Cities: Skylines Save File Location
Last verified: 2026-09-11
Save file location (Windows): %LOCALAPPDATA%\Colossal Order\Cities_Skylines\Saves
- Windows
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Colossal Order\Cities_Skylines\Saves- macOS
~/Library/Application Support/Colossal Order/Cities_Skylines/Saves- Linux
~/.local/share/Colossal Order/Cities_Skylines/Saves
Here's exactly where Cities: Skylines stores your city saves on every platform, how to open the folder, and how to back them up.
Save file locations
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Colossal Order\Cities_Skylines\Saves
Full path: C:\Users\<YourName>\AppData\Local\Colossal Order\Cities_Skylines\Saves\ . City saves use the .crp extension.
~/Library/Application Support/Colossal Order/Cities_Skylines/Saves
In Finder use Go > Go to Folder and paste the path.
~/.local/share/Colossal Order/Cities_Skylines/Saves
City .crp files live in this folder.
Cloud saves
On PC, Cities: Skylines uses Steam Cloud, so your .crp city saves sync across machines with the same account. If a cloud and local save conflict, choose the newer copy so you don't lose your city.
Moving to a new PC? Follow the step-by-step Cities: Skylines 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.
- Type %localappdata% and press Enter.
- Open Colossal Order > Cities_Skylines > Saves.
- Copy the whole save folder somewhere safe before editing, modding, or moving PCs.
Save problems & fixes
Cities: Skylines save won’t load or says it’s corrupt
Many games keep an automatic backup next to the save (a .bak or numbered copy) — close the game, copy that backup over the broken file, and reopen. On Steam, also right-click the game → Properties → Installed Files → Verify integrity of game files.
My Cities: Skylines save is missing or the folder is empty
You are usually looking in the wrong sub-folder — open the numbered profile/Steam-ID folder inside the path above, not the parent. If it is still empty, cloud sync may not have finished before the game overwrote the local copy; reconnect and let the cloud sync complete before launching.
Cities: Skylines progress rolled back after a cloud conflict
When Steam or the console 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 sync, back up the local folder first, then re-enable it.
FAQ
Where is the Cities: Skylines save file on PC?
It's at C:\Users\<YourName>\AppData\Local\Colossal Order\Cities_Skylines\Saves. Press Win+R, type %localappdata%, then open Colossal Order\Cities_Skylines\Saves. Cities are .crp files.
How do I back up a Cities: Skylines city?
Copy the .crp file from the Saves folder to a safe location, then paste it back to restore.
How do I share a Cities: Skylines save?
Send the .crp file to a friend; they place it in their own Saves folder and it appears in the load menu. You can also upload it to the Steam Workshop.
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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.