Sid Meier's Civilization V Save File Location
Last verified: 2026-09-21
- Windows (Steam)
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 5\Saves- macOS
~/Documents/Aspyr/Sid Meier's Civilization 5/Saves- PlayStation (PS3/PS4/PS5)
Settings › Saved Data and Game/App Settings › Saved Data- Xbox (360 / One / Series X|S)
My games & apps › <Game> › Manage game › Saved data
Here's exactly where Sid Meier's Civilization V keeps your saves on PC, how to open the folder, and how to back them up before you reinstall or move to a new PC.
Save file locations
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 5\Saves
Full path: C:\Users\<YourName>\Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 5\Saves . Single-player games are in Saves\single; modded games in MODDEDSAVES\single. Files are .civ5save.
~/Documents/Aspyr/Sid Meier's Civilization 5/Saves
The Aspyr Mac port keeps the same Saves\single layout under your Documents\Aspyr folder.
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 PS Plus cloud 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
The Steam version can use Steam Cloud, but the working copy still lives in Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 5\Saves. Back up that folder manually — Cloud conflicts after offline play can overwrite the newer local file.
How to open the save folder
- Press Win + R to open the Run box.
- Type %userprofile%\Documents\My Games and press Enter.
- Open Sid Meier's Civilization 5, then Saves, then single (or MODDEDSAVES\single for modded games).
- Copy the .civ5save files somewhere safe before reinstalling or moving PCs.
Save problems & fixes
Civ 5 save won't appear in the load menu
Check you're looking in Saves\single for normal games and MODDEDSAVES\single for modded ones — the game only lists modded saves if the same mods are enabled.
Saves missing after reinstall
Reinstalling doesn't touch Documents\My Games — confirm you're the same Windows user; if Steam Cloud wiped them, restore your manual backup of the Saves folder.
FAQ
Where is the Civilization 5 save file on PC?
At C:\Users\<YourName>\Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 5\Saves. Single-player games are in the Saves\single subfolder as .civ5save files.
Why are my modded Civ 5 saves not in the Saves folder?
Games played with mods are stored separately in Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 5\MODDEDSAVES\single instead of the normal Saves folder.
How do I back up Civ 5 saves?
Copy the .civ5save files (or the whole Saves folder) somewhere safe. Restore by pasting them back into Saves\single.
Other games
- Frostpunk 2 Save File Corrupted? Fix & Recover (PC)
- Ghost of Tsushima Save File Corrupted? Fix & Recover (PC)
- GTA IV Save File Corrupted? Fix & Recover (PC)
- GTA San Andreas Save File Corrupted? Fix & Recover (PC)
- Grand Theft Auto III Save File Corrupted? Fix & Recover (PC)
- GTA Vice City Save File Corrupted? Fix & Recover (PC)
- Half-Life 2 Save File Corrupted? Fix & Recover (PC)
- Hell is Us Save File Corrupted? Fix & Recover (PC)
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.