Back Up Your No Man’s Sky Save Before an Update

To protect your No Man’s Sky save, finish saving in-game, exit the game, then make a separate backup before installing or launching the update. On Windows Steam or GOG, copy the entire %APPDATA%HelloGamesNMS folder to another location—ideally another drive—and keep that dated copy unchanged until you have checked your updated save. Cloud sync is useful, but it is not a guaranteed, frozen copy of your pre-update progress.

The right method depends on where you play. A folder copy on Windows is different from PlayStation cloud storage, a PS5 console backup, Nintendo Switch Save Data Cloud, or Hello Games cross-save. Some options require a subscription or a compatible drive, and some can replace the version you are trying to preserve. Make the backup before opening the updated game, and check what each platform’s upload or restore action will overwrite.

What should you do before installing the update?

Make the backup while the old game version is closed and before you launch the updated version. The goal is to preserve a copy of the save as it exists before the update, without moving, editing, or overwriting the original. Updates do not necessarily damage saves; a backup is a precaution that gives you another copy if you encounter a problem or need to compare versions.

Load your current game and allow it to finish saving. Return to the main menu if appropriate, then exit No Man’s Sky completely.
Use the procedure for your platform below. On PC, copy the save folder rather than moving it.
Give the copy a recognizable name that includes the date, such as NMS-backup-2026-11-03, and keep it separate from the active save folder.
Install the update and launch the game. Check that your expected save and progress are present before deciding what to do with the backup.

The date-bearing name and the recommendation to retain the copy are cautious backup practices, not a stated game requirement. A full folder copy can contain related files that a user might otherwise overlook. If practical, keep the copy on a different drive from the game and active save. A copy stored beside the original is convenient, but it is less independent if that drive fails or the folder is accidentally changed.

Do not treat an automatic cloud sync as proof that you have a preserved pre-update snapshot. Sync is useful for keeping data available across devices, but it can fail, and a synced copy may change as you continue playing. An independently named copy is easier to identify as the version you intended to keep. After making it, leave it alone until you have checked the updated save and know you no longer need the earlier version.

How do you back up a Windows Steam or GOG save?

For both storefronts, copy the parent NMS folder under your roaming application data. Steam and GOG commonly use different account subfolders inside it, so copying the parent avoids assuming that one account-folder name fits both.

Exit No Man’s Sky.
Open File Explorer and enter %APPDATA%HelloGamesNMS in the address bar.
Copy the entire NMS folder to a separate location. If possible, put it on a different drive from the game installation.
Confirm that the copied folder contains the account folder and its contents. Steam commonly uses a folder named st_<steamid>; GOG commonly uses DefaultUser.
Keep the dated backup unchanged while you install and check the update.

These Windows save locations are documented by the NMSE project maintainer. They are not a claim that every installation has precisely the same contents or account-folder name. The storefront matters: a Steam account directory is not a universal path to use for GOG or Xbox Game Pass. If the expected folder is missing, do not create a new folder or put files into a guessed location; verify that you are looking at the correct Windows account and installation.

Copy the parent NMS folder, not just a file that looks like the current save. The parent contains the storefront-specific account folder and may include related files. Copying instead of moving means the original remains where the game expects it. Once the copy completes, check that the destination folder exists and has the same account-folder structure. Avoid editing the backup or letting a sync utility replace it with a newer version while you are checking the update.

Steam Cloud can help synchronize saves, but it is not a substitute for this separate copy. Steam Support warns of synchronization failures and limits on recovering lost saves. It notes that a previous version may be uploaded through synchronization, but support cannot recover lost saves or resolve cloud conflicts. If Steam presents a conflict, inspect the versions and their timestamps and consider your actual progress; do not choose a version solely because its timestamp is newer.

What if you use Xbox Game Pass on Windows?

Do not copy a Steam save into a guessed Game Pass directory. The documented Windows Game Pass locations use a different container structure, and the actual container can vary.

