Keep your saves safe

Back up before updating

Make a separate copy before replacing, reinstalling or experimenting with an app. A backup stored only inside the app container may disappear with that container. Copy first, check the copy, then consider an update. Never use deleting old data as the default first step.

Find the right data

On iPhone or iPad, the README points to Files → app name → save/. Keep pso_user.tsv alongside the save backup when present; log.txt is useful diagnostic evidence. Some sideloading tools change containers during reinstall.

For the Mac app, the development document identifies ~/Library/Application Support/nxnative/<title ID>/save/, with pso_user.tsv beside it. The log is ~/Library/Logs/nxnative/<title ID>.log. Replace the title-ID placeholder with your game’s actual identifier. Do not use a path from a different project.

Backup and restore steps

1. Stop making in-game changes and close the app before copying to avoid an inconsistent snapshot.
2. Copy the complete save/ directory and available pso_user.tsv to a separate folder labelled with title ID, game version, build and date.
3. Inspect that copy: confirm the folder is populated and belongs to the intended title. Keep a second copy if the save matters to you.
4. Only after that, update or reinstall using the upstream instructions for your platform.
5. Before restoring, preserve any new data separately. Restore into the correct title’s container, then open the app and check the expected save slot and progress.

Checkpoint and failure handling

Keep the original backup until the restored save loads successfully. If a folder appears empty or the title ID differs, stop and check the location rather than overwriting another title. This is a preservation checklist, not a claim that every game version can read every older save.

Use the path for the build you actually run

Route	Save location	Diagnostic companion
iPhone/iPad IPA	Files → app name → save/	log.txt; keep pso_user.tsv when present
Finder Mac app	~/Library/Application Support/nxnative/<title ID>/save/	~/Library/Logs/nxnative/<title ID>.log
Mac developer host	<NSP folder>/<title ID>_build/run/save/ in the documented host route	Read the run command for that build’s actual paths

The title-ID placeholders refer to the same game’s identifier, not the visible app name. Check the route before deciding that an empty folder means lost progress. This is nxnative documentation; another project’s folders are not covered by this table.

Label a backup you can identify later

Keep a short note beside the copied folder: title ID, game version, nxnative revision, device, date and the save slot or progress you expect to see. These are your observations, not values this website can detect. Do not put keys or game files into a save backup intended for sharing.

If a restore fails, keep both the original backup and the destination’s new data separate. Check that you copied the folder contents into the intended title’s location, not into another nested save/save/ folder. Do not overwrite another title or erase the old backup while investigating. Return to quick start for the overall route, or mobile installation before replacing an IPA.