PAYDAY 2 stores its save files at %LOCALAPPDATA%\PAYDAY 2\saves on Windows. Checkpoint64 already knows this folder — it backs it up automatically and keeps earlier versions, so a corrupted or overwritten save is one click from restored.
Where PAYDAY 2 saves are stored
- Windows —
%LOCALAPPDATA%\PAYDAY 2\saves
orC:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<your Steam ID>\218620\remote
Where two locations are listed, which one is in use depends on the install (Checkpoint64 checks them in order and uses the first that exists).
Not sure where yours is? The Steam Save File Location guide explains how that path is built.
How to open the save folder
- Windows — press Win+R, paste
%LOCALAPPDATA%\PAYDAY 2\saves, and press Enter.
Backing up PAYDAY 2 saves automatically
- Install Checkpoint64 (free) and pick PAYDAY 2 — the save path above is already preset.
- Auto-backup watches the folder and uploads a new version whenever it changes, keeping full history.
- Restore any version in one click if a save corrupts, gets overwritten, or a mod breaks it.
Sharing PAYDAY 2 saves with friends
PAYDAY 2 has co-op, so the folder above usually lives on one person's PC — whoever hosts. When they're offline nobody else can carry on, and if two people play separately, one session quietly overwrites the other.
Checkpoint64 lets a small group pass one PAYDAY 2 world around instead of renting a dedicated server. Whoever plays next takes a server-enforced lock, pulls the latest save, plays, and pushes it back; everyone else stays read-only until the lock frees up, so nobody saves over anybody. Recent versions are kept, so a bad session is one restore away. The dedicated server alternative guide walks through the full take-turns flow.
Every way to do it, from playing live to taking turns: How to share your PAYDAY 2 world with friends.