How to save a game on Android: a complete guide with instructions for all types of games

Losing hours (or even days!) of game progress due to a phone reset, device failure, or accidental deletion of an application is the nightmare of any gamer. Luckily, modern Android devices offer several ways to back up your saves, but not all of them are universal. Some games are automatically synchronized with the cloud, others require manual export of files, and others even store data in protected folders, which cannot be reached without root access.

In this guide we will look at all current methods of saving game progress —from standard Android tools to specialized utilities for advanced users. You will learn how to work with Google Play Games, where to look for local save files, how to transfer them between devices, and what to do if the game does not support cloud synchronization. We will pay special attention to hidden folders with game datawhich many users overlook, losing progress when reinstalling.

Important: the methods differ for online games (for example, Clash of Clans or Brawl Stars), offline projects (like Minecraft or Stardew Valley) and emulators (for example, PPSSPP or Dolphin). We will consider each case separately so that you can definitely find a solution for your game.

1. Automatic synchronization via Google Play Games

The easiest way to save progress is to use the built-in system Google Play Games (formerly Google Play Games). It works for most popular mobile games, but there are some nuances: Google Play Games data-i="58">☁️ Synchronization occurs automatically when connected to Wi-Fi, but some games require manual saving in the menu.

• 🎮 Supported only by games integrated with the service (the list can be checked in Settings → Google Account → Games).
• ☁️ Synchronization occurs automatically when connected to Wi-Fi, but some games require manual saving in the menu.
• 🔄 When you reinstall the game or change the device, progress will be restored after logging into the same Google account.
• ⚠️ Not all data can be saved (for example, some settings or local achievements).

How to check if your game supports this feature:

1. Open Google Play Games (application with the game controller icon).
2. Go to the tab Profile → Settings → Game data management.
3. Find your game in the list - if it is there, synchronization is enabled automatically.

For games without support Google Play Games (for example, many indie projects or emulators) you will have to use other methods. More about them in the following sections.

2. Manual copying of local saves (without root)

If the game is not synchronized with the cloud, its data is stored locally in folders /Android/data/ or /Android/obb/. They can be copied manually, but there are pitfalls:

• 📁 Save files often have non-obvious names (for example, com.mojang.minecraftpe for Minecraft).
• 🔒 The folder /Android/data/ is hidden by default - it needs to be made visible in the file manager.
• 📱 On some devices (for example, Xiaomi or Huawei) access to these folders is limited without additional settings.

Step-by-step guide:

1. Connect your phone to your PC or open the file manager (for example Total Commander or FX File Explorer).
2. Go to folder /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/ (or /sdcard/Android/data/ on older devices).
3. Find the folder with the name of the game package (you can find it in Google Play in the address line, for example, com.supercell.clashofclans).
4. Copy the entire folder to a PC or to cloud storage (for example, Google Drive).

Find the game folder in /Android/data/|

Copy files with the extension .sav, .dat, .bin|

Check the /Android/obb/ folder for additional files|

Record the game version (in settings or Google Play) for compatibility|

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⚠️ Attention: Some games (for example, Genshin Impact or Honkai: Star Rail) store critical data in encrypted files. Copying them without the original device may result in loss of progress. In such cases, it is better to use official backup methods (see section 4).

Game type	Save folder	Files to copy
Minecraft	/Android/data/com.mojang.minecraftpe/	games/com.mojang/minecraftWorlds/ (all folders) (.sav files) Using cloud services (Google Drive, Dropbox)
Stardew Valley	/Android/data/com.chucklefish.stardewvalley/	files/Saves/ (.sav files)
PPSSPP (emulator)	/Android/data/org.ppsspp.ppsspp/	PSP/SAVEDATA/ And PSP/MEMSTICK/
Clash Royale	/Android/data/com.supercell.clashroyale/	No local files - only the cloud

3. Using cloud services (Google Drive, Dropbox)

If the game does not support Google Play Games, but allows you to export saves, you can automate their backup via cloud services. For example, Google Drive or Dropbox can synchronize selected folders.

How to set up automatic backup:

1. Install the application Autosync for Google Drive or FolderSync.
2. In the settings, select the folder with game saves (see section 2).
3. Set up a synchronization schedule (for example, once a day when connected to Wi-Fi).
4. Make sure that there is enough space in the cloud - some games (for example, GTA San Andreas) take up gigabytes.

