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Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain Save File Location

Last verified: 2026-09-25

Quick answer: On PC, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain does NOT save to a Documents folder. It stores saves in your Steam userdata folder under app ID 311340 (Ground Zeroes' ID, not TPP's own store ID 287700): C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<SteamID>\311340\remote. The Definitive Edition also writes a mirror copy under 287700\local — but restore the 311340 copy.
Windows (Steam)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<SteamID>\311340\remote
Windows (Definitive Edition, secondary)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<SteamID>\287700\local\TPP_GAME_DATA1

Save file locations

Windows (Steam)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<SteamID>\311340\remote

Phantom Pain reuses Ground Zeroes' app ID 311340 for saves even if you never owned GZ — so the folder is 311340, NOT the store ID 287700. <SteamID> is your 32-bit (numeric) Steam ID. Files include TppSaveData*.

Windows (Definitive Edition, secondary)
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<SteamID>\287700\local\TPP_GAME_DATA1

The Definitive Edition writes a second identical copy here. Both hold the same data; when restoring a backup, restore the one in the 311340\remote folder.

Cloud saves

MGSV: TPP uses Steam Cloud heavily — that's why there is no local Documents save and why saves live inside Steam\userdata\...\311340\remote. If Steam Cloud is enabled, deleting the local copy alone won't help: disable Cloud sync for the game first, or Steam re-downloads the cloud save on next launch.

How to open the save folder

  1. In Steam, right-click MGSV: TPP → Manage → Browse local files to confirm your Steam install path.
  2. Open C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\ and find your numeric Steam ID folder (SteamDB or your profile URL shows the 32-bit ID).
  3. Open the 311340\remote folder (NOT 287700) — that's the real save.
  4. Copy the whole remote folder somewhere safe before modding, reinstalling, or moving PCs.

Save problems & fixes

Can't find the MGSV save — nothing in Documents

There is no Documents save. Look in Steam\userdata\<SteamID>\311340\remote. If the userdata folder is empty, you may be signed into a different Steam account or the game only has a Cloud copy not yet downloaded.

Restored a backup but the game loads an old save

Steam Cloud overwrote your local copy. Disable Steam Cloud for MGSV: TPP, restore the backup into 311340\remote, launch offline once, then re-enable Cloud so it uploads the restored save.

Definitive Edition: which copy do I back up?

Both 311340\remote and 287700\local\TPP_GAME_DATA1 hold the same data. Back up either, but when restoring, restore into 311340\remote.

FAQ

Where is the Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain save file on PC?

In your Steam userdata folder under app ID 311340: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<SteamID>\311340\remote. There is no Documents save folder.

Why is the save under 311340 and not 287700?

Phantom Pain reuses Ground Zeroes' app ID (311340) for its save data, even if you never bought Ground Zeroes. Its store/app ID 287700 mostly holds a mirror copy in the Definitive Edition.

Does MGSV: The Phantom Pain use Steam Cloud?

Yes, heavily. Because of Steam Cloud there is no local Documents save; to edit or replace a save, disable Cloud sync for the game first or Steam will restore the cloud copy on launch.

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.