Where Does the itch.io App Store Games and Data?
The itch.io app splits its program, user data and installed games across three folders. Install paths and data dirs for every OS.
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The itch.io app keeps three separate roots that people constantly mix up. The program itself lives in a versioned folder under LocalAppData (or ~/.itch on Linux). Your account, library database and preferences live in user data under Roaming (or ~/.config/itch). Installed games default to an apps folder inside that user data.
Uninstalling the app removes only the program root; user data with all your games survives, which surprises both cleaners and deleters. On Linux the sandbox adds a twist: Bubblewrap games keep a private home directory inside each game's install folder. Set a custom install location in Preferences if the defaults offend you.
Where itch.io app stores this, by platform
%APPDATA%\itch
Program in %LOCALAPPDATA%\itch\app-<version>; user data, library database and default game installs in %APPDATA%\itch\apps. Uninstalling removes only the program folder; delete %APPDATA%\itch to truly wipe games and data. Add a custom install location in Preferences to keep games out of Roaming.
~/Library/Application Support/itch
App at ~/Applications/itch.app with setup state in ~/Library/Application Support/itch-setup. User data and default game installs in ~/Library/Application Support/itch. Same split as Windows: uninstalling the .app leaves games and data behind.
~/.config/itch
Program in ~/.itch/app-<version>; user data in ~/.config/itch. Bubblewrap-sandboxed games keep saves in {install_folder}/.itch/home instead of your real home; Firejail games use the real home. Copy saves across when switching sandbox backends.
Frequently asked questions
how do i stop itch installing games in appdata
Add another install location in Preferences and set it as default; new games go there instead. Existing games need reinstalling to the new spot. The default sits in Roaming because it is writable without admin rights, not because it belongs with settings.
do itch games keep saves if i move them
Mostly yes. Games on itch are usually portable: the app unzips and runs them, and saves land in the game's own relative paths or your user folders either way. Ren'Py games, for example, save to their well-known locations regardless of launcher. Check the specific game's save path rather than assuming an itch folder.
where are saves for itch games on linux sandbox
Bubblewrap redirects the game's home to {install_folder}/.itch/home, so saves sit beside the game install, not in your real home. Firejail does not redirect, so saves land in your real home. Switching backends orphans saves on the other side; copy them across by hand after switching.
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