How To Backup & Import PS3 Game Saves
One of the main advantages of PS3 (apart from the great graphics and insane processor power) is its accessibility.
The XrossMediaBar (XMB in short) was first used for the PSX. At the moment it’s the user interface system for both the PSP and the PlayStation 3. Although we’re still far away from the customizability we have on the PSP, it’s a big step forward, coming from the PlayStation 2.
This accessibility is really demonstrated when we’re copying to or from the PlayStation 3. Not only movies or pictures, but savegames as well.
Some of you might remember the hassle of copying or backing up a savefile on the PlayStation 2. This was possible, but only from and to other memory cards. If you wanted to use these savefiles through a computer, additional products had to be purchased. Special Memory Cards, Memory Card to USB converters, and so on.
With the PlayStation 3 this becomes much easier. Not only can we make swift backups to various storage media, it’s also easy to share, or download savefiles using the internet.
Method 1: Full Backup
Of course there’s no easier way to secure your save-files than by doing a full fledged back-up.
One of the downsides is that it really is a one-click-backup, meaning you can’t select specific parts or use it for anything other than to put it back later, which then erases all the other content.
Doing it is pretty simple though. Just make sure you’ve got a flash drive, external hard disk or one of the supported memory cards at hand. Make sure you’ve got enough room on it before you try backing up your entire HD film collection.
If you want to do a more specific backup, or learn how to place downloaded savefiles on your PlayStation 3, check Method 2 below.
- Navigate to Settings -> System Settings
- Scroll down and select Backup Utility and choose Backup.
- You will see two warnings, one will tell you that you can’t backup Trophies, the other one is a regular affirmation form. Confirm both times.
- Next, you’ll be prompted for the destination. You can use any flash drive or external hard disk, just make sure you’ve got enough space available.
- Wait for the process to finish, and you’re done. Once you’ve put the backup somewhere safe, you can sleep soundly.
Note: If you want to restore the backup, go back to Settings -> System Settings -> Backup Utility and select “restore”. Once you’ve told your PlayStation where to look, your files will magically fall into place, but know that all the other files on the PlayStation 3 will be deleted!
Method 2: Manual Backup
If you want to have a bigger say in the backup process, you can always try doing it manually. The method described below will work for all files (videos and pictures alike), but we’re going to look specifically at the save files.
The process is pretty simple. Just insert your storage drive and follow the steps below.
- Go to Game -> Saved Data Utility. This is where all your saves are stored.
- Browse to the right savegame and press triangle (
). And select Copy in the newly opened sidebar. - You’ll be prompted for the destination. Any external storage drive will do (like a USB stick or a memory card), save games aren’t so very big. Additionally, you can also transfer the save game to another user account.
- Wait for the copying to finish, and you’re done!
Note: These savegames can be easily transfered from and to other media. You can store them on your PC, mail them to friends, and so on. The posibilities are endless.
Putting The PS3 Game Saves Back In Place
If you want to copy a savegame to your PlayStation 3, you’ll need to do the following:
- Go to Game -> Saved Data Utility.
- Way at the top you’ll see your storage drives. Click on the one you need.
- Just like before, select the desired savegame and press triangle ( ). Then select Copy in the sidebar and choose to copy to your PlayStation 3’s hard drive.
- Wait for it to finish copying, and you’re done!
Download PS 3 Save Games Online
There are a lot of good sources for PlayStation 3 save games. Most of these saves are 80 to 100 percent completed and some have various unlocked extra’s. These can be downloaded and copied to your PlayStation 3 with the method described above.
GameFaqs is a great website for all kinds of video game info. This is the place to go if you want release dates, cheats or walkthroughs. Even savegames!
PS3BREW, part of the Brewology network, hosts a wide range of PlayStation 3 savefiles. It’s definately worth checking out.
Do you know any other cool sites? Another slick savegame trick perhaps? Or do you have a question regarding this article?
Just drop a comment below.
You might also want to check out ps3maven.com – it provides Playstation 3 updates, news and everything related to the cool ps3 game console
(By) Simon is a student and tech enthusiast from Belgium. On MakeUseOf, he's the primary gaming writer and eBook editor. Check Simon out @ http://meme.yahoo.com/slangen/
The PS3’s interface is so incredibly easy and user friendly. I used a very similar procedure when I installed a 250gb hard drive for mine.
Cant find my saves when i open my USB on the PS3. I’ve tried zipping the save-game folder, have the files in the top layer of files on the USB, but nothing works. Any pointers will be greatly appreciated.
You need to use the following hierarchy:
(Storage: e.g. X:)\PS3\SAVEDATA\*name*\ (files here)
This *name* is specific for each savegame. Just use the folders that exist in the downloaded archive.
