Where Are GTA IV Save Files Located?
GTA IV stores saves in a Rockstar Games folder under Local AppData, a Games-for-Windows-Live-era layout that still applies.
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Grand Theft Auto IV predates the Documents-based Rockstar layout. Its saves live in Local AppData under Rockstar Games/GTA IV, in per-profile savegames folders. The Complete Edition uses the same tree.
Profile binding is the gotcha: saves tie to the account that made them, so foreign files sometimes refuse to load. Same-account restores work fine when the folder structure is preserved exactly. Keep the parent folder name untouched as well.
Where Grand Theft Auto IV stores this, by platform
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Rockstar Games\GTA IV\savegames
Per-profile savegames folders from the GFWL era. Copy the whole tree with the game closed. Same-account restores are reliable; cross-account copies may refuse.
~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/12210/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Local/Rockstar Games/GTA IV/savegames
Proton prefix for app ID 12210; the Rockstar Games tail inside mirrors Windows. Profile binding behaves the same under Proton.
Frequently asked questions
How do I back up GTA IV saves?
Copy the whole GTA IV folder with the game closed. Each savegames subfolder belongs to a profile, so keep the folder structure intact.
How do I move GTA IV saves to a new PC?
Paste the savegames folder into the same Local AppData path on the new PC before launching. GFWL-era profile binding can reject foreign saves on mismatched accounts.
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