.SAV File Extension

File Type 1

Nintendo DS Save File

Developer Nintendo
Popularity
3.9  |  476 Votes
Category Game Files
Format Binary

What is a SAV file?

A SAV file is a saved game used by Nintendo DS portable game system emulators such as DeSmuME and NO$GBA. It stores the state of the current game progress and includes game information such as the character name, experience points, completed levels, and in-game resources.

More Information

SAV files are often found with an .NDS Nintendo DS ROM file, and are sometimes required in order for the ROM to run properly. When transferring SAV files to a new Nintendo DS flash card, you must make sure that the file format is compatible or the saved game may not load.

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Programs that open or reference SAV files

Mac
Windows
Linux
Updated April 3, 2019
File Type 2

Video Game Save File

Developer N/A
Popularity
4.0  |  264 Votes
Category Game Files
Format N/A

What is a SAV file?

A SAV file is a saved game created by a video game or video game emulator. It contains a record of a player's game progress. Many different types of games and emulators create SAV files.

More Information

Many video games and video game emulators (which simulate game consoles on a PC) allow players to save their progress at certain points during gameplay. Often, the files that store these saved games use the .sav extension.

For example, many Nintendo video games store players' saved games in SAV files. In addition to being able to load these files on Nintendo consoles, players can also load them in Nintendo console emulators (alongside an accompanying game ROM), to resume their saved game on a PC or mobile device.

How to open a SAV file

Depending on what type of game or emulator created your SAV file, the instructions for opening it vary. Refer to other entries on this page for specific instructions on how to open various types of SAV files.

Programs that open SAV files

All Platforms
Open with the game that created the file or a supported emulator
Updated March 13, 2023
File Type 3

SPSS Data File

Developer IBM
Popularity
3.5  |  93 Votes
Category Data Files
Format Binary

What is a SAV file?

Data file created by SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences), an application used for statistical analysis; saved in a proprietary binary format and contains a dataset as well as a dictionary that describes the dataset; saves data by "cases" (rows) and "variables" (columns).

More Information

SAV files are often used for storing datasets extracted from databases and Microsoft Excel spreadsheets. However, they can also save data that has been entered manually by the user or data that has been generated by the software.

SPSS datasets can be manipulated in a variety of ways using the SPSS engine, but they are most commonly used to perform statistical analysis tests such as regression analysis, analysis of variance, and factor analysis. Results can be graphed to a variety of supported chart types, including bar graphs, line graphs, scatter plots, and histograms.

Programs that open or reference SAV files

Mac
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Linux
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Updated June 23, 2011
File Type 4

Mass Effect 3 Saved Game

Developer Electronic Arts
Popularity
3.6  |  69 Votes
Category Game Files
Format Binary

What is a SAV file?

Saved game created by Mass Effect 3 (ME3), a galactic action role-playing game; stores the player's profile and includes mission progress, game items, and achievements.

More Information

ME3 SAV files are saved to the C:\​Users\​[user]\​Documents\​BioWare\​Mass Effect 3\​Save\​ directory. A common SAV file is Local_Profile.sav.

Programs that open or reference SAV files

Updated July 25, 2012
File Type 5

Fallout 2 Map Archive

Developer Bethesda Softworks
Popularity
3.8  |  38 Votes
Category Game Files
Format Binary

What is a SAV file?

Archive used by Fallout 2, a futuristic, role-playing video game; contains a .DB file that stores map data, which describes cities and other locations in the game.

More Information

SAV files are similar to Fallout 2 .MAP files but are compressed with GZIP compression. You can rename the "sav" extension to "gz" or "zip" and uncompress the archive with programs such as WinRAR.

Programs that open or reference SAV files

Updated August 5, 2014
File Type 6

Parallels Desktop Saved State Image File

Developer Parallels
Popularity
3.5  |  39 Votes
Category Backup Files
Format Binary

What is a SAV file?

File saved by Parallels Desktop, a program that allows users to run Windows from Mac computers; stores the state of the Parallels Desktop virtual machine (VM) when it is paused or suspended; used to load and save VM states.

More Information

SAV files store the state of the machine and all running applications when the VM is paused.

