Clans of the Forest Save File Location on Windows

On Windows, Clans of the Forest stores its save files at %LOCALAPPDATA%\Wrc\Saved\SaveGames. Paste that path into File Explorer's address bar or the Run dialog and press Enter. The folder is outside the Steam install directory, so verifying game files will not delete it, but that also means uninstalling the game may leave it behind.

For the in-game menu route, including the PC pause key and outpost reload behaviour, see how to save in Clans of the Forest. The path below is documented by the save-tracking site Checkpoint64, which records the folder for this game. It is not a path published by the developer, so treat it as a verified community reference rather than an official statement. If the folder is missing, the usual reason is that the game has not created a save yet.

How to open the save folder

There are two reliable ways to reach the folder.

File Explorer: open any folder, click the address bar, paste %LOCALAPPDATA%\Wrc\Saved\SaveGames, and press Enter.

Run dialog: press Win+R, paste the same path, and press Enter. This opens the folder directly if it exists.

%LOCALAPPDATA% is a Windows environment variable. On a standard install it resolves to C:\Users\<your name>\AppData\Local. The full path is therefore usually C:\Users\<your name>\AppData\Local\Wrc\Saved\SaveGames. The variable is safer to share because it works on any Windows account.

If Explorer says the location is unavailable, do not create the folder by hand yet. Launch the game, start a campaign or make a manual save, quit to desktop, and check again. A folder that appears only after the first save is normal.

What is inside the save folder

The folder holds the game's save data, but the exact file names are generated by the game and can change between patches. Do not rename files to force a particular slot, and do not edit them in a text editor. The useful unit is the whole SaveGames folder, not an individual file.

That is also why the backup advice is simple: copy the entire folder. A single file may depend on a profile, a settings file or a cloud identifier stored alongside it. Copying only the file with the newest timestamp can produce a save that the game refuses to load.

How to back up your save

1. Quit Clans of the Forest to the desktop.
2. Open %LOCALAPPDATA%\Wrc\Saved\SaveGames.
3. Go up one level and copy the whole SaveGames folder.
4. Paste it somewhere outside the game and outside the AppData folder, such as Documents, a USB drive or a cloud drive.
5. Rename the copy with the date, for example SaveGames-2026-11-08.

A zip archive is fine. The point is to have a version the game cannot overwrite. If you are about to test an unofficial mod, change a config file or start a second campaign, make a fresh copy first.

How to restore a save

1. Quit the game completely, including any background launcher.
2. Open %LOCALAPPDATA%\Wrc\Saved.
3. Rename the current SaveGames folder to SaveGames-old instead of deleting it.
4. Copy your backup folder into the same location and rename it to SaveGames.
5. Launch the game and check that the campaign appears.

If Steam Cloud is enabled, the launcher may ask which version to keep. Read the timestamps carefully: the cloud copy can be newer than the local copy even when the local file is the one you want. Choosing the wrong side overwrites the other. If you are unsure, disable Steam Cloud for the game temporarily, restore the local folder, launch once to confirm, then re-enable Cloud.

Moving the save to another PC

The safe order is: install the game, launch it once, quit, then copy the save folder. Launching once lets the game create its folder structure and register the save path. After that, replace the newly created SaveGames folder with your backup.

If both machines use Steam Cloud, you may not need the manual copy at all. Steam Cloud is listed as a supported feature on the Steam store page, and it syncs save data between machines signed into the same account. The manual path is for cases where Cloud is disabled, the sync failed, or you want a version that is independent of Valve's servers.

On a Steam Deck, the Windows path does not apply directly. The game runs through Proton, so its save lives inside the Proton prefix. The Steam Deck page covers the platform's install and compatibility details; use the desktop path above only on a Windows PC.

Where are saves on PS5, Xbox and Switch?

Console saves are managed by the platform, not by a visible folder. You cannot browse to a SaveGames directory on a PS5, Xbox Series X|S or Switch.

Cloud backup is not the same as cross-save. A platform's cloud service restores a save on the same platform family; it does not necessarily move a campaign between PC and console. The multiplayer and cross-save page covers what the game actually supports.

Troubleshooting common save problems

The folder does not exist

Launch the game, create a save and quit. If the folder still does not appear, search %LOCALAPPDATA% for Wrc. A portable or non-standard install can change the parent folder, though the default build uses the path above.

The game does not see my restored save

Check that the restored folder is named exactly SaveGames, not SaveGames-2026-11-08 and not SaveGames (1). Windows adds suffixes when you copy a folder into a location that already has one, and the game will not read the suffixed folder.

Steam Cloud keeps overwriting the local save

Disable Steam Cloud for the game in Steam's properties, restore the local folder, launch once, then re-enable Cloud. Before re-enabling, make sure the in-game save you want is the one currently loaded. The Steam Cloud support page explains the client-side conflict prompt.

A patch broke the save

Restore the most recent backup made before the patch. If you have no backup, check whether Steam Cloud retains an older version; otherwise the save may be unrecoverable. The patches page tracks what changed in each update.

An unofficial mod corrupted the save

Remove the modified files, verify the game's integrity in Steam, then restore the backup. Do not reinstall the mod until you know which file it changed.

Frequently asked questions

Where does Clans of the Forest save on Windows?

%LOCALAPPDATA%\Wrc\Saved\SaveGames. The full path is usually C:\Users\<your name>\AppData\Local\Wrc\Saved\SaveGames.

Is the save folder inside the Steam install directory?

No. It is under AppData, which is why verifying or reinstalling the game does not automatically remove it.

Does Clans of the Forest support Steam Cloud?

Yes. Steam Cloud is listed in the game's Steam features, so saves can sync between Windows machines on the same account.

Can I move a PC save to PS5 or Xbox?

There is no documented cross-platform save transfer. Console saves stay within the platform's own cloud system.

Can I edit the save file?

There is no official save editor. Editing the files is unsupported and can corrupt the campaign. Back up the folder before attempting anything.

What file extension do the saves use?

The folder's contents are generated by the game and are not documented officially. Treat the whole folder as the save rather than relying on a specific extension.

Sources

• Checkpoint64: Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest save location - Windows path reference
• Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest - Steam - Steam Cloud feature listing
• Steam Cloud support - sync and conflict behaviour
• PCGamingWiki: Warrior Cats: Clans of the Forest - PC save data reference