Platform path finder
Palworld save file location for Steam, Game Pass, Steam Deck, and servers.
The Palworld save file location depends on platform and hosting layout. Steam stores a readable WorldID folder with Level.sav and Players, PC Game Pass stores opaque WGS containers, and dedicated servers use a path relative to PalServer or a mounted volume. Stop writes and copy the complete candidate folder before inspecting it. The newest timestamp is only a clue; file roles and player evidence should confirm the correct world.
Open a save to see its world summary
We will identify the files, version clues, completeness, and tasks available for this exact input.
Compatible PlZ Beta worlds can expose named players and Pals; unsupported formats receive diagnostic evidence.Quick answer
Palworld save file location: what to know first
- Steam Windows: `%LOCALAPPDATA%/Pal/Saved/SaveGames/<SteamID>/<WorldID>/`.
- PC Game Pass: `%LOCALAPPDATA%/Packages/PocketpairInc.Palworld_ad4psfrxyesvt/SystemAppData/wgs/`.
- Dedicated server: `Pal/Saved/SaveGames/0/<WorldID>/`, adjusted for the host or Docker volume mount.
- Always copy the complete candidate folder before opening an editor, converter, or repair tool.
Palworld save file locations by platform
Paste the Windows paths into the Run dialog or File Explorer address bar. On a server, start from the PalServer installation or hosting panel and follow the mounted data volume. Copy the folder you find before changing permissions, names, or contents.
A WorldID folder is normally a long identifier. Inside a Steam or server world, Level.sav is the main world file and Players contains per-player records. LevelMeta.sav and WorldOption.sav may also be present. Game Pass does not expose that structure directly in filenames.
| Platform | Path | What to copy |
|---|---|---|
| Steam on Windows | `%LOCALAPPDATA%/Pal/Saved/SaveGames/<SteamID>/<WorldID>/` | Complete WorldID folder |
| PC Game Pass | `%LOCALAPPDATA%/Packages/PocketpairInc.Palworld_ad4psfrxyesvt/SystemAppData/wgs/` | Complete WGS folder |
| Steam Deck / Proton | `~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/1623730/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Local/Pal/Saved/SaveGames/` | SteamID and WorldID folder |
| Dedicated server | `Pal/Saved/SaveGames/0/<WorldID>/` | Complete WorldID folder |
| Docker / managed host | Host-specific mount for `Pal/Saved/SaveGames/0/` | Mounted WorldID volume |
Find the correct Steam Palworld world
Open `%LOCALAPPDATA%/Pal/Saved/SaveGames/`. The first long numeric directory normally corresponds to the Steam account. Each long WorldID below it can represent a different solo or multiplayer world. Look for Level.sav and a Players directory, then compare modification time with the last session you remember.
Do not assume the most recent folder is the one you want. A newly created test world can be newer. Match the player-file count, Level.sav size, world metadata, and in-game details. If you are preparing an edit or migration, copy the complete WorldID folder to a separate dated location first.
Find the Palworld Game Pass WGS folder
Open `%LOCALAPPDATA%/Packages/PocketpairInc.Palworld_ad4psfrxyesvt/SystemAppData/wgs/`. WGS directories and files are opaque, so you may not see Level.sav by name. Close Palworld and the Xbox app, copy the entire WGS directory, and inspect the copy.
Use modification time, total bytes, container markers, and a compatible local scanner together. If a tool asks for one file before it has identified the container roles, keep the untouched WGS backup and verify that the tool explicitly supports the current Game Pass format.
Find a dedicated server save and Docker volume
A standard dedicated installation stores worlds under `Pal/Saved/SaveGames/0/<WorldID>/`. Pocketpair's server guide documents configuration paths relative to the PalServer installation; the save directory follows the same application data tree. Managed hosts expose it through a file manager or SFTP.
Docker images can map the Pal directory to any host path. Read the compose file, container volume list, or panel mount before searching the host disk. Stop the container or server before copying the mounted WorldID folder so Level.sav and Players are from the same write point.
Confirm the Palworld save before editing
A local scan should identify file roles, count player-file candidates by path, detect common PlZ, PlM, CNK, or GVAS signatures, flag missing companions, and create a stable receipt. This is more reliable than trusting a folder name or timestamp alone.
Drag the copied folder files or ZIP into Pal Save Editor. The static site performs hashing and file inspection in the browser and returns a read-only capability when the format cannot be safely rebuilt.
A repeatable path-finding workflow
The path is only the first answer. Before selecting a file, confirm that the folder belongs to the intended world and that all companion files came from one write point. A timestamp can identify a candidate, but it cannot prove the player identity or world contents.
For a Steam world, the useful confirmation set is Level.sav, Players, LevelMeta.sav when present, WorldOption.sav, player count, and a known last-played time. For Game Pass, keep the complete WGS folder because filenames do not reveal those roles until a compatible scanner reads them.
- 01
Stop the platform writer
Exit Palworld and the Xbox app, or stop the dedicated server and container before browsing or copying its save directory.
- 02
Open the platform root
Use the Steam, Proton, WGS, PalServer, Docker, or host-panel path for the platform you are actually running.
- 03
Identify the candidate world
Match WorldID or WGS contents by Level.sav, Players count, file size, timestamps, and known in-game details.
- 04
Copy the complete unit
Copy the whole WorldID or WGS folder to a dated location; do not assemble a new world from files in different folders.
- 05
Scan the copy
Open the copy in Pal Save Editor and keep the recognition receipt with the path notes before any edit or conversion.
| Platform | Primary clue | Required confirmation |
|---|---|---|
| Steam Windows / Proton | WorldID folder with Level.sav | Players count, timestamp, world metadata |
| PC Game Pass | Opaque WGS directory | Complete WGS copy and scanner evidence |
| Dedicated server | Pal/Saved/SaveGames/0 | WorldID, stopped server, matching Players |
| Docker or managed host | Mounted volume or SFTP root | Compose/panel mapping and full volume copy |
Task checklist
- 01Stop the game, Xbox app, server, or container.
- 02Open the path for the correct platform.
- 03Copy the full WorldID, WGS, or mounted volume before inspecting.
- 04Confirm Level.sav and Players are from the same write point.
- 05Use modification time as a clue, not the only proof.
- 06Keep the path and receipt with your backup notes.
Questions people ask before touching the save
Why are there several WorldID folders?
Each local or multiplayer world can have a separate identifier. Match timestamp, player files, and in-game details before editing.
Why can I not find Level.sav in Game Pass?
Game Pass uses the WGS container layout with opaque filenames. Back up the entire WGS directory and use a compatible scanner.
Where is the Palworld save on Steam Deck?
The Windows save path usually sits inside Proton app ID `1623730`, under `compatdata/1623730/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Local/Pal/Saved/SaveGames/`. Steam library locations can vary.
Where is the save on a hosted Palworld server?
Look for the host's mapping of `Pal/Saved/SaveGames/0/`. The control panel, SFTP root, Docker volume, or support documentation may expose a different host-side path.
Can I copy only Level.sav from the folder I found?
You can preserve it as an isolated clue, but an edit or recovery copy should include the complete WorldID or WGS folder and its companion files. Mixing files from different timestamps can create identity and ownership failures.
How do I know which WorldID is my active world?
Compare last-played time, Level.sav size, Players count, metadata, and recognizable in-game details. A newest timestamp alone may point to a test world or an autosave created after the important session.