Mass Effect 3 Save File Location
Last verified: 2026-09-21
- Windows (Origin / EA App / Steam)
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect 3\Save- 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 Mass Effect 3 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\BioWare\Mass Effect 3\Save
Full path: C:\Users\<YourName>\Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect 3\Save . Each Shepard career gets its own subfolder holding numbered .pcsav files plus an autosave.
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 original Mass Effect 3 syncs through Origin / EA App cloud saves. The local copy still lives in Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect 3\Save — if a cloud copy conflicts after offline play, keep the newer career folder so you don't lose progress or your imported ME2 choices.
How to open the save folder
- Press Win + R to open the Run box.
- Type %userprofile%\Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect 3\Save and press Enter.
- Open your career subfolder (named after your Shepard) to find the .pcsav files.
- Copy the whole Save folder somewhere safe before reinstalling or moving PCs.
Save problems & fixes
Mass Effect 3 save missing after reinstall
Reinstalling doesn't remove Documents\BioWare — confirm you're the same Windows user. If Origin/EA cloud overwrote it, restore your manual backup of the Save folder before launching.
Career won't load or shows no imported ME2 data
Make sure the full career subfolder (not just one .pcsav) is present in Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect 3\Save; the import data is stored with the career, so copy the whole folder.
FAQ
Where is the Mass Effect 3 save file on PC?
At C:\Users\<YourName>\Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect 3\Save, with each career in its own subfolder as .pcsav files. The Legendary Edition uses a separate BioWare\Mass Effect Legendary Edition folder.
Why do I have BioWare\Mass Effect 3 and a Legendary Edition folder?
They are different games. The 2012 original saves to Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect 3\Save; the 2021 Legendary Edition remaster keeps its own separate save folder.
How do I keep my imported ME2 decisions?
Back up the entire Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect 3\Save folder — the career save records your imported choices. Restore that folder to carry your Shepard across PCs.
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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.