That did the trick. Thank you very much. I was doing everything right except I didn’t use the hierarchy.
(Comments wont nest below this level)try using the triangle button and press display all
i have the same problem as u nicole.:L
EUREKA!!! It worked.
Thanks a bunch Simon!!!
simon when i download a ps3 game save from the internet and put it on a usb under “PS3″/”SAVEDATA”/”THE FILES NAME” it comes up so i copy it onto my ps3 so when it is in my saved data on my ps3 i load up the game but when i choose load it doesn’t show up please respond im pulling my hair out here
Hmmm… Does it work with other gamesaves?
I have the same problem like ash. My situation here is that I lost my save data for Resistance 2, so I downloaded a save data via the internet and did the “PS3/SAVEDATA/FILES NAME” process. I copied the save file onto my save data utility then when I came to start the game, the load option was not available and instead only the new game option was available… sooo what is this
???
(Comments wont nest below this level)Is there another hierarchy used in the rar/zip files?
Do you experience the same problems with other save files?
you need to extract the file by winrar where do u get the save data for midnight club la on ps3
(Comments wont nest below this level)I’m incredibly frustrated. Whenever I put my files on to a USB drive, they don’t appear when I plug it into the PS3. The images appear, but the data doesn’t come up in the game settings.
My old PS3 broke. I just got a new one. I am just trying to get my old data back. The USB drive pops up in the music, video, and image icons, but that’s it. Not the games one.
I’ve been trying to find a solution all day. Please help.
Kevin,
I have the exact same problem…The USB drive pops up in the music, video, and image icons section but not in the games section. Have you been able to figure out what the heck the problem is? Corrupted files?
Hey guys, i’ve been trying that. With Little Big Planet it worked perfectly, but with Mirror’s Edge it didnt…
It copied well but when I run the Mirror’s Edge it says the game can’t load the save data files because some other user has created them (because i had to restore the PS3)…
please help
thanks.
how can i back up trophies? i have a new hard drive to install
Go to Game -> Trophy Collection and press triangle. Then choose ‘Synchronise with Server’. (You need a PSN account for this though. If you haven’t got one, make one now)
im trying to upload midnight club la to my ps3. i downloaded a save from ps3brew and it wont upload to my ps3. i have a mac and i tried to change the name to what it says in another message and it didnt work. plese help!
are trophies not working? i backed them up, now it shows none under them
You need to resync after installing your new Hard Drive.
i also have a mac and when i tried to change the name of the save data to PS3/SAVEDATA/*name* it said the name was to long
“change the name of the save data”
You don’t need to ‘change the name’ of the savedata to PS3/SAVEDATA/*name*, it’s the hierarchy you need to use.
*name* in folder SAVEDATA in folder PS3 on portable storage.
Still experiencing the same problem? If so, I’d suggest you ask a friend with Windows or Linux to do it, though this should be possible with Macs as well.
i ave resyced still nothing
Are you sure the (first or current) synchronization succeeded?
yes, it appeared too
ok so i got a file to work. but the one that worked went to far into the game so i downloaded another file from the same website and it didnt work. the only difference in the files is one is from europe and one from america. what should i do differently?
It seems you need to remain within the appropriate region, though this is the first I hear of that.
i was just wondering with the ps3 games saves if u put them on the ps3 will they work without the game disc or do u still need that too? thanks
You still need the games
The save file only tells the game how far you’ve progressed.
i made another user on my ps3 and copied the game data from my old one to my new one but when i tried playing resistance 2 it kept on saying this is not you save data load aborted. do u know how to make it work?
what files does a ps3 support for games ?am i able to put an OST file on the ps3 hard drive?
Thanks for the tutorial. I followed the instructions which were quite easy and downloaded/copied a Guitar Hero III Savegame. Unfortunately, as Eric stated in one of the above comments I cannot get it to work – it doesn’t load, probably because someone else created it. Is there a way or better, which is the way to make other users’ (GH III) savegames to work on my console? Would be really nice if someone could help me with this.
ok i have a save but when i go to load it. it tells me that it was created by another user and cannot be loaded is there anyway to get around this.
No matter what I do, when I put a USB device with downloaded saves on it into my PS3, I always get a corrupt file message. I’ve downloaded saves using Windows XP and Linux. On NTFS and Fat32, nothing works. I have the newer PS3 160GB. Any thoughts on this?
No, sorry, I haven’t got any idea of what could cause such problems. Perhaps a dedicated PS3 forum is the way to go.
HELP!!
