Where Are Crusader Kings 3 Save Files Located?
Crusader Kings 3 save games folder on Windows, macOS and Linux, and how Ironman cloud saves differ from local ones.
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Crusader Kings 3 follows the standard Paradox layout. Campaigns sit in a save games folder under Documents/Paradox Interactive/Crusader Kings III, one file per run. The pattern matches Stellaris and Europa Universalis with only the game name changed.
Ironman and cloud saves cause the usual confusion. They sync through the Paradox or Steam cloud siblings instead of the plain folder. If a campaign is missing locally, check those trees. Linux again uses .local/share regardless of XDG overrides. Achievements need unmodded Ironman, so keep modded copies separate.
Where Crusader Kings 3 stores this, by platform
C:\Users\[Username]\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Crusader Kings III\save games
Cloud saves sit in nearby pdx_sdk_filestorage siblings. Copy .ck3 files with the game closed. Mods live in Documents\Paradox Interactive\Crusader Kings III\mod.
~/Documents/Paradox Interactive/Crusader Kings III/save games
Same Documents pattern as Windows. Game Pass builds use a Crusader Kings III GamePass sibling. Keep the .ck3 file plus its .meta together when copying.
~/.local/share/Paradox Interactive/Crusader Kings III/save games
The game ignores XDG_DATA_HOME here. Crash logs and settings sit in neighboring folders under the same Crusader Kings III parent.
Frequently asked questions
Where are CK3 Ironman saves?
In the same save games folder when stored locally, marked Ironman in game. Cloud Ironman runs live in the provider filestorage sibling instead. Copy the .ck3 file only while the game is fully closed.
Can I move CK3 saves to another PC?
Yes. Copy the .ck3 files into the same save games path on the new machine. Match the game version and mod list or the campaign will refuse to load with a checksum error.
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