The NMSE documentation describes paths under %LOCALAPPDATA%PackagesHelloGames*SystemAppData, with an xgs<id> container or, on older installations, a wgs<id> container. Identify the real container on your computer before making a file-level copy. If you cannot confidently identify the save container, avoid changing or transplanting files based on a path guessed from another storefront.

In particular, do not treat the Game Pass container as though it were Steam’s st_<steamid> folder. The documented paths help locate possible containers; they do not establish one identical path for every installation or a safe way to transplant files between storefronts. This is a reason to be cautious rather than to experiment on the only copy of a save.

How do you back up a save on PlayStation?

On PS5, PlayStation Plus cloud storage is the per-game save route. A compatible USB device can be used for a broader PS5 console backup, but that is not an individual-save export. These options have different restore scope: use cloud controls for saved data, and choose a full-console backup only if you understand that it covers more than No Man’s Sky.

PS5: use cloud storage for the game save

Check the saved-data sync status before relying on the cloud copy. Use the game’s Upload/Download Saved Data control or go through Settings > Saved Data and Game/App Settings to manage saved data. Check which version you are selecting before uploading or downloading; a cloud operation can replace the other copy.

PlayStation Plus cloud storage is a service- and account-dependent option, not an offline folder copy. Confirm that the save has synchronized and review the status before installing or launching the update. When choosing an upload or download, pay attention to whether you are sending the console version to the cloud or bringing the cloud version to the console. If you are uncertain which copy contains the progress you want, pause rather than approving an overwrite.

PS5: use USB only for a console backup

Sony’s console-backup path is Settings > System > System Software > Back Up and Restore > Back Up Your PS5. Sony specifies a compatible FAT32- or exFAT-formatted USB drive. Not every device is compatible, and a USB drive formatted as extended game storage cannot be used as backup storage. A full-console restore erases the console’s current data, so this route has a much wider impact than restoring one game save. Sony does not support copying an individual PS5 save to USB in the way it permits for PS4 saves.

If you are considering a USB flash drive for a backup or a portable USB backup drive, check that it meets Sony’s format and compatibility requirements before relying on it. The PS5 operation backs up console data; it is not a way to create a separately selectable No Man’s Sky save file. A full restore replaces current console data, so it is not a casual first step for fixing one game’s save. Do not confuse a drive used for extended game storage with a drive suitable for a console backup.

PS4: USB save copying is different

Sony says PS4 game saves can be copied to USB. Follow the PS4 saved-data controls for that console rather than treating the PS5 console-backup procedure as a single-save export. The distinction matters if you use both generations: the individual-save USB option described for PS4 should not be assumed to apply to an individual PS5 save.

How do you back up a Nintendo Switch save?

For eligible software, Nintendo Switch Online’s Save Data Cloud can upload a user’s save. First confirm that No Man’s Sky shows Save Data Cloud support in the game’s software menu; do not assume every game or edition is eligible.

Close the game.
From the HOME Menu, highlight No Man’s Sky, press +, and check whether Save Data Cloud is available.
If it is available and you have Nintendo Switch Online, open Save Data Cloud, select the relevant user, then choose Back Up Save Data.
Check the displayed backup status before proceeding.

A manual upload replaces the server copy. Downloading cloud data also replaces the console copy, and Nintendo warns that overwritten data cannot be recovered. Check which version is current before either operation.

The game must be closed for the manual backup steps, and the save belongs to the selected user. If you have more than one user profile on the Switch, make sure you are viewing the profile whose progress you want to preserve. Nintendo Switch Online is required for Save Data Cloud, and support is limited to eligible software. The presence of a cloud menu for one game does not prove that all games or editions support it.

Before choosing Back Up Save Data, remember that the manual upload replaces the server copy, rather than creating a second historical slot. Before downloading, remember that the download replaces the console copy. Nintendo warns that overwritten data cannot be recovered. Check the backup status and version information first; do not use an upload or download as a test if you are not sure which version is valuable.

Can Hello Games cross-save serve as a backup?

Cross-save can give you another selectable copy, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed archive of every earlier version. Hello Games says the feature can automatically upload the most recent save, and a mismatch can prompt you to choose which version to keep.

