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Where Does TIC-80 Store Carts and Saves?

TIC-80 keeps carts, saves and config in platform folders plus a local cart directory. Paths per OS and the gotcha.

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TIC-80 splits data between its program folder and a working directory. Carts are .tic files you place anywhere, commonly a carts folder. Saves and persistent memory land in the data tree per platform.

That split confuses first backups. The cart holds the game code while progress sits separately. Grab both trees or restores open the game with blank progress.

Where TIC-80 stores this, by platform

Windows
%APPDATA%\TIC-80

Carts, saves and config tree when installed normally. Portable builds keep data beside the binary instead, so check there first when this folder is empty.

macOS
~/Library/Application Support/TIC-80

Same interior as Windows. Cart files commonly live in Documents or beside the app, so confirm cart folders separately from this data tree.

Linux
~/.local/share/TIC-80

Follows XDG data home. Distro packages may keep carts in Documents while this tree holds saves and config. Back up both sides together.

Frequently asked questions

Where are my TIC-80 carts and saves?

Look in the TIC-80 folder for .tic cart files and the saves beside them. Carts downloaded in browser marry the local copies on sync. Persistent memory per cart travels with the save files, not the cart itself.

How do I back up TIC-80?

Copy the TIC-80 data folder with the app quit, plus any cart folders kept elsewhere. Keep cart names stable, since saves pair by cart title. Export .tic files as portable backups too.

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