Does Fallout Shelter have cloud saves?

Yes, Fallout Shelter supports cloud saving on mobile vault slots and Steam has Steam Cloud support for the Windows version. Cloud sync should still be treated as a convenience layer, not as your only backup before editing or moving a save.

What should I back up before using a Fallout Shelter save editor?

Copy every Vault#.sav and Vault#.sav.bkp file from the active save folder into a dated backup folder before uploading or replacing any save. Keep the original copy outside the game folder until the edited vault has loaded, saved, closed, and reopened.

Why did my Fallout Shelter save revert after editing?

A revert usually means Steam Cloud, mobile cloud save, or another device uploaded an older copy after you replaced the local save. Control cloud sync, compare timestamps, and test the local file before allowing cloud sync again.

Cloud Save Guide Updated June 23, 2026 Backup, transfer, and conflict checks

Fallout Shelter Cloud Save, Backup, and Transfer Guide 2026

Q: Can I transfer Fallout Shelter vaults between Android, iOS, and PC?

Bethesda states that Fallout Shelter vaults cannot be transferred between different platforms through the official cloud flow. Manual file workflows may be possible for players who can access Vault#.sav files, but they require backups and careful testing.

Before you edit, move, or restore a Fallout Shelter vault, make a manual backup first. Cloud save can help on Steam, Android, and iOS, but it can also restore an older copy if you choose the wrong conflict prompt or reopen the game on another device. The safest workflow is simple: close the game, copy every Vault#.sav and Vault#.sav.bkp, edit a working copy, then test the result before trusting sync again.

Four-step Fallout Shelter save backup flow: close, copy, backup, and test — A safe vault backup routine is boring by design: close the game, copy the save, store a dated backup, and test the restored file before making bigger edits.

What This Guide Covers

Quick answer: cloud save vs manual backup
How cloud save differs on Steam, Android, and iOS
The safe backup routine before editing
How to handle local vs cloud save conflicts
Transfer checklist for PC, Steam, Android, and iOS
How to test a restored or edited vault
FAQ

Quick Answer: Do Not Treat Cloud Save as Your Only Backup

Fallout Shelter cloud save is useful when it works, but it is not the same thing as a clean manual archive. A cloud slot can sync the latest good vault, the latest broken vault, or an older copy from another device. If you are about to use a Fallout Shelter save editor, move a vault to another machine, restore after a reinstall, or fix a missing save, keep a separate folder that cloud sync cannot overwrite.

The most reliable backup is a dated copy of the actual save files. On PC and Steam, that usually means copying Vault1.sav, Vault2.sav, Vault3.sav, and any matching .sav.bkp files from the save folder. On Android and iOS, the exact access method depends on device permissions, file manager access, backup tools, and whether the vault is available through the in-game cloud slot.

Important: Bethesda's mobile restore guidance says that a cloud restore can show a save conflict when a local save already exists. If you choose the wrong side of that conflict, the copy you wanted to keep can be replaced.

How Cloud Save Works by Platform

The cloud behavior you should expect depends on where you play. The same editor workflow may involve direct file replacement on Windows, a file manager or USB copy on Android, or a backup extraction tool on iOS. The table below separates official cloud behavior from the manual backup step you should still do before editing.

Platform	Cloud behavior to know	Manual backup to keep
Steam on Windows	Steam Cloud can sync Fallout Shelter saves. SteamDB lists the Windows cloud path as `%USERPROFILE%/AppData/Local/FalloutShelter` for `.sav` and `.dat` files.	Copy the whole `%LOCALAPPDATA%\FalloutShelter` folder before replacing a file or launching Steam again.
Classic PC / launcher	Cloud behavior depends on the launcher and installation. Many repair workflows are direct local file workflows.	Use the save file location guide to find the correct folder, then copy all vault slots and backup files.
Android	Mobile vaults can use the in-game cloud checkbox, but Android file access can be restricted on newer versions.	When accessible, copy `Android/data/com.bethsoft.falloutshelter/files` or export the vault with a trusted file manager before editing.
iOS / iPadOS	Cloud restore is slot-based. Direct file access usually requires Finder/iTunes File Sharing, iMazing, or backup extraction.	Export the app data or vault file before restoring from cloud or replacing a save through a backup tool.

For platform-specific file paths, use the PC and Steam guide, the Android save editor guide, or the iOS guide. This page focuses on the backup and cloud decision layer that applies before and after those platform steps.

The Safe Backup Routine Before Editing Vault1.sav

A good backup routine should let you return to the exact state you had before editing. Do not keep only the downloaded edited file. Keep the untouched original, the current working copy, and the post-edit tested copy in separate places.

Close Fallout Shelter completely.
Exit the game, then wait a few seconds so the game and cloud client finish writing files. On Steam, also consider disabling Steam Cloud temporarily for Fallout Shelter while testing a replacement file.
Copy every save slot, not only Vault1.sav.
Copy Vault1.sav, Vault2.sav, Vault3.sav, matching .sav.bkp files, and any nearby metadata files if your platform folder includes them.
Use a dated backup folder.
A clear name such as FalloutShelter-backup-2026-06-23-before-editor prevents guessing later. Put that folder outside the active game save directory.
Edit a working copy only.
Upload the copied file to the editor, download the edited file, and keep it separate until you are ready to replace the active slot.
Test with a small change first.
Before maxing every value, test one small edit such as a modest caps change. Launch the vault, save, close, reopen, and confirm the change persists.

If you are editing resource totals, dwellers, lunchboxes, or other large values, read the max values guide before replacing the active file. A backup protects the file, but a practical edit range protects the next save cycle inside the game.

How to Handle Local vs Cloud Save Conflicts

A save conflict is not a normal "continue" prompt. It is a choice between two versions of your vault. One side may be the local file you just repaired or edited. The other side may be the cloud copy from before your edit, from another device, or from a moment when the vault was already broken.

Editorial comparison of local Fallout Shelter save and cloud save conflict choices — When local and cloud copies differ, pause and compare which copy is newer and which one you actually want before confirming the conflict prompt.

Before choosing a cloud copy

Check which device last had the correct vault progress.
Compare timestamps on the local save folder if you can access it.
Copy the current local save before clicking a cloud restore option.
Do not open the same vault on another device while you are testing a repaired copy.
If the prompt mentions overwriting, assume the losing copy will be difficult or impossible to recover.

If an edited save keeps reverting

A revert usually means the edited file loaded once, then a cloud client or second device replaced it with another version. For