Where Does Cemu Store Save Files?
Where Cemu keeps Wii U saves inside the mlc01 folder, and how the old emulatorSave path maps to the new one.
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Cemu stores Wii U saves inside mlc01, the folder that emulates the console storage. Current builds file them under mlc01\usr\save by game title ID, with one user subfolder inside each. Updates, DLC and saves all live in this one tree.
The mlc01 location is configurable under Options > General settings > MLC path and defaults to a folder next to the Cemu executable. The fastest way to a specific game save is right-clicking the game in Cemu and choosing Open Save directory, which skips the title ID lookup entirely.
Where Cemu stores this, by platform
[Cemu folder]\mlc01\usr\save\[TitleID]\user\80000001
Replace the start with your own MLC path if you moved it (Options > General settings shows it). Old guides reference mlc01\emulatorSave: that layout ended with Cemu 1.11. Keep mlc01 outside the Cemu program folder so updates never touch it.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my mlc01/emulatorSave folder empty?
Cemu 1.11 moved saves from mlc01\emulatorSave into mlc01\usr\save, organized by title ID. The upgrade migrates files automatically and shows a dialog about it. An empty emulatorSave folder after updating is normal, not data loss.
Should I keep mlc01 outside the Cemu program folder?
Do that. The MLC path is a setting, not a fixed location, so a Cemu update that replaces the program folder can orphan saves stored inside it. A separate folder also makes the whole collection trivial to back up.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.