A lady at the game shop put my back up files in a cd and I copied it to my usb alredi…. I then did the PS3/SAVEDATA/(I put the folders in here) and i went to my new PS3 and tried to restore the data… and it sez that there isnt any backup data…. HELP! i want to play disgaea 3…
Try using the CD directly with your Playstation
If it doesn’t work, what format are the file(s) ?
hi ive got midnight club la and wen i put the files on my hdd it doesnt apear on my game
im planning on getting a new internal hard drive for my ps3, so am a able to completely back up all my game saves, game files etc and trophys? because i really dnt want to lose everything as ive worked a long time to get where i am.
Full back up should do the job for everything except the trophies.
Your trophy collection can’t be backed up in the traditional way (would open too much doors for cheating), instead you need to synchronize them with the server before removing your hard drive and back again after installing the new one.
To do this, you need an active internet connection and a PSN account. If you don’t have one, make one now.
Then go to Game -> Trophy Collection and press triangle. Choose ‘Synchronise with Server’.
For restoring saves from PS1 games try the following directory structure on your USB stick.
:\PS3\EXPORT\PSV\*actual savedata filename*
WHEN I PUT MY USB IN NOTHING COMES UP I PUT THE PS3/SAVEDATA/FLIES NAME AN NOTHING COMES UP AN IM NEW TO PS3 PLZ HELP
Nothing at all? Then there’s probably something wrong with the USB stick itself. Try if it works with another save file.
This doesn’t work.
I cant get this to work. Giving up…
i have a WD 250GB external hard drive and an imac g4 and i am trying to figure out how to download the save files from PS3 Brew on my mac, put it on the WD external hard drive and open it up to where i can play the save on my PS3 in COD4. PLEASE HELP I AM PULLING MY HAIR OUT! step by step instructions would be nice.
hi i have a ps3 in two different locations and like to import files from one to the other rather than starting new games all the time, so i did this for resistance 2 and was wondering if this would block me from getting any more trophies, it has never notified me of any risk of losing trophies but just wanted to double check.
Thanks
If you use the same PSN account on both playstations, there shouldn’t be any problem. Trophy achievements are automatically synced with Sony’s server.
I’ve got a save on a USB stick and and it shows up in Game Utility and stuff, the problem is when I try to put it on my PS3 it says same file name, Overwrite current?
It’s a save from gamefaqs and I’d rather not lose the save I already have for the game, is there a way to rename Save Titles
Not sure, but I don’t think so. You could always back up your original save game before your replace it.
I have a stupid question, if I download a 100% save file when I load the game save, will it give me the platinum trophy?
Probably not, would be a little too easy
HELPPPPPPP!
when i downloaded gran turismo 5 SAVEDATA i put it onto my ps3 (overwriting the old data as i wasnt that far in the game anyway) i went to load it up and it says it was created by another user and can not use data form another user (i downloaded this data) does it matter what region i download it from?:S because i live in the UK and donwloaded it from the “Europe” section on the website, PLEASEE help.
There seem to be some games that do this. InFamous does the same nasty thing. You won’t be able to use those saves, no matter where you download them.
when i try to backup files i go to backup utility but it does not recognise the external drive
Not very much to do about that, try using a different drive/stick.
i got 2 ps3’s and i download games from the ps3 store to 1 of my ps3’s, and i would like to know how am i able to have the purchased games from the ps3 store on my other ps3 without having to buy the games twice? is there a way? PLEASE HELP!!!
You can view your purchasing history at the playstation store, and you should have an unrestricted number of downloads of allready purchased content (at least it used to be this way). It’s required that you are logged in with the PSN account that the purchase was done with.
ok i did that but for the game marvel vs capcom 2 on my 2nd ps3 it shows it downloading and complete in 0 seconds but its not showing up on my game list, why? and is there any other options i have so i dont have to pay twice for my ps3 online store games??? P.S. thanks for all your help…..
it worked, i figured it out, but still are there other options aswell?? if not, thats ok…..thanks for your useful info……
hi i copied ps3 game to usb but after following directions to copy from usb to ps3 the hard drive doesnt show up it says u r copying same file to same location (usb) there is no harddrive ps3 destination as a option please help
@kid – don’t think so
@malmar – make sure you are following the directions to the letter. Copying your files back is a different procedure.
Don’t navigate to your original savefile, like you first did. Instead, go to Game -> Saved Data Utility -> Your-Storage-Drive and try to find the relevant savegame in that directory.
hi, i have a new ps3 account and i want to move my old resident evil 5 data onto my new account, i copied it onto a usb and when i tried to play resident evil it said i cannot use data from other profile users. Is it possible to play on my new ps3 account with my old saved game data?
Some games pull this nasty trick on you. You won’t be able to use backed up saves for Resident Evil 5.
if i get a new ps3 and use the same username can i use the game saves from old ps3?