For games with manual export (for example, The Room or Monument Valley):

• 📲 In the game menu, find the option Export Save or Backup.
• 📎 Export the file to a folder synchronized with the cloud.
• 🔄 To restore, use Import Save and select the file from the cloud.

What games CANNOT be saved via cloud?

Some online games (for example, PUBG Mobile or Free Fire) block access to local save files to prevent cheating. In such cases, the only way is to link to an account (Facebook, Twitter, VK). Also, cloud services are useless for games that store data in /data/data/ —this folder requires root access.

⚠️ Attention: When using Google Drive on Android 11+, permission to access the folder may be required. Android/data/. It must be given manually in the application settings (Settings → Applications → Google Drive → Permissions → Manage all files).

4. Backup via social network accounts

Many online games (especially multiplayer ones) allow you to link progress to an account on a social network. This is more reliable than local saves, since the data is stored on the developer’s servers. Popular options:

• 📘 Facebook - used in Clash of Clans, Candy Crush Saga, 8 Ball Pool.
• 🐦 Twitter/X - supported in Genshin Impact, Honkai Impact.
• 💬 VK - relevant for Russian games, for example, Tanks Online.
• 🎮 Google Play Games - a universal option for many projects.

How to link an account:

1. Open game settings (usually a gear or profile icon).
2. Find the section Account, Link or Link account.
3. Select a social network and log in.
4. After linking, check that the progress has been saved - reinstall game and log in through the same account.

⚠️ Attention: Some games (for example, Genshin Impact) require linking to an account miHoYo or Hoyoverse before If you played without a link and lost access, it will be impossible to restore your progress!

5. Backup with root access (for advanced)

If the game stores saves in a protected folder /data/data/which cannot be accessed without root access, you will need to:

1. Get root access (for example, through Magisk).
2. Install a file manager with support root (for example Root Explorer or Mixplorer).
3. Go to /data/data/[game_package_name]/ and copy the files.

Example for Terraria:

Folder: /data/data/com.and.games505.terraria_paid/
Files to copy:
- /files/.tConfig (settings)
- /files/Worlds/ (worlds)
- /files/Players/ (characters)

⚠️ Attention: Incorrect actions in the folder /data/data/ can lead to application or even system failure Before copying:

• Make a full backup of your phone. via TWRP or Orange Backup.
• Do not change files with the extension .dex or .so - this may break the game.
• Check version compatibility: saves from a new version of the game may not work on the old one.

What to do if after copying the game does not see the save?

1. Delete the game and install it again.

2. Place the copied files back into /data/data/ (or /Android/data/ for games without root).

3. Check the file permissions (should be rw-r--r--).

4. If the game still does not see the save, try changing the owner of the files to app_[ID] (you can find out the ID via adb shell ps | grep [package_name]).

6. Specialized utilities for backing up games

To automate the process, you can use applications that specialize in backing up games:

Application	Root support	Features	Link
Swift Backup	Yes	Creates backups of applications and their data, supports cloud synchronization	Google Play
Titanium Backup	Yes	Allows you to freeze games, backup data and settings	Requires manual installation (APK)
Helium	No	Works without root, but requires connection to a PC for some functions	Google Play
OAndBackupX	No	Open software for backing up applications and their data (requires ADB)	F-Droid

Usage example Swift Backup:

1. Install the application and provide root access.
2. Select the game in the list of applications.
3. Click Backup and select Data only (if you only need to save progress).
4. To restore, select a backup and click Restore.

⚠️ Attention: Some anti-cheats (for example, in PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty: Mobile) can block an account for using backup utilities. Before using them, check the rules of the game.

7. Transferring saves between devices

If you have changed your phone, but want to continue the game from the same place, follow this algorithm:

1. For games with cloud synchronization:
   • Install the game on the new device.
   • Login to the same account Google/Facebook/Twitter.
   • Wait for progress to automatically load (you may need to restart the game).
2. For games with local saves:
   • Copy the save files from the old phone (see section 2).
   • Transfer them to the new device in the same folder.
   • Install the game (preferably the same version!).

