Where Monster Hunter Wilds stores your save file

Monster Hunter Wilds saves your progress automatically to your device's storage, but the location depends on whether you're playing on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC. The game doesn't give you a manual save button — it writes your progress to disk whenever you complete a quest, upgrade gear, or reach a checkpoint. Understanding where that file lives is the first step to backing it up safely.

On PlayStation 5, the save file lives in your console's internal storage under your user profile. You cannot access it directly through the file system the way you can on PC. On Xbox Series X and Series S, the save is stored locally but also synced to Xbox Cloud, which means you have some protection built in. On PC through Steam, the save file sits in a specific folder on your hard drive that you can copy manually.

Key Takeaways

  • PlayStation 5 saves are stored in your console's internal storage and backed up through PlayStation Plus, but you need an active subscription to restore them.
  • Xbox saves sync automatically to Xbox Cloud Storage if you have an Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Live account, giving you a free cloud backup.
  • PC players can manually copy the save folder from your Steam directory to an external drive or cloud storage service like Google Drive or OneDrive.
  • If your console or PC fails, you can restore a save from the cloud or from your manual backup, but only if you created one before the failure happened.

Backing up on PlayStation 5

PlayStation 5 automatically uploads your Monster Hunter Wilds save to PlayStation Plus cloud storage whenever you quit the game. This happens in the background — you don't need to do anything. However, this cloud backup only works if you have an active PlayStation Plus subscription (either Essential, Extra, or Premium tier). If your subscription lapses, the cloud copy may be deleted after a period of time.

To manually back up your save on PlayStation 5, go to Settings, then System, then Backup and Restore, then Backup Your Console. This creates a full backup file of your console data, including all game saves. You can copy this backup to an external USB drive. This is slower than relying on PlayStation Plus, but it gives you a copy you control completely. If your console fails or you switch to a new PS5, you can restore from this backup file.

Backing up on Xbox Series X and Series S

Xbox handles save backups differently than PlayStation. If you're signed into an Xbox Live account (which includes Xbox Game Pass members), your Monster Hunter Wilds save automatically syncs to Xbox Cloud Storage. This is free and happens without you doing anything. You can verify it worked by going to Settings, System, Storage, and checking that cloud saves are enabled.

If your Xbox console fails or you get a new one, sign into the same Xbox Live account on the new console and your save will read automatically. You don't need to manually back anything up unless you want an extra layer of protection. If you want a local backup on an external drive, you can go to Settings, System, Storage, then Games and Apps, select Monster Hunter Wilds, and choose "Manage Game and Add-ons" to see storage options, though this is less straightforward than on PC.

Backing up on PC through Steam

Steam does not automatically back up Monster Hunter Wilds saves to the cloud the way it does for some other games. You need to manually copy your save folder to protect it. The save file is located at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Capcom\MonsterHunterWilds (or wherever your Steam library is installed if you chose a custom location). The AppData folder is hidden by default, so you need to show hidden files first.

To show hidden files on Windows, open File Explorer, go to View, and check "Hidden items." Then navigate to the path above and copy the entire MonsterHunterWilds folder. Paste it into an external drive, a USB stick, or a cloud storage service like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox. If your PC fails, you can restore the save by copying the folder back to the same location. Make sure Monster Hunter Wilds is closed before you copy files in or out.

Using cloud storage services on any platform

If you want an extra backup beyond what your platform provides, you can use third-party cloud storage. On PC, this is straightforward — just copy your save folder to Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox, and it syncs automatically. On PlayStation 5 or Xbox, you cannot directly access the save file to copy it, so cloud storage services won't help unless you're willing to use a PC as an intermediary.

The advantage of cloud storage is that your backup lives on a different company's servers, so if your device is stolen, damaged, or lost, you still have a copy. The disadvantage is that you're trusting a third party with your data. For most players, the built-in backup systems (PlayStation Plus for PS5, Xbox Cloud for Xbox, manual copying for PC) are sufficient.

What to do if your save is lost or corrupted

If your Monster Hunter Wilds save becomes corrupted or you accidentally delete it, your recovery options depend on your platform and whether you made a backup. On PlayStation 5, go to Settings, System, Backup and Restore, Restore from Backup, and select a backup file that contains your save. On Xbox, sign into your account on any Xbox console and your cloud save will read. On PC, copy your backup folder from your external drive or cloud storage back to the original location.

If you have no backup and no cloud copy, the save is gone. You will have to start a new game. This is why backing up before a problem happens is important — once the save is lost, there is no way to recover it from Capcom or from your platform's support team. They can confirm the save is gone, but they cannot restore it for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Steam automatically back up Monster Hunter Wilds saves?

No. Steam does not enable cloud saves for Monster Hunter Wilds by default. You must manually copy your save folder to an external drive or cloud storage service. Check your Steam library settings for the game to confirm cloud saves are not available.

Can I transfer my save from PlayStation 5 to PC?

No. Monster Hunter Wilds saves are locked to the platform and account you created them on. A PlayStation 5 save cannot be moved to PC, and vice versa. You would have to start a new game on the other platform.

What happens to my save if my PlayStation Plus subscription expires?

Your cloud save may be deleted after a period of time if your subscription lapses. The exact timeline varies, but it is typically several months. To keep your save safe, either maintain your subscription or create a local backup on an external drive before your subscription ends.

How often should I back up my save on PC?

Back up your save whenever you reach a milestone you would not want to lose — after completing a major quest, upgrading key gear, or reaching a new rank. If you use cloud storage like Google Drive or OneDrive, the backup happens automatically once you copy the folder there, so you only need to do the initial copy once.

Can I have multiple save files for Monster Hunter Wilds?

Monster Hunter Wilds allows one save file per user profile on your console or PC. You cannot create multiple saves within the same profile. If you want to experiment with different builds or playstyles without losing your main progress, you would need to create a second user profile on your device.