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GTA V Save File Location

Last verified: 2026-10-09

Save file location (Windows (Rockstar / Epic)): %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA V\Profiles

Quick answer: On PC, GTA V save files are stored in %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA V\Profiles. Copy that folder to back up your progress before modding or moving to a new PC.
Windows (Rockstar / Epic)
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA V\Profiles
Steam Deck / Linux (Proton)
~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/271590/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/Rockstar Games/GTA V/Profiles
Windows (Steam)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<SteamID>\271590\local
PlayStation 5 / PS4
Settings › Saved Data and Game/App Settings › Saved Data
Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One
My games & apps › <Game> › Manage game › Saved data

Here's exactly where Grand Theft Auto V stores your single-player saves on every platform, and how to back them up.

Save file locations

Windows (Rockstar / Epic)
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA V\Profiles

Full path: C:\Users\<YourName>\Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA V\Profiles\ . Inside is a folder of numbers containing SGTA5xxx save files.

Steam Deck / Linux (Proton)
~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/271590/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/Rockstar Games/GTA V/Profiles

On Steam Deck the save lives inside the game's Proton prefix, not in your Linux home. AppID 271590. Proton always names the Windows user 'steamuser' (never your Linux username). If the game is installed on a microSD card, look under the card's steamapps/compatdata/ instead. The folder won't appear until you've launched the game at least once.

Windows (Steam)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<SteamID>\271590\local

The Steam version stores single-player saves under your Steam userdata folder (app id 271590). Rockstar Games Social Club cloud may also hold copies.

PlayStation 5 / PS4
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.

Xbox Series X|S / Xbox One
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

GTA V single-player saves sync through the Rockstar Games Social Club cloud when you're signed in and Social Club cloud saves are enabled. GTA Online characters are stored server-side by Rockstar and cannot be edited locally.

Cloud save conflict & platform recovery

GTA V single-player saves sync through the Rockstar Social Club cloud when you're signed in with cloud saves enabled. If you play on two PCs, mod, or go offline, the local Profiles copy and the Social Club cloud copy can diverge — and the game silently loads whichever it last synced, which can look like lost progress. Save files do not merge; back up the local Profiles folder before letting Social Club overwrite it.

  1. Close GTA V completely and open the Rockstar Games Launcher / Social Club so you can see when cloud last synced.
  2. Back up the local copy first: press Win+R, type %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA V, and copy the whole Profiles folder somewhere safe before touching cloud.
  3. Exact backup command (Windows CMD): robocopy "%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA V\Profiles" "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\GTAVSaveBackup" /E
  4. Compare timestamps: check the modified date of the SGTA5xxx files inside Profiles\<numbers>\ against when you last played on the other PC — the most recent SGTA5 file is your real progress.
  5. In the Rockstar Launcher, disable cloud sync (Settings > cloud saves off) if you want the local copy to win, then launch so the game uploads your local Profiles as the new cloud copy.
  6. GTA Online characters are server-side and cannot be restored or edited locally — this conflict fix only applies to Story Mode SGTA5 saves.
Back up first (Windows) — copy & run

GTA V single-player saves (SGTA5xxx) live in your Documents, and Social Club cloud sync can overwrite a good local copy after a crash. Back up the whole Profiles tree before editing, modding, or reinstalling — paste into Command Prompt:

robocopy "%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA V\Profiles" "%USERPROFILE%\Desktop\GTAV-Save-Backup" /E

/E copies the numbered profile subfolders that hold the SGTA5xxx files. Steam builds also keep a copy under Steam\userdata\<SteamID>\271590\local — back that up too. GTA Online characters are server-side and cannot be backed up locally.

Moving to a new PC? Follow the step-by-step GTA V save transfer guide to copy your progress across without losing anything.

How to open the save folder

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run box.
  2. Type %userprofile%\Documents and press Enter.
  3. Open Rockstar Games › GTA V › Profiles.
  4. Copy the whole save folder somewhere safe before editing, modding, or moving PCs.

Save problems & fixes

GTA V 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 GTA V 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.

GTA V 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.

Save won't load or shows as corrupted? See the GTA V corrupted save fix guide to recover your progress step by step.

FAQ

Where is the GTA V save file on PC?

For the Rockstar/Epic version it's at C:\Users\<YourName>\Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA V\Profiles. The Steam version keeps saves under Steam\userdata\<SteamID>\271590\local.

Can I edit my GTA Online character save?

No. GTA Online progress is stored on Rockstar's servers, not locally, so it can't be copied or edited from your PC.

How do I back up GTA V single-player saves?

Copy the numbered profile folder (with its SGTA5 save files) from the Profiles folder to a safe location, then paste it back to restore.

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.