The Sims 3 Save File Location
Last verified: 2026-09-20
- Windows (EA app / Origin / Steam)
%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Saves- macOS
~/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/Saves- 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 The Sims 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\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Saves
Full path: C:\Users\<YourName>\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Saves\ . Every save is a folder ending in .sims3 plus a matching .sims3.backup folder you can restore from.
~/Documents/Electronic Arts/The Sims 3/Saves
Same layout as Windows under your home Documents folder.
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 Sims 3 does not use Steam Cloud or EA cloud sync for saves — your progress lives only in the Documents\Electronic Arts folder. Back it up manually, because there is no server copy to fall back on.
How to open the save folder
- Press Win + R to open the Run box.
- Type %userprofile%\Documents and press Enter.
- Open Electronic Arts, then The Sims 3, then Saves.
- Copy the whole .sims3 save folder (and its .backup) somewhere safe before installing mods/CC or moving PCs.
Save problems & fixes
The Sims 3 save won't load or is corrupted
Close the game, open the Saves folder, and restore the matching .sims3.backup folder (rename it to replace the broken .sims3 folder). Removing recently added mods/CC also fixes many load failures.
My Sims 3 saves are missing
They may be hidden — enable 'Show hidden files' in File Explorer, and confirm you are looking in Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Saves, not the game install folder.
FAQ
Where is The Sims 3 save file on PC?
It's at C:\Users\<YourName>\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Saves. Press Win+R, type %userprofile%\Documents, then open Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Saves. Each save is a folder ending in .sims3.
Does The Sims 3 use cloud saves?
No. Sims 3 keeps saves locally in Documents\Electronic Arts with no Steam Cloud or EA cloud sync, so make manual backups before adding mods.
What is the .backup folder in Sims 3 saves?
Sims 3 writes a .sims3.backup copy next to each save. If the main save corrupts, rename the .backup folder back to .sims3 to restore your last good session.
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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.