Programs that open or reference SAV files

Updated August 21, 2019
File Type 7

Fortnite ClientSettings File

Developer Fortnite
Popularity
3.5  |  11 Votes
Category Settings Files
Format N/A

What is a SAV file?

A SAV file contains client settings used by Fortnite, a sandbox survival where players cooperate to collect resources, build fortifications, and fight enemy creatures. It stores settings for various aspects of a user's gameplay, such as mouse sensitivity and user action key bindings.

More Information

The ClientSettings SAV file is referenced by Fortnite to configure various settings in the game. You can use ClientSettings Editor in Windows to view and modify the settings. Some settings that can be adjusted in the file include the HUDScale, the sensitivity of the gamepad and mouse, and the controller platform. You can also modify the user action key bindings, which are key shortcuts that allow you to perform one or more actions in the game by pressing one key.

To open the SAV file using ClientSettings Editor, simply select File → Open, navigate to your SAV file, and click Open. When you are finished modifying the file, select File → Save or Save As, name the file, choose the save location, and click Save.

Common SAV Filenames

ClientSettings.sav - Default name given to the client settings file used by Fortnite.

Programs that open or reference SAV files

Updated April 26, 2019
File Type 8

Wii Saved Game

Developer Nintendo
Popularity
3.6  |  7 Votes
Category Game Files
Format Binary

What is a SAV file?

A SAV file is a saved game file created by a Nintendo Wii video game, such as New Super Mario Bros. Wii or The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. It contains a record of a player's in-game progress. Most often, SAV files are used to load saved games in the Dolphin Wii emulator or on modded Nintendo Wiis.

More Information

Some, but not all, Wii games save players' progress in SAV files. To most players, these files are "invisible" - meaning that players likely do not know their saved games are saved as SAV files. These players are content to save and load Wii games without considering how their progress is saved.

However, those who use Wii emulators or have modded their Nintendo Wiis will likely end up extracting, downloading, managing, and otherwise manipulating SAV files. For example, those who play New Super Mario Bros. Wii in the Dolphin emulator will create and load a related SAV file. As another example, those who play Newer Super Mario Bros. Wii and other fan-made New Super Mario Bros. Wii sequels on their Wiis will likely encounter SAV files created by those games.

Common SAV Filenames

wiimj2d.sav - A New Super Mario Bros. Wii saved game file.

How to open a SAV file

You can open many Wii SAV files in Dolphin (cross-platform). To do so, you must possess a corresponding Wii ROM, which will likely be saved in an .ISO, .RVZ, or .GCZ file. To use a SAV file with a game, right-click that game in Dolphin's game list, select Open Wii Save Folder, and place your SAV file in that folder.

SAV files created by fan-made Wii games can be opened only on a Wii, using the game that created the SAV file.

Programs that open SAV files

Mac
Windows
Linux
Updated May 19, 2021
File Type 9

GameCube Saved Game

Developer Nintendo
Popularity
2.8  |  9 Votes
Category Game Files
Format Binary

What is a SAV file?

A SAV file is a saved game file created while playing a Nintendo GameCube video game. It records a player's progress so they can resume their game at a later time. Most often, SAV files are used to load saved games in the Dolphin GameCube emulator.

More Information

When GameCube players save an in-progress game, their progress is typically saved in a .GCI or SAV file. The American versions of GameCube games save players' progress in GCI files, while their European equivalents save games in SAV files. These files are stored on players' GameCube memory cards.

Outside of loading saved games on their GameCubes, most GameCube players will not encounter a SAV file. However, those who use the Dolphin emulator to play GameCube games on their PCs can download, create, and open SAV files to resume in-progress games (including their own and other players') on their PCs.

How to open a SAV file

You can open a GameCube SAV file in Dolphin (cross-platform). To do so, you must possess a corresponding European-edition GameCube ROM, which will likely be saved in a .GCM or .ISO file.

To load your SAV file, first use Dolphin's Memory Card Manager to add the file to your list of GameCube saved games. Then, open the SAV file's corresponding ROM and load the saved game your SAV file contains.

Programs that open SAV files

Mac
Windows
Linux
Updated February 1, 2021

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