Background

If your Documents folder is synced to OneDrive, PCSX2 may save to:

C:\Users\[YourUsername]\OneDrive\Documents\PCSX2\memcards\

OneDrive can sometimes lock these files, causing save corruption. It is highly recommended to exclude the PCSX2 folder from OneDrive sync.

No. The BIOS files (scph39001.bin, etc.) are stored separately (usually in Documents\PCSX2\bios or a custom folder). Never mix BIOS with memory card files.

For the modern PCSX2 (Nightly or Qt builds), the save data is stored in User Documents by default.

Memory Cards (Standard Saves):

C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Documents\PCSX2\memcards\

Save States:

C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Documents\PCSX2\sstates\

Configuration Files (Important for backups):

C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Documents\PCSX2\config\

Legacy Note: If you are using an older version (v1.4 or earlier), these folders were located inside the PCSX2 installation directory under \memcards\ or \sstates\. Check your Program Files (x86)\PCSX2 if you cannot find them in Documents.

This is the most common version downloaded from the main website. By default, it stores saves in your Documents folder.

Windows: C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\Documents\PCSX2\

Linux: ~/.config/PCSX2/

macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/PCSX2/

Inside this folder, look for:


Report ID: PCSX2-SAVE-2024-01
Target Software: PCSX2 (PlayStation 2 Emulator)
Version Coverage: v1.6.0 (Stable) to v1.7.5+ (Nightly / Qt builds)
Subject: Default, custom, and portable save game directory structures

Once you know where PCSX2 hides its virtual memory cards, backing up, transferring, or editing your saves becomes simple. Happy emulating

| Feature | PCSX2 v1.6 (Stable) | PCSX2 v1.7+ (Nightly / Qt) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Default saves location | Documents\PCSX2\memcards | Same (but configurable) | | Per-game memory cards | ❌ No | ✅ Yes – You can assign unique memory cards per game | | File format | .ps2 | .ps2 or .bin (compatible) | | Configuration UI | wxWidgets (old) | Qt (modern) |

Title: Lost Progress? Here is the PCSX2 Save Game Location Explained

One of the most common questions among the PCSX2 community is, "Where are my save files?" Whether you are moving to a new computer or trying to load a 100% completion save from a friend, finding the right directory can be tricky if you don't know the difference between Memory Cards and Savestates.

Here is the breakdown of where your data lives.

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