Cities: Skylines II Save File Location
Here's exactly where Cities: Skylines II stores your save files on PC, how cloud sync works, and how to back them up before modding or switching computers.
Save file locations
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Colossal Order\Cities_Skylines 2\Saves
Full path: C:\Users\<YourName>\AppData\Local\Colossal Order\Cities_Skylines 2\Saves\ . This is LocalAppData, not Documents — the folder is Cities_Skylines 2 (with an underscore). Each save is a .cok metadata file plus a matching .cok.cid; copy both. Older/photo assets may use .crp.
Settings › Saved Data and Game/App Settings › Saved Data
Console saves are sealed and can't be copied as raw files. Back them up to the cloud (PS Plus) or a USB drive from this menu.
My games & apps › <Game> › Manage game › Saved data
Xbox saves sync automatically to the cloud with your Microsoft account; there is no user-accessible save file on disk.
Cloud saves
On PC, saves can also be stored to Paradox Mods cloud if you choose 'cloud' when saving; local saves stay in the Saves folder above. Console saves live in the platform cloud and can't be copied as files.
Moving to a new PC? Follow the step-by-step Cities: Skylines II save transfer guide to copy your progress across without losing anything.
How to open the save folder
- Press Win + R to open the Run box.
- Paste %LOCALAPPDATA%\Colossal Order\Cities_Skylines 2\Saves and press Enter.
- Copy the whole save folder somewhere safe before editing, modding, or moving PCs.
Save problems & fixes
Cities: Skylines II save won't load or says it's corrupt
If a local save won't load, check whether you also saved a cloud copy (Paradox Mods) and pull that. CS2 has no rolling .bak, so keep manual backups of the Saves folder.
My Cities: Skylines II save is missing or the folder looks empty
You may be looking in the wrong place — the folder is exact (watch Documents vs AppData). If Documents is synced to OneDrive, also check %USERPROFILE%\OneDrive\Documents. If it's still empty, cloud sync may not have finished before the game overwrote the local copy.
Cities: Skylines II progress rolled back after a cloud conflict
When Steam reports a save conflict, always keep the version with the LATER timestamp. Choosing the older cloud copy overwrites newer local progress — the most common cause of lost hours. If unsure, disable cloud, back up the local folder, then re-enable it.
FAQ
Where is the Cities: Skylines II save file on PC?
It's at %LOCALAPPDATA%\Colossal Order\Cities_Skylines 2\Saves (files end in .cok / .crp). Press Win+R, paste that path, and press Enter to open it.
How do I fix a corrupted Cities: Skylines II save?
If a local save won't load, check whether you also saved a cloud copy (Paradox Mods) and pull that. CS2 has no rolling .bak, so keep manual backups of the Saves folder.
How do I back up Cities: Skylines II saves before modding?
Copy the entire save folder at %LOCALAPPDATA%\Colossal Order\Cities_Skylines 2\Saves somewhere safe before adding mods, so you can restore it if a mod breaks the save.
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Need another game or a quick backup? Use the Save Location Finder — pick any game to get its exact save path plus a ready-to-run backup command.