]/

Example of a real path for the game Brawl Stars:

/data/app/com.supercell.brawlstars-1/base.apk

Why is it so difficult?

• 🔒 Security: Android hides APKs to prevent them from being accidentally deletion or modification.
• 🔄 Multi-user mode: different versions of the game can be installed on one device for different accounts.
• 📦 Updates: when updating via Google Play, a new folder is created, and the old one is deleted only after successful installation.

⚠️ Attention: if you manually delete the APK from this folder (for example, via Root Explorer), the game will no longer launch, but its data (saves, cache) will remain and will take up space. To completely remove the game, use the standard uninstallation procedure via Settings → Applications.

2. Game data folder: why do games take up so much space?

When you install a game weighing 50 MB, and it suddenly takes up 2 GB, this is not an error. The point is additional data, which are loaded at the first start. They are stored in another folder:

/data/data/[game_package_name]/

For the same Brawl Stars the path will be:

/data/data/com.supercell.brawlstars/

What exactly lies in this folder?

💡 Why are games on Android so “heavy”? Modern projects like Genshin Impact or Call of Duty: Mobile load high-resolution textures, 3D models and audio tracks separately from For example, PUBG Mobile after installation it weighs ~600 MB, but after the first launch it downloads another 1.5–2 GB of data.

3. Game folders on the SD card: how to find them and transfer?

If your game supports installation on SD card, its files can be located in one of these folders:

• 📁 /sdcard/Android/obb/[game_package_name]/ — stored here additional resources (for example, files .obb for Asphalt 9 or Need for Speed).
• 📁 /sdcard/Android/data/[game_package_name]/ —some games transfer cache and saves.
• 📁 /sdcard/Download/ —downloaded APKs may be located here if you installed the game manually.

⚠️ Attention: not all games allow you to transfer data to an SD card. For example, Clash of Clans or Honkai: Star Rail essentially store files in internal memory. If you manually copy the game folder to the card and then delete the original, the game will stop working.

How to check if the game supports transfer?

1. Open Settings → Applications → [game name] → Memory.
2. If there is a button "Change" or "Move to SD card" it means it supports.
3. If there is no button, transfer is impossible without root access.

Check transfer support in the game settings|Copy the folder /Android/obb/[package_name] to the card|In the application settings, select "Transfer"|Reboot the device|Check the game's functionality-->

4. How to find a game's package name (to find its folder)?

Without knowledge package name (for example, com.supercell.clashofclans) you will not be able to determine exactly where the game files are stored. Here are 3 ways to find it out:

Method 1. Through Google Play

1. Open the game page in Google Play.
2. Scroll down to the block "Advanced information".
3. Find the line "Package name" (for example, com.mojang.minecraftpe for Minecraft).

Method 2. Through Android settings

1. Go to Settings → Applications.
2. Find the game in the list and tap on it.
3. The name of the package will be indicated at the top under the name (scrolling may be required).

Method 3. Through ADB (for advanced)

If you have ADB (Android Debug Bridge), run the command:

adb shell pm list packages | grep -i "game_name"

Search example Among Us:

adb shell pm list packages | grep -i "among"

5. Hidden folders and files: where do games hide saves?

Many games store saving i settings in hidden folders that are not visible in the standard file manager. Here's where to look for them:

1. Folder /Android/data/ i /Android/obb/

As a rule, saves are located here:

/Android/data/[package_name]/files/

For example, for Stardew Valley:

/Android/data/com.chucklefish.stardewvalley/files/saves/

2. Internal memory: /data/data/

If the game does not use cloud saves, they can be here:

/data/data/[package_name]/shared_prefs/

3. Cloud services

Games from Google Play Games (for example, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery) synchronize saves with your Google account. To find them:

1. Open Google Play Games.
2. Tap on the profile icon → "Settings".
3. Select "Manage game data".

⚠️ Attention: if you manually delete the save folder (for example, files/saves/), progress will be lost. Before experiments, make a backup copy!

6. How to clear the cache and game data without deleting?

If the game starts to slow down or takes up too much space, you can clear it cache or data without completely uninstalling it. Here's how to do it:

Method 1. Through Android settings

1. Go to Settings → Applications → [name games].
2. Tap "Memory".
3. Select "Clear cache" (safe) or "Clear data" (resets progress!).

Method 2. Manually through a file manager

If you have root access or a file manager with support for system folders (for example, FX File Explorer):

1. Go to /data/data/[package_name]/cache/.
2. Delete all files in this folder.
3. To completely clear the data, delete the contents /data/data/[package_name]/files/ (but this will delete the save!).

Method 3. Through Recovery Mode (for experienced)

If the game has heavily polluted the system, you can use TWRP or other custom recovery:

1. Boot into Recovery Mode (usually Power + Volume Up).
2. Select "Advanced → File Manager".
3. Go to /data/data/ and manually delete the game folder.

📌 What will happen if you clear the data?

• ✅ Temporary files (texture cache, sounds) will disappear.
• ❌ All settings (graphics, sound, account linking) will be reset.
• ❌ Local saves will be deleted (if the game is not synchronized with the cloud).

7. Frequent problems and errors when working with game folders

When trying to find or change game files, users often encounter common errors. Let's look at the most common ones:

Problem 1: "The /data/data folder is inaccessible"

🔹 Cause: Android hides system folders without root access.

🔹 Solution:

• Use a file manager with root support (for example, Root Explorer).
• Connect your smartphone to the PC and use ADB:

adb pull /data/data/[package_name]/ [path_to_pc]

Problem 2: "The game does not start after transferring to SD card"

🔹 Cause: Not all games support working from external memory.

🔹 Solution:

• Move the game back to the internal memory.
• Check if it is in /Android/obb/ file .obb —if not, download it again through the game.

Problem 3: "After clearing the cache, the game takes a long time to load"

🔹 Cause: The cache contains pre-loaded textures and data for a quick start.

🔹 Solution:

• Wait - the game will restore the cache the next time you start it.
• Connect to Wi-Fi to speed up the process.

⚠️ Attention: if you are using modified APK (for example, from sites like APKMirror or RevDL), their files may be stored in non-standard folders. In this case, the path to the data may differ from that described above.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about folders with games on Android

/sdcard/gameloft/games/[game_name]/

/sdcard/gameloft/games/Asphalt9/