Where Does PPSSPP Store Saves and Save States?
Where PPSSPP keeps its PSP memory stick, real saves and save states on Windows, macOS, Linux and Android.
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PPSSPP fakes a PSP memory stick with an ordinary folder. Real in game saves go in PSP\SAVEDATA inside it, save states in PSP\PPSSPP_STATE. Find your stick and you have found every save at once.
The stick location depends on how PPSSPP was installed. The portable zip keeps a memstick folder next to the executable, the Windows installer uses Documents\PPSSPP, and Android 11 onwards lets you pick the folder outright. The emulator prints the live path under Settings > System, which beats any documented default.
Where PPSSPP stores this, by platform
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\PPSSPP\PSP\SAVEDATA
Installer builds use Documents. Portable zip builds use a memstick folder next to the exe. In the emulator, File > Open Memstick Folder (or Settings > System on newer builds) opens whichever one is active.
~/.config/ppsspp/PSP/SAVEDATA
States sit in PSP\PPSSPP_STATE beside SAVEDATA. Some distro packages relocate the stick, so use the Open Memstick Folder option if this path is empty.
~/.config/ppsspp/PSP/SAVEDATA
Same XDG style path as Linux. Reach the hidden .config folder in Finder with Go > Go to Folder.
/storage/emulated/0/PSP/SAVEDATA
Older installs used /PSP at shared storage root. On Android 11 and later with PPSSPP 1.12+, the folder is user configurable, so confirm it in the app under Settings > System before copying anything.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between SAVEDATA and PPSSPP_STATE?
Inside the memory stick: PSP\SAVEDATA holds real saves, PSP\PPSSPP_STATE holds save states. Saves move between devices cleanly. States only work on the same PPSSPP version and core, so prefer SAVEDATA for anything you want to keep.
Can I move saves between PPSSPP and a real PSP?
Yes. Anything a real PSP would write (SAVEDATA) loads in PPSSPP and vice versa. Copy the game ID folder between the PSP\SAVEDATA directories on each device.
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