Silksong Save File Location: PC, Steam Deck & Backup Guide

Official path and version check

The most reliable starting point is the official Hollow Knight: Silksong help page, not a random APK mirror or a save-editor landing page. Its PC save-location section lists Windows, Mac, and Linux paths and explains that Steam saves sit inside a folder named for the Steam user ID. That gives you a safe reference point even when the game is installed on another drive.

This guide was checked on August 11, 2026. The site is a download and APK-safety project, so the version freshness gate was completed before publishing: Team Cherry Patch 5 and PC version 1.0.30000 remain the latest verified version checkpoint already recorded in this repository. This page does not claim that a third-party save file, APK, ROM, or repacked installer is official.

Save data is personal progress, so the goal is preservation rather than modification. Make a copy before moving between devices, testing a mod, changing a slot, or resolving a Steam Cloud message. If a path differs on your computer, trust the live files and their modification dates over a copied path from an old guide.

Windows Silksong save file location

For a Windows PC, paste the path below into File Explorer's address bar or into the Run dialog. The %USERPROFILE% shortcut points to your own Windows account, so you do not need to replace it with a guessed username.

Steam installations normally add a numeric Steam-user folder below the main Hollow Knight Silksong directory. Open that numbered folder rather than dropping a file beside it. Non-Steam builds can use a different sub-folder, which is one reason a save path copied from a forum should be treated as a starting point rather than a guarantee.

What the save files usually look like

• user1.dat: The first in-game save slot.
• user2.dat: The second in-game save slot when it exists.
• user3.dat and user4.dat: Additional slots; only copy files that are actually present on your system.

Do not rename a file or replace a slot until the entire parent folder has been copied somewhere safe. A file name alone does not tell you whether it contains your newest progress.

How to back up Silksong save files safely

A useful backup is a dated copy of the whole Hollow Knight Silksong folder, not just one .dat file. The parent folder may contain the Steam-user directory, restore information, or files that matter to a particular build. Keeping the folder structure intact makes a later restore easier to understand.

Backups are especially important before experimenting with a mod, a save editor, a new platform, or a cloud conflict. You do not need to edit a save to benefit from this guide: simply knowing where the files live lets you recover from a bad overwrite more calmly.

1. Close the game: Exit Silksong and wait for Steam or the platform launcher to finish writing and syncing. Do not copy a file while the game is still open.
2. Open the parent folder: Use the Windows path above and open the Steam-user folder if one is present. Confirm that the modification time looks like your current play session.
3. Copy the whole folder: Copy Hollow Knight Silksong, including its numbered user folder, to a separate backup location such as an external drive or a clearly named backup directory.
4. Add a date: Use a name such as Silksong-save-backup-2026-08-11 so you can tell which copy predates a problem. Keep more than one dated copy when the progress matters.
5. Restore carefully: Close the game again, move the current folder out of the way rather than deleting it, and restore the dated copy only after you have preserved the current state.

Steam Cloud and conflict safety

Steam Cloud is helpful, but it is not a substitute for a local backup. A cloud copy can preserve a recent file, an older file, or a file that was already damaged before it synchronized. When Steam shows a cloud conflict, the safe sequence is to make a copy of the local folder first and record which copy has the newer timestamp.

If you are moving between a Windows PC and Steam Deck, let the normal sync finish before opening the game on the second device. If the progress looks wrong, close the game, preserve both local states, and then decide which one to restore. Do not keep launching the game while repeatedly choosing different conflict options; every launch can create another state to untangle.

Before choosing a cloud option

• Copy the local Hollow Knight Silksong folder to a dated backup directory.
• Check whether the local and cloud timestamps describe the session you actually want.
• If you are unsure, keep both copies and pause instead of selecting an overwrite at random.
• After restoring, launch once and verify the expected slot before deleting any old backup.
• Keep a second dated copy when testing mods, editors, or cross-device transfers.

The official store and help pages are the right places to verify platform behavior. This article does not provide a cloud-save download link and does not promise that every store edition exposes the same sync controls.

Steam Deck, macOS, and Linux save paths

The official Silksong help page lists a Linux location as well as Windows and Mac locations. Steam Deck is a Linux-based handheld, but the exact visible folder can depend on whether you are using desktop mode, a native Linux build, a different store, or a compatibility layer. Start with the official Linux path and verify the files on the device instead of copying a Windows path blindly.

For a Steam Deck backup, switch to Desktop Mode, close the game, and copy the relevant folder to a location you can find again. If you use a separate microSD card, keep one backup outside the game installation so reinstalling or moving a library does not remove both the game and the only copy of your progress.

These are starting paths from the official help page, not a promise that every launcher stores data identically. The file that matters is the save state your installed build actually reads.

What to do if the folder is missing

A missing folder usually means the game has not created a save on that account yet, File Explorer is hiding AppData, or the current build uses a different platform sub-folder. It does not automatically mean that you need to download a save file from the internet.

Start with a normal launch and a small test save, exit cleanly, and then check the official path again. If the game is installed through a store edition with managed storage, look for the documented platform path and avoid copying a Windows Steam file into a different edition without a backup.

1. Show hidden folders: AppData is hidden by default. Use File Explorer's View options or paste the %USERPROFILE% path directly into the address bar.
2. Check the Steam-user folder: For Steam, open the numbered folder under Hollow Knight Silksong. Do not stop at the parent directory if the save files are one level deeper.
3. Search carefully: Search your user profile for user1.dat after closing the game, then compare the folder's modified date and nearby Team Cherry directory before touching anything.
4. Separate editions: Windows, Mac, Linux, console, and subscription editions can use different storage systems. Do not assume a PC .dat file can be dropped into every platform.

Safe download and save-file rules

This is an APK-focused site, so the boundary matters: a Silksong save file is not an Android package, and an APK is not a legitimate way to repair a Windows or Steam Deck save. There is no reason to install a random Android package just because a page promises a 100 percent save, free full game, or instant cloud unlock.

If you need the game itself, use the official Steam or console store route. If you need your progress, use the local folder and the platform's normal sync or backup tools. Keep those two decisions separate: a legitimate purchase route does not make an unrelated save editor or mirror download trustworthy.

Before you install or restore anything

• Verify the platform and edition before moving a save.
• Back up the complete parent folder before replacing any .dat file.
• Prefer official store updates and the official help page for path changes.
• Treat save editors, mods, community files, and APK mirrors as third-party tools, not official support.
• Never share a personal save file publicly if it contains account-linked or identifying information.

Silksong Save File Location FAQ