After connecting a supported platform account, use the in-game cross-save icon to upload a selected local save; use the Cross-Save Manager to download one. The developer’s terms warn that cross-saving may be disabled or removed, so retain an independent platform backup where one is available instead of relying on cross-save alone.

Hello Games says cross-platform storage can hold up to five saves. That limit applies to the developer’s cross-platform storage; it is not a statement about the number of saves Steam Cloud, PlayStation, or Nintendo can hold. Cross-save is useful when you want to select a save for another platform, but automatic upload of the latest save means the feature should not be confused with a frozen, automatic history of every earlier state.

When a version mismatch appears, read the choices and decide which save contains the progress you want before confirming. The manager can download a stored save, but a download can replace what is local. As with other cloud options, selection and overwrite risk matter. Do not make Hello Games cross-save your only preservation plan when a separate platform copy is available.

What about backing up a macOS Steam save?

The displayed Steam configuration places the Steam-ID folder under ~/Library/Application Support/HelloGames/NMS/. This is corroborative third-party presentation of Steam configuration, so verify that the folder actually contains your save before copying it.

After verifying the folder, exit the game and copy the relevant NMS folder to a separate location, preferably one that will not be modified by the active game or sync process. Keep the copy dated and do not assume a Windows path applies to macOS. The path is presented as a Steam configuration location; verify the actual contents on your Mac rather than relying on the path alone.

What should you do if you need to restore a PC backup?

Restoring a folder copy is a cautious procedure, not a guaranteed recovery method. Before replacing anything, preserve the current files too, and account for cloud synchronization so a competing version is not accepted blindly.

Close No Man’s Sky and the relevant syncing client.
Copy the current save folder to a separate location first, so you retain the version currently on the machine.
Return the backed-up folder to its corresponding original location, preserving the storefront’s account-folder structure.
Review any cloud conflict carefully. Compare known progress and available timestamps rather than choosing a version solely because its timestamp is newer.
Launch the game only after you have decided which local or cloud version to keep.

This sequence follows the documented PC paths and the known risks of cloud conflicts; it is not a tested restore guarantee. Steam Support says a previous save version may be uploaded through synchronization, but also warns about sync failures and says it cannot recover lost saves or resolve cloud conflicts.

Restoration is not the same as making the backup. A safe copy of the current folder before replacing it gives you a way back to the files that were present at the time you started. Keep both copies clearly named, and do not merge files or rename account folders unless you know what the game expects. The documented locations identify where saves commonly live, but do not guarantee that every restore will work or that a cloud service will choose the intended version.

If you are restoring because the game displayed a cloud conflict, compare the available versions with what you remember playing and check timestamps as one clue. A newer timestamp alone does not necessarily identify the version with the progress you want. Steam says a previous save version may be uploaded through synchronization, but it does not promise to recover every lost save or resolve every conflict. Do not delete the dated backup simply because the game has launched; first check that the relevant save and progress are present.

Which backup route fits each platform?

The key differences are whether the copy is independent of automatic sync, whether you can select a particular save, and how much data a restore can affect. Also consider whether the method requires a subscription or account and whether the platform actually provides the operation you want.

Platform or method	What it preserves	Main limitation
Windows Steam or GOG folder copy	A separately retained copy of the `NMS` folder	Requires identifying and copying the correct folder; cloud sync can still create conflicts.
Windows Xbox Game Pass files	A copy of the actual Game Pass save container, if identified	Container paths vary; do not substitute a Steam path.
macOS Steam folder copy	A copy of the folder in the displayed Steam configuration	Verify that the folder actually contains the save before copying.
PS5 PlayStation Plus	The game’s saved data in cloud storage	Account/service dependent; check sync status and selected version.
PS5 USB console backup	Console data as part of a broader backup	Not an individual PS5 save export; restoring erases current console data.
PS4 USB save copy	PS4 game saves copied to USB	Do not apply this individual-save method to PS5 saves.
Nintendo Switch Save Data Cloud	Eligible software’s save for the selected user	Requires Nintendo Switch Online and eligibility; manual upload overwrites the server copy.
Hello Games cross-save	Selected saves in cross-platform storage	Also automatically uploads the most recent save; not a guaranteed historical archive.

