DuckStation · PlayStation

Where DuckStation keeps your saves.

DuckStation keeps PS1 memory cards as .mcd files in memcards, one card per game by default, and save states in savestates.

Save folders on each platform

Windows

Memory cards: %LOCALAPPDATA%\DuckStation\memcards
States: %LOCALAPPDATA%\DuckStation\savestates

Older installs keep Documents\DuckStation, which DuckStation still uses if it exists. Portable mode (portable.txt next to the program) keeps them next to it.

Mac

Memory cards: ~/Library/Application Support/DuckStation/memcards
States: ~/Library/Application Support/DuckStation/savestates

Linux (AppImage)

Memory cards: ~/.local/share/duckstation/memcards
States: ~/.local/share/duckstation/savestates

The Flatpak is discontinued. Its old data is in ~/.var/app/org.duckstation.DuckStation/config/duckstation.

Steam Deck with EmuDeck

Memory cards: ~/Emulation/saves/duckstation/saves
States: ~/Emulation/saves/duckstation/states

Steam Deck with RetroDECK

Memory cards: ~/retrodeck/saves/psx/duckstation/memcards
States: ~/retrodeck/states/psx/duckstation

Android

Memory cards: Android/data/com.github.stenzek.duckstation/files/memcards
States: Android/data/com.github.stenzek.duckstation/files/savestates

Back up with the app's Transfer Data option before uninstalling.

Find or change the folder

Tools, Open Data Directory opens the data folder. Settings, Memory Cards sets the folder and the card type.

Moving saves between devices

The default card type names each card after the game's title from DuckStation's database, such as Final Fantasy VII (USA)_1.mcd. A different version of the game, or a different card type, means a different file name, and the save looks gone. Rename the card, or import it in the Memory Card Editor.
.mcd cards are raw PS1 cards; most other PS1 emulators read them, sometimes renamed to .mcr.
Save states belong to the game's serial and region.

Sync DuckStation saves between devices

The SaveSync app for Windows, Mac, Linux, Steam Deck, and Android will watch DuckStation's save folders and sync them when you close a game. It is coming next.

Today, if you play PlayStation games in RetroArch with its Beetle PSX or SwanStation core instead, RetroArch's built-in Cloud Sync syncs them with SaveSync on every device. See how to set it up.

SaveSync keeps the newest 20 versions of every save, so a bad sync or an overwritten slot is one click to undo.

Questions

Where are DuckStation's memory cards?

In the memcards folder of DuckStation's data folder. On Windows that is %LOCALAPPDATA%\DuckStation\memcards (or Documents\DuckStation\memcards on older installs). Tools, Open Data Directory opens it.

Why does DuckStation show an empty memory card?

Per-game cards are named after the game's title. If the game's name or version changed, DuckStation makes a new empty card. Rename your old card to the new name.

Checked against DuckStation's documentation and source in October 2026: README.md (duckstation), settings.cpp (duckstation), EmuDeck's setup script, RetroDECK's setup.

Pick up where you left off.

Start syncing