Where Are Kenshi Save Files Located?
Where Kenshi keeps its campaign squad saves: AppData versus the install folder, plus the toggle.
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Kenshi saves in one of two places depending on an option: %LOCALAPPDATA%\kenshi\save when User save location is ticked, or a save folder beside the game exe when it is not. Recent versions moved the default to AppData.
That move orphaned older saves in the install folder, which is the classic my saves vanished report. The fix is a folder copy, not a replay: move the old save folders into whichever location is active. Confirm the toggle first, then copy. The Load menu Delete key removes known saves.
Where Kenshi stores this, by platform
%LOCALAPPDATA%\kenshi\save
One folder per campaign with squad and world state inside. Paste %LOCALAPPDATA%\kenshi into Explorer. Moving drives preserves saves only when the toggle state matches, so verify it after reinstalls.
~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/233860/pfx/.../kenshi/save
Same AppData relative tree inside the Proton prefix when the toggle is on. Copy the Windows save folders straight across. Native Linux builds use ~/.local/share/kenshi/save in some installs, so check both.
Frequently asked questions
how do i back up kenshi saves
Copy %LOCALAPPDATA%\kenshi\save to the same path with the game closed (when User save location is on), or <install>\save when it is off. Match the toggle state on both ends or the game looks in the wrong spot. Squad states and world changes travel inside the save folder.
what is the kenshi user save location option
In Options > General as User save location. On means %LOCALAPPDATA%\kenshi\save, off means the save folder beside the game exe. Recent versions default it on, which orphaned older install folder saves until copied forward. Check the toggle before assuming saves are lost.
how do i delete kenshi saves
Through the in game Load menu with the Delete key, which removes saves the interface understands. For stubborn ones, delete the folders by hand in whichever save location is active. The game also keeps quicksaves and autos alongside manual saves.
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