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Backburner Save File Guide: Location, Backup & Management

Updated 2026-06-15

Backburner Save File Guide: Location, Backup & Management

Save File Location

Understanding where your game progress is stored is essential for backing up data or troubleshooting. For Backburner on PC, the save file is located in a specific folder within your user directory.

Default path: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Backburner\Saved\SaveGames\

Replace [YourUsername] with your Windows account name. The AppData folder is hidden by default, so you may need to enable "Show hidden files" in File Explorer's View menu.

The save file itself is typically named SaveData.sav or uses a similar .sav extension. This single file contains all your progress, including unlocked recipes, vehicle upgrades, currency, and world exploration data.

How to Create a Backup

Regular backups protect your progress from corruption or accidental deletion. Follow these simple steps to safeguard your Backburner save file.

  1. Navigate to the save folder

    Open File Explorer and paste the path: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Backburner\Saved\SaveGames\. Press Enter to jump directly to the folder.

  2. Copy the save file

    Right-click the SaveData.sav file and select "Copy" (Ctrl + C). Do not move or delete the original file.

  3. Store the backup safely

    Paste the file into a separate folder, such as "Backburner Backups" on your Desktop or an external drive. Rename it with the date, e.g., SaveData_2026-06-15.sav, to track versions.

Restoring Your Save File

If you lose progress or want to revert to an earlier state, restoring a backup is straightforward.

First, ensure Backburner is closed. Navigate to the same save folder. Rename or move the current SaveData.sav file to a temporary location (as a safety measure). Then, copy your backup file into the folder and rename it to SaveData.sav. Launch the game; your progress should be restored.

Managing Multiple Saves

Backburner currently supports a single active save slot. However, you can manage multiple playthroughs by manually swapping save files.

Create separate backup folders for each playthrough (e.g., "Playthrough 1 - Focus on Upgrades", "Playthrough 2 - Speedrun"). When you want to switch, replace the SaveData.sav file in the game folder with the appropriate backup. This method is safe but requires careful file management.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter save-related problems, try these solutions.

Corrupted Save File

If the game crashes on load or shows incorrect data, your save may be corrupted. Restore from a recent backup. Always maintain at least two backup copies.

Missing Save Folder

If the SaveGames folder does not exist, launch Backburner once to generate it. If it remains missing, verify game files via Steam: right-click Backburner in your library, select Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files.

Cloud Save Conflicts

Steam Cloud Sync may overwrite your local save. Disable it temporarily in Steam's properties menu for Backburner if you are manually managing saves. Re-enable it after restoring your desired file.

FAQ

Can I edit the save file to unlock items? Editing .sav files is possible with hex editors, but it is not recommended. Manual editing can corrupt your save and is not supported by the developer. Use in-game progression for a stable experience.

Does Backburner support Steam Cloud? Yes, Backburner uses Steam Cloud for automatic syncing. This can interfere with manual backups, so disable cloud sync before restoring a local save.

Will future updates change the save file location? The save path is standard for Unreal Engine games and is unlikely to change. Check the official Backburner Steam page or community forums for any update announcements.

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