For games with root saves:

• Get root on both devices.
• Copy files from /data/data/ (see section 5).
• Restore access rights (owner, group, permissions).

⚠️ Attention: When transferring between devices with different architectures (for example ARM → x86) saves may not work. This is relevant for emulators (for example, PPSSPP or Dolphin). In such cases, use cross-platform save formats or cloud services.

💡

If the game after transfer gives an error about version incompatibility, try installing the same version of the game on the new device that was on the old one. After successfully loading the save, you can update the game via Google Play.

8. Restoring lost progress

If you lost your saves, not all is lost. Try these methods:

• 🔍 Check the Recycle Bin: Some file managers (for example, ES Explorer) save deleted files in the Recycle Bin for 30 days.
• 📧 Contact support: For online games (for example Genshin Impact or Clash of Clans), you can restore your account through support by providing data about your latest purchases or a linked email.
• 🔄 Restore from backup: If you had backup enabled in Google Drive or via Titanium Backup, try to roll back the system.
• 🛠️ Use recovery tools: apps like DiskDigger or Recuva (for PC) can find deleted files if the disk space has not been overwritten.

To recover via Google Drive:

1. Open Google Drive on PC.
2. In the menu on the left, select Trash.
3. Find the game files (usually with the extension .sav, .dat or in a folder Android/data).
4. Recover the files and transfer them back to the phone.

⚠️ Attention: If If you used cache cleaners (for example, CCleaner or SD Maid), the chances of recovery are minimal - these apps often permanently delete temporary game files.

💡

The sooner you begin recovery after data loss, the higher the chances of recovery success. Each recording of new files to the device reduces the likelihood of recovering deleted saves.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about saving games on Android

Is it possible to transfer saves from Android to iOS?

For most games, no, since iOS and Android use different save formats and file paths. Exceptions:

• Games with cross-platform synchronization through an account (for example, Genshin Impact, Clash of Clans).
• Games with manual export/import of saves (for example, Minecraft via a file .mcworld).
• Emulators that support common save formats (for example, PPSSPP with files .pss).

In other cases, you will need to convert files or use modified versions of games (which may violate the rules of services).

Why does the game start from scratch after restoring a backup?

Possible reasons:

• You restored the files to wrong folder (check the save path for your game).
• The game version on the new device is newer/older, and the save format has changed.
• The game uses additional cloud data that has not been synchronized (for example, Genshin Impact stores part of the progress on servers).
• The save files are damaged (try restoring them from another backup).

Solution: compare the versions of the game on the old and new ones device, check the integrity of the files and repeat the recovery.

How to save progress in emulators (PPSSPP, Dolphin, ePSXe)?

Special rules apply for emulators:

• PPSSPP: saves are stored in /Android/data/org.ppsspp.ppsspp/PSP/SAVEDATA/. Copy this folder and files .iso (game images).
• Dolphin: save files (.gci) are located in /Android/data/org.dolphinemu.dolphinemu/Dolphin Emulator/GC/USA/ (path depends on the game region).
• ePSXe: saves (.mcr) are located in /Android/data/com.epsxe.ePSXe/memcards/.

Important: when transferring to another device, check the compatibility of the emulator versions. For example, saves from PPSSPP Gold may not work in the regular version.

What to do if the game requires root for backup, but there is none?

Alternative methods:

• Use ADB to copy files without root:

  adb pull /data/data/[game_package] C:\Backup\

  (USB debugging enabled and developer rights are required).

• Try to find a modified version of the game with support for cloud saves (for example, Minecraft with module Online Mode).
• Contact the game community - sometimes users share saves or tools for transferring them.

⚠️ Using ADB can be blocked by anti-cheats in online games!

Is it possible to save progress in games without the Internet?

Yes, but the methods depend on the game:

• For offline games (for example, Stardew Valley, Terraria), copy local save files (see section 2).
• For games with one-time activation (for example, Dead Cells), it is enough to copy the data folder and license file (usually in /Android/obb/).
• For emulators, use the functions of exporting/importing saves (for example, in PPSSPP there is an option Save State).

If the game requires internet for the first download (for example GTA: San Andreas), download its data in advance via Wi-Fi, and then copy the saves offline.