James Harper
How To Find Save Game and Config Files on PC for ARK Survival Ascended
If you’re trying to back up your progress or mess around with game settings, knowing where all these files live is kinda crucial. Sometimes, it’s a pain because the game’s folder is buried deep or hidden, or maybe you’re just scared of messing something up. This guide will walk through how to find your save files and config files—so, you can do things like manually backup or tweak stuff without breaking anything. Be warned though—make sure to back up before editing anything, because Windows can be pretty unforgiving with corrupt files or weird permissions.
How to Find Your ARK Survival Ascended Files on PC
Access the Game’s Local Files in Steam
First off, gotta get to the folder where Steam installed ARK. On some setups, the game might be on a different drive or in a custom folder, but generally:
- Open Steam and head over to Library.
- Right-click on ARK Survival Ascended and select Manage.
- Choose Browse Local Files. This will pop open your file explorer at the game’s folder location. Usually, it’s something like C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\ARK Survival Ascended. If you don’t see it, double-check your library download location in Steam > Settings > Downloads > Steam Library Folders.
Special note: sometimes, the game might be on a different drive or in a custom library, so if you can’t find it here, check your library folders inside Steam settings.
Navigate to the Saved Game Files
Once you’re inside the game folder, look for the usual suspects:
- Open the ShooterGame folder. Yeah, weird name, but that’s the folder where your saves tend to hide.
- Inside ShooterGame, launch the Saved folder.
- From there, head to SaveGames. That’s where your actual save files are stored—numbers, profiles, progress, all that good stuff.
On some machines this may look different or be in a different spot, but this is roughly the usual path for Unreal Engine games like ARK.
Find Your Config Files in the Game Folder
Want to tweak game settings or see what configs are available? The config files are typically inside the Saved folder as well:
- Back in the Saved folder, look for Config.
- Open the WindowsNoEditor folder inside Config.
This is the spot where you can find and edit configuration files, like GameUserSettings.ini or Engine.ini. Just be careful—Windows might hide some of these folders if your view isn’t set to show hidden files (check View > Hidden Items in File Explorer).
Extra Tips & Common Problems
If those folders aren’t showing up or you’re messing around with permissions, try these:
- Make sure your File Explorer is set to show hidden and protected system files (View > Hidden Items in File Explorer).
- If you can’t see the folders, maybe run File Explorer as administrator or check permissions.
- For backups, just copy the entire SaveGames and Config folders somewhere safe—like an external drive or cloud storage.
- Editing config files works sometimes, but always keep a copy of the original. Otherwise, you risk crashing or corrupting the game.
Wrap-up
Getting your hands on these files isn’t rocket science, but it does require digging through some folders. Once you know where they are, messing with saves or configs becomes easier—and you get more control over your game. Just remember: always back up first, because one wrong change can lead to headaches. Not sure why it’s so complicated sometimes, but that’s just how these games roll.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I can’t find the game folder?
Double-check that Steam actually installed the game, and verify your library folders under Steam > Settings > Downloads > Steam Library Folders. Sometimes, the game is on a custom drive or location. Also, try searching your drive for ARK Survival Ascended to get a clue where it ended up.
Can I move my save files to another PC?
Absolutely. Just copy the entire SaveGames folder and drop it into the same location on the new PC. Make sure the game is at the same version otherwise, it might complain or refuse to load.
Is editing config files risky?
Yeah, kinda. If you’re not sure what you’re doing, a bad change can cause game crashes or weird bugs. It’s best to jot down what you change or keep backups—like copy the original .ini files first. Word of warning: some servers or multiplayer settings might also ignore local config edits, so don’t expect magic there.
Summary
- Find game files via Steam’s “Browse Local Files.”
- Navigate to ShooterGame/Saved/SaveGames for your progress.
- Check Config/WindowsNoEditor for your settings files.
- Back up before making any edits because Windows can surprise you.
Wrap-up
Hopefully, this gives you a decent shot at tracking down what you need. It’s not always obvious, but once you’re in the right folder, it’s pretty straightforward. Be cautious with configs, and don’t forget to back up! Sometimes it’s messing around in these folders that helps avoid all those annoying re-installs or restoring from a broken save. Fingers crossed this helps someone get a grip on their files—worked for me in one setup or another, at least.