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Europa Universalis V Save File Location

Last verified: 2026-09-30

Save file location (Windows (all stores) – main save): C:\Users\<YourName>\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Europa Universalis V\save games\

Quick answer: Europa Universalis V does NOT keep saves in the Steam folder — like every Paradox grand-strategy game it writes them to your Documents folder at C:\Users\<YourName>\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Europa Universalis V\save games\, with files ending in .eu5. Ironman saves live in the same folder but are locked (you cannot hand-edit or copy an ironman into a normal slot). To move a campaign to a new PC, copy the whole 'save games' folder, or sign into the same Steam account and let Steam Cloud pull it down — the campaign is on disk plus cloud, not tied to the launcher.
Windows (all stores) – main save
C:\Users\<YourName>\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Europa Universalis V\save games\
Steam Cloud
Synced from the Documents 'save games' folder
Steam Deck / Linux (Proton)
~/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/<AppID>/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/Paradox Interactive/Europa Universalis V/save games/
macOS
~/Documents/Paradox Interactive/Europa Universalis V/save games/

Europa Universalis V (Paradox, 2026) stores your campaigns in the Documents\Paradox Interactive folder as .eu5 files — not inside the Steam install. Here is exactly where the 'save games' folder lives, why ironman saves are locked, how Steam Cloud can overwrite a save, and how to move to a new PC or Steam Deck.

Save file locations

Windows (all stores) – main save
C:\Users\<YourName>\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Europa Universalis V\save games\

Open fast with %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Europa Universalis V\save games. Save files end in .eu5. Ironman campaigns are in this same folder but flagged read-only by the game — don't expect to edit them.

Steam Cloud
Synced from the Documents 'save games' folder

EU5 uploads your save games to Steam Cloud, so a second machine signed into the same account downloads them automatically. The usual grand-strategy gotcha: a stale or empty cloud copy (after a crash or on a fresh install) can overwrite a newer local save on launch.

Steam Deck / Linux (Proton)
~/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/<AppID>/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/Paradox Interactive/Europa Universalis V/save games/

Under Proton the Windows Documents path is redirected here. If Paradox ships a native Linux build, check ~/.local/share/Paradox Interactive/Europa Universalis V/save games/ instead.

macOS
~/Documents/Paradox Interactive/Europa Universalis V/save games/

Mac builds keep the same Documents\Paradox Interactive layout. Back this up before verifying game files or updating.

Cloud saves

EU5 uses Steam Cloud to mirror your Documents 'save games' folder, so campaigns follow you to a second PC or a Steam Deck. The catch every Paradox player hits: if the cloud copy is older or empty — after a crash, a fresh reinstall, or playing offline — Steam can sync it over your good local save on next launch. Before restoring a backup or moving machines, set EU5 to offline / disable Steam Cloud for it, copy your 'save games' folder, then re-enable cloud. Ironman saves are additionally protected by the game and cannot be duplicated into normal slots.

How to open the save folder

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run box.
  2. Type %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Europa Universalis V\save games and press Enter.
  3. Copy the whole 'save games' folder (all .eu5 files) to a USB drive or cloud storage to back up.
  4. To move to a new PC: install EU5, launch once so the folder is created, close the game, then paste your .eu5 files back — or sign into Steam and let Steam Cloud restore them.

FAQ

Where is the Europa Universalis V save file on PC?

In your Documents folder at Documents\Paradox Interactive\Europa Universalis V\save games\, with files ending in .eu5 — not in the Steam install folder, which is where many players first look.

Can I copy or edit an EU5 ironman save?

Ironman saves sit in the same 'save games' folder but the game locks them: you can back the folder up, but you cannot hand-edit an ironman file or paste it into a normal save slot and have it load as ironman. Only non-ironman saves are freely editable/movable.

How do I move my EU5 campaign to a new PC?

Copy the whole 'save games' folder from Documents\Paradox Interactive\Europa Universalis V to a USB or cloud drive. On the new PC install EU5, launch once, close it, then paste the .eu5 files back — or just sign into the same Steam account and let Steam Cloud sync them down.

Why did Steam Cloud overwrite my EU5 save?

If the cloud copy is older or empty (crash, fresh install, or offline play) Steam can push it over your newer local save on launch. Disable Steam Cloud for EU5 before restoring a backup, copy your files in, then re-enable it.

Other games

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.