A few developers route their saves through the Local directory instead of Roaming.
On Windows, Ren'Py saves files in the %APPDATA% folder, which is a hidden directory. The easiest way to access it is by using the Run dialog.
Therefore, losing your persistent data is often far more devastating than losing a few save files, as it can wipe out all of your progress towards 100% completion. Always keep this in mind when managing your save folders and backing up your games.
Some games (especially older or portable versions) save directly within their own directory. [Game Folder]/game/saves/ macOS renpy game save location
This data is shared across all save files, even if you start a new game. It includes settings (volume, text speed), gallery unlocks, and "seen scene" data.
C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\RenPy\
Ren'Py games store their save files in system-specific locations to keep them separate from the game's executable files. The exact path depends on your operating system and the game's configuration. Default Save Locations A few developers route their saves through the
Where Are Ren'Py Game Saves Located? The Ultimate Guide for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and iOS
Mac users will find their Ren'Py saves tucked away in the user library. ~/Library/RenPy/ How to access: Open Finder .
You can detect platform:
init python: import subprocess import platform def copy_to_clipboard(text): if platform.system() == "Windows": subprocess.run(["clip"], input=text.encode("utf-8"), check=False) elif platform.system() == "Darwin": # macOS subprocess.run(["pbcopy"], input=text.encode("utf-8"), check=False) elif platform.system() == "Linux": subprocess.run(["xclip", "-selection", "clipboard"], input=text.encode("utf-8"), check=False)
Preferences → Projects Directory → [Your Project] → game/saves
This opens the Roaming folder. Look for a folder explicitly named . Therefore, losing your persistent data is often far
: Ren'Py may create this folder even if it is using the AppData location, which can lead to players deleting the "wrong" files. How to Identify the Folder Name
Her fingers found the terminal. She typed "renpy" and watched the log breathe lines back to her. The engine was a modest thing under the hood—pickles of Python code, a modest save system that used persistent data and a directory to hold game states. She smiled at the simplicity. The saves were not cryptic; they were pragmatic: a folder, a few .sav files, persistent data stored in persistent.json, and a handful of backup slots for the cautious. It felt like discovering a neat, labeled shelf where one expects chaos.