Where Does DuckStation Store Saves and Memory Cards?
Where DuckStation keeps memory cards, save states and settings, and the one menu that settles every variant.
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DuckStation keeps everything (memory cards, save states, screenshots, settings) in one user data directory. Memory cards are .mcd files in the memcards subfolder, save states in savestates beside it. Find the data directory and every save is in view.
The directory moves with the install type: Documents\DuckStation for standard Windows builds, %APPDATA%\DuckStation for some installer builds, a folder next to the exe for portable copies. The authoritative answer is inside the app: Tools > Open User Data Directory opens whichever one your build uses.
Where DuckStation stores this, by platform
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\DuckStation\memcards
Installer builds may use %APPDATA%\DuckStation and portable builds keep data next to duckstation.exe. Trust Tools > Open User Data Directory over any documented default. Back up memcards plus DuckStation.ini for settings.
~/.config/duckstation/memcards
Flatpak builds live under ~/.var/app/org.duckstation.DuckStation instead. Same memcards layout inside. Show hidden files to reach the .config tree.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use per game or shared memory cards?
Per game cards are the default: one .mcd per title, which stops games overwriting each other. Shared cards mimic original hardware and suit nostalgia or multi disc sets. Switch modes under Settings > Memory Cards; existing cards are kept, not converted.
Can I move saves between DuckStation and a real PS1?
Copy the .mcd files between the memcards folders on each device. Real PS1 saves import through Tools > Memory Card Editor, which reads the card the way the console BIOS did. Save states do not transfer: they are version locked snapshots, not saves.
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