Where Are S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Save Files Located?
STALKER 2 keeps saves and settings under %LOCALAPPDATA%\Stalker2\Saved, with Steam and GOG builds using their own SaveGames subfolders.
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The Zone writes everything under %LOCALAPPDATA%\Stalker2\Saved. Saves land in SaveGames as .sav files with .bak companions the game cycles on its own, and the config tree sits beside them for anyone who goes looking.
On recent versions the store builds keep saves one level deeper, in Saved\STEAM or Saved\GOG, which is why two guides can disagree and both be right. The Game Pass version lives in the Microsoft Store package container instead. Steam Cloud covers the lot, so the practical advice is the usual one: let sync finish before playing on a second machine.
Where S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl stores this, by platform
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Stalker2\Saved
Config\Windows holds AppliedSettings.cfg and CustomizeControls.cfg. Saves are in SaveGames, or in the STEAM or GOG subfolder of Saved on builds that split them per store. Steam Cloud syncs the tree automatically.
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\GSCGameWorld.S.T.A.L.K.E.R.2HeartofChernobyl_6fr1t1rwfarwt\SystemAppData\xgs\<account ID>\SaveGames
Where the Microsoft Store and Game Pass version puts its saves, wrapped in the usual package container. The <account ID> folder is created by Xbox services and differs on every machine, so copy the whole SaveGames directory.
~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/1643320/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Local/Stalker2/Saved
The Windows build through Proton on Steam Deck and Linux, inside the prefix for app ID 1643320. The game is heavy, but on a capable Deck it runs, and the save layout is identical.
Frequently asked questions
Where are quicksaves and manual saves stored in STALKER 2?
In %LOCALAPPDATA%\Stalker2\Saved\SaveGames, or in the STEAM or GOG subfolder of Saved on a recent build. Quick, auto, and manual saves all live together, distinguished by their file names.
Can I move a STALKER 2 save from Steam to Game Pass?
The save format is the same, but the Game Pass copy wraps everything inside its package folder. Copying files in by hand is fiddly; if both installs use the same GSC account, the cloud is the cleaner route.
What are the .bak files next to my STALKER 2 saves?
Backups the game keeps beside each save. They add up through a long campaign but take almost no space, and restoring one is occasionally the difference between a lost hour and a lost playthrough.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.