Village in the Shade Save Location: Windows Folder and Backups

Where are the Windows save files?

The game’s Steam Cloud configuration identifies this Windows folder:

%APPDATA%\Nippon Ichi Software, Inc\Honogurashinoniwa

The SteamDB Cloud Saves view displays the app configuration also available through the Steam app-info mirror. It uses WinAppDataRoaming, rather than the install directory or a guessed Local AppData folder.

The configured file patterns are save.*, .systemsave, and save.lst, searched recursively. These are configuration entries, not a guarantee that every file exists before you create a save.

Third-party English-language launch-day gameplay used as general reference for the 2026 original game. It is not a dedicated tutorial or proof of a particular location, setting, route, or patch behavior.

Cover context: Official house-interior screenshot showing a bed; context only, not an operating-system save-file location.

How do you open the folder?

On Windows, open File Explorer, paste the path above into the address bar, and press Enter. %APPDATA% expands to the current Windows user’s roaming application-data directory.

If the folder is absent, confirm the Windows account used to play and whether a save has been created. Confirm the game-specific folder name before copying or restoring files.

How should you make a backup?

Exit the game first and allow Steam to finish synchronization. Copy the entire game-specific save folder to a separate dated location. Keep the original until you have verified the backup; copying is safer than moving the only copy.

Do not assume that a local manual backup and Steam Cloud are interchangeable. A synchronization conflict can involve different revisions of a save. Preserve both relevant copies before choosing which one to keep.

Does this give the Steam Deck or console path?

No. The path above describes the Windows root in the published cloud configuration. Steam Deck compatibility layers and console save management have different structures. This guide does not invent a Proton prefix path, cross-platform save-transfer feature, or console file-browser method.

For in-game saving, follow the game’s actual save prompts. The filesystem location is a separate question from when the game records progress.

Related guides

• Beginner guide
• Village rules
• Buying guide

Media sources

Cover source · Original image · YouTube video