Sid Meier's Civilization VII Save File Location
Here's exactly where Civilization VII keeps your games on PC, how to open the folder, and how to back up a save before a risky war.
Save file locations
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization VII\Saves
Full path: C:\Users\<YourName>\Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization VII\Saves\ . Single-player and multiplayer saves are in subfolders here; auto-saves and quick-saves sit alongside your named saves.
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.
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.
Cloud saves
On PC, Civilization VII uses cloud saves (Steam Cloud / 2K), but the local copy always lives in Documents\My Games. Close the game before restoring a backup so the cloud copy doesn't overwrite it with the older online version on the next launch.
How to open the save folder
- Press Win + R to open the Run box.
- Type %userprofile%\Documents and press Enter.
- Open My Games > Sid Meier's Civilization VII > Saves.
- Copy the whole save folder somewhere safe before editing, modding, or moving PCs.
Save problems & fixes
Cloud save overwrote my newer local save (or vice-versa)
This happens when Steam Cloud syncs on launch before you restore a backup. Fully quit the game, disable Steam Cloud for it, copy your good save into Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization VII\Saves, launch once offline to confirm it loads, then re-enable cloud so it uploads the correct copy.
Save is missing, won't load, or shows as corrupted
Verify the game files first, then look in Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization VII\Saves for a backup or older copy (many games keep a .bak or a numbered rolling backup next to the live save). Copy that older file over the broken one while the game is closed. Never edit the save with the game running — that is the most common cause of corruption.
FAQ
Where is the Civilization VII save file on PC?
It's at C:\Users\<YourName>\Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization VII\Saves. Press Win+R, type %userprofile%\Documents, then open My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization VII\Saves.
Where are Civ VII auto-saves and quick-saves?
They sit in the same Saves folder (or its subfolders) as your named saves, under Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization VII. Back up the whole Saves folder to keep them all.
How do I back up my Civilization VII save?
Copy the Saves folder from Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization VII to a safe location, then paste it back to restore. Close the game first so the cloud copy doesn't overwrite it.
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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.