Valheim Save File Location (Windows, macOS & Linux)

Valheim stores its save files at %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim\worlds_local 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.

Good to know: Make sure you make character and server are locally stored.

Where Valheim saves are stored

  • Windows — %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim\worlds_local
    or C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<your Steam ID>\892970\remote\worlds
    or C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<your Steam ID>\892970\remote\characters
    or %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim
  • macOS — ~/Library/Application Support/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local
    or ~/Library/Application Support/IronGate/Valheim
  • Linux — ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local
    or ~/.config/unity3d/IronGate/Valheim

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 %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim\worlds_local, 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).
  • macOS — in Finder press Cmd+Shift+G (Go to Folder) and paste ~/Library/Application Support/IronGate/Valheim/worlds_local.

Backing up Valheim saves automatically

  1. Install Checkpoint64 (free) and pick Valheim — the save path above is already preset.
  2. Auto-backup watches the folder and uploads a new version whenever it changes, keeping full history.
  3. Restore any version in one click if a save corrupts, gets overwritten, or a mod breaks it.

For the deeper story — how Valheim saves break and how rollback works — read the full Valheim save backup guide.

Launch options: Checkpoint64 can start Valheim with 3 launch options you tick — see what each one does.

Sharing Valheim saves with friends

Valheim 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 Valheim 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 Valheim world with friends.

Hosting a Valheim server? The ports to forward, and how your team can join without forwarding any, are on the Valheim server ports page.

Common questions

Where does Valheim store save files on Windows?

Valheim keeps its saves at %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim\worlds_local or C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<your Steam ID>\892970\remote\worlds or C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<your Steam ID>\892970\remote\characters or %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\IronGate\Valheim. AppData is a hidden folder — paste the path into Explorer or the Win+R box to jump straight there. Checkpoint64 already knows this path and backs the folder up automatically.

Can I back up Valheim saves automatically?

Yes — Checkpoint64 watches Valheim's save folder and uploads a new version every time it changes, so you get automatic backups with version history. Free download for Windows and Linux.

How do I restore an earlier Valheim save?

With Checkpoint64, open the save's version list and restore any earlier version in one click — it puts those exact files back in Valheim's save folder. Without a backup tool there's usually nothing to go back to: the folder only holds the latest files.

Can I share Valheim saves with friends?

Yes. Checkpoint64 syncs the Valheim save folder to a shared team, so a friend can pull the latest world and keep playing even when the host is offline. A server-enforced lock means only one person can push a new save at a time, so two people can't overwrite each other — it's how a small group takes turns hosting without paying for a dedicated server.