Subnautica stores its save files at %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Unknown Worlds\Subnautica\SavedGames 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 Subnautica saves are stored
- Windows —
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Unknown Worlds\Subnautica\SavedGames
orC:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Subnautica\SNAppData\SavedGames
or%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Unknown Worlds\Subnautica\Subnautica\SavedGames
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).
The save data here is .json / .bin / .dat / .png / .jpg files — back up the folder as a set, not single files, so a restore always keeps them consistent.
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
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Unknown Worlds\Subnautica\SavedGames, and press Enter (the AppData folder is hidden in Explorer, which is why this path is so easy to miss — pasting it skips the hunt).
Backing up Subnautica saves automatically
- Install Checkpoint64 (free) and pick Subnautica — 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.
Launch options: Checkpoint64 can start Subnautica with a launch option you tick — see what it does.