Find, back up and move your saves

Can I use my existing save?

On Windows, you can move an existing emulator save backup into OpenSmash using its save_data folder. Check for system_data.bin inside it. Keep the game version with your backup so you can identify what it belongs to.

For WindowSmash, copy the whole save/ folder to back up or restore your progress. Keep its folder layout separate from OpenSmash’s.

OpenSmash migration and backup

Windows

The default destination is build/saves/save/save_data/. If you chose another Install location, replace build/ with that location.

1. Close OpenSmash.
2. Rename the existing saves/save folder to an unused backup name such as save_old.
3. Create a new empty saves/save folder.
4. Copy your existing save_data folder into it.
5. Check that saves/save/save_data/system_data.bin exists.
6. Open Play SSBU.bat.

Keep the renamed backup until you have tried your save in the game. For an ordinary Windows backup, copy the whole <install location>/saves/ directory with the game closed. To restore, rename the current saves/ to an unused backup name, then copy the saved saves/ directory back into the same install location. Directories named save.work.<number> are temporary session files; do not choose one as the permanent migration destination.

Linux

OpenSmash's Linux launcher uses $XDG_DATA_HOME/ssbu-recomp/userdata, or ~/.local/share/ssbu-recomp/userdata when that variable is unset. --userdata can select a different directory. Do not search only for Windows build/saves.

To back up:

1. Close OpenSmash and wait for its process to exit.
2. Locate the actual userdata directory used by the launcher.
3. Copy that entire directory to a dated backup outside the build tree.
4. Record the project/game version beside the backup.

To restore:

1. Close OpenSmash.
2. Rename the current userdata directory to an unused backup name.
3. Copy the backed-up userdata directory to the original path.
4. Run ./play.sh --userdata "/absolute/path/to/restored-userdata" with that restored path.
5. Check your progress before removing either backup.

On Windows, use the save_data migration steps above for an existing emulator save. Linux emulator-save import compatibility is unknown; restore a whole OpenSmash userdata backup using this section's steps.

WindowSmash versions and save locations

1. Close WindowSmash.
2. Copy the selected version’s entire save/ folder to a backup location.
3. Record the selected game version beside the backup.

To restore:

1. Close WindowSmash.
2. Rename the selected tree's current save/ to an unused backup name.
3. Copy your backed-up save/ into that same selected tree.
4. Launch that version and check the progress before deleting the backup.

A newly created version starts with a copy of the main save, then keeps its own progress. Choosing another version in the launcher can therefore show different progress. A Linux tree copied from Windows also does not keep saves synchronised automatically.

Keep backups for each project and game version

Keep backup names clear about the project and game version. Do not overwrite a working folder until you have identified the destination the launcher actually uses.

Keep WindowSmash’s netplay_id.txt on its own PC. It is a multiplayer identity file, not a save to share with another player. For apparent lost progress, check the selected version and save location first.

Versions covered by this guide

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