Into The Depths Save File Guide: Location & Backup

Save File Location

Into The Depths stores your colony progression, world seed, and character data in a dedicated folder on your PC. By default, the save file location is:

C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\LocalLow\SmelJey\Into The Depths\Saves\

To access this folder quickly, press Windows Key + R, type %appdata%, navigate up one level to AppData, then open LocalLow, followed by SmelJey, and finally Into The Depths. Inside, you will find a folder named Saves containing all your colony data.

Understanding Save Slots

The game supports multiple save slots, allowing you to maintain different colonies simultaneously. Each slot is stored as a separate file within the Saves folder. File names typically follow a pattern like save_slot_1.dat, save_slot_2.dat, and so on. The number corresponds to the in-game slot selection.

When you load a game, Into The Depths reads the selected slot file. Creating a new colony overwrites the chosen slot unless you select an empty one. It is highly recommended to back up your primary slot before attempting risky explorations or major base expansions.

How to Backup Your Save

Backing up your save file is a simple process that protects hours of colony progress. Follow these steps to create a manual backup:

1. Locate the Saves Folder

   Navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\LocalLow\SmelJey\Into The Depths\Saves\ using File Explorer.

2. Copy the Save Files

   Select all .dat files in the folder. Right-click and choose Copy, or press Ctrl + C.

3. Paste to a Backup Location

   Create a new folder on your Desktop or Documents, named ITD_Backup. Paste the files there using Ctrl + V.

4. Label Your Backup

   Rename the backup folder to include the date, e.g., ITD_Backup_2026-07-15, to track different restoration points.

Restoring a Save File

If your colony encounters a critical bug, you lose progress, or you want to revert to an earlier state, restoring a backup is straightforward. Ensure the game is completely closed before proceeding.

First, open your backup folder and copy the .dat files you want to restore. Then, navigate back to the original Saves folder at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\LocalLow\SmelJey\Into The Depths\Saves\. Paste the backup files here, confirming any overwrite prompts.

After restoring, launch Into The Depths and select the corresponding slot. Your colony should load exactly as it was when the backup was created. If the game does not recognize the save, verify the file name matches the original slot naming convention.

Managing Multiple Colonies

For players who enjoy experimenting with different strategies or exploring multiple world seeds, managing save files manually offers great flexibility. You can create separate folders for different playthroughs.

For example, maintain a folder named Colony_Explorer with a backup of your main exploration colony, and another named Colony_Builder for your base-building focused run. When you want to switch, simply copy the desired backup into the active Saves folder.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes save files can become corrupted or fail to load. This often happens due to unexpected game crashes or mod conflicts. If you encounter a "Save file corrupted" message, try restoring from your most recent backup.

If the game fails to detect any save files, ensure you have placed the .dat files directly inside the Saves folder, not in a subfolder. Also, check that Steam Cloud is not overwriting your manual restore. Temporarily disable Steam Cloud for Into The Depths by right-clicking the game in your library, selecting Properties, and unchecking "Enable Steam Cloud synchronization."

Finally, if you have lost all progress and have no backup, check the autosave.dat file. This file is often more recent than your last manual save. Copy it to a new slot name (e.g., save_slot_1.dat) and load it in the game. This can recover progress from within the last 10 minutes of play.