For an independent snapshot, a folder copy is the clearest option on Windows when you can identify the documented folder. On consoles, the available operations differ: PS5 cloud storage handles game saves, while PS5 USB backup covers broader console data; Nintendo’s cloud route depends on subscription and title eligibility. Cross-save can provide selectable stored saves, but automatic uploads and possible version conflicts make it different from a dated local copy.

For physical storage, a USB flash drive for a backup or a portable USB backup drive may be useful for a separate copy. The qualification is important: Sony’s PS5 USB procedure is for a compatible FAT32- or exFAT-formatted drive and a console backup, not a single PS5 save export. Check compatibility and intended use before buying or formatting a drive. PlayStation Plus and Nintendo Switch Online are the relevant subscription services for their respective cloud routes; no particular product or affiliate link is required to make a backup.

What should you avoid?

Do not launch the updated game before making the backup you intend to preserve.
Do not assume cloud sync is an immutable historical snapshot or that support can recover a lost save.
Do not move or edit the original PC folder when the goal is to create a separate copy.
Do not use a Steam folder path for Game Pass, or assume the same account subfolder across Steam and GOG.
Do not mistake a PS5 console backup for a single-save USB export.
Do not use a USB drive formatted as PS5 extended game storage for a PS5 console backup.
Do not upload or download a Switch cloud save without checking which copy will be overwritten.
Do not rely on cross-save as your only backup when you can preserve an independent copy.
Do not choose a cloud-conflict version solely because its timestamp is newer.
Do not restore a full PS5 console backup casually; Sony says the restore erases current console data.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many saves can No Man’s Sky cross-save store?

Hello Games’ official cross-save FAQ says cross-platform storage can hold up to five saves. The FAQ’s publication year is not stated; this figure was verified on October 30, 2026. It is not a quota for Steam, PlayStation, or Nintendo cloud storage.

Where is the No Man’s Sky save folder on macOS Steam?

The displayed Steam configuration places the Steam-ID folder under ~/Library/Application Support/HelloGames/NMS/. This path is corroborated by a third-party presentation of Steam configuration, so verify that the folder contains your save before copying it.

Can I copy a PS4 save to USB the same way as a PS5 save?

No. Sony supports copying PS4 game saves to USB, but says individual PS5 saves cannot be copied to USB; the PS5 USB option is a larger console backup and restore.

Does Steam Cloud keep a permanent pre-update copy?

Do not count on it as an immutable archive. Steam warns about synchronization failures and limits on recovering lost saves. Keep a separate dated PC copy if possible, and review any conflict rather than accepting a version based only on its timestamp.

Can I use a PS5 USB backup to restore only No Man’s Sky?

No. Sony’s PS5 USB option is a console backup, not an individual PS5 save export. A full-console restore erases the console’s current data. PlayStation Plus cloud storage is the per-game save route.

Do I need Nintendo Switch Online to back up No Man’s Sky to the cloud?

Yes, Nintendo Switch Online is required for Save Data Cloud, and the game must show that it supports the feature. From the HOME Menu, highlight the game, press +, and check its Save Data Cloud menu before relying on it.

Is there a verified manual Xbox console export for No Man’s Sky saves?

An Xbox-native menu sequence for making an independent, frozen pre-update save backup is not established here. Hello Games lists Xbox among its cross-save platforms, but do not assume a USB-export or cloud-versioning procedure that the platform has not documented.

When should I make the backup?

Finish an in-game save, exit No Man’s Sky, then make the copy before installing or launching the updated game. Keep the dated copy unchanged until you have checked the updated save.

The Bottom Line

Bottom line: Finish saving, close No Man’s Sky, and make a separate backup before opening the updated game. On Windows Steam or GOG, copy the whole NMS folder and keep a dated copy somewhere separate. On consoles, check subscription and eligibility requirements, confirm which version will be overwritten, and do not confuse a PS5 console backup with a single-save export.

How to Back Up a No Man’s Sky Save on Your Platform