Where Does melonDS Store Saves and Config?
melonDS keeps config, battery saves, and states in settable folders. The default locations and where to change them.
Last updated
melonDS separates config from saves. The config file defaults to %LOCALAPPDATA%\melonDS on current Windows builds, ~/.config/melonDS on Linux, and ~/Library/Application Support/melonDS on macOS. Older Windows zips wrote beside the exe instead.
Battery saves (.sav) and save states go wherever Settings, then Paths points. Those default next to your ROMs until you change them. Set explicit folders there if you sync saves between machines; hunting per game defaults gets old fast.
Where melonDS stores this, by platform
%LOCALAPPDATA%\melonDS
Current default config dir. Older setups may still use a melonDS.ini next to the exe; that file wins for backwards compatibility. Save and state folders are set separately under Settings, then Paths.
~/.config/melonDS
Config and firmware images land here on most builds. Flatpak installs sandbox it under ~/.var/app/net.kuribo64.melonDS instead. Save folders remain user settable in the Paths dialog.
~/Library/Application Support/melonDS
Standard app support spot. Battery saves default beside the ROM until you set a Save File Path in Settings. States follow the Savestate Path value.
Frequently asked questions
how do i change where melonds saves games
Open Settings, then Paths, and set Save File Path plus Savestate Path to folders you choose. Newer Windows builds default the config to Local AppData, while older ones wrote next to the exe. The dialog shows the live values.
how do i run melonds in portable mode
Make a folder named portable next to the melonDS executable. With that folder present melonDS writes config and saves beside the exe instead of AppData. Remove it to go back to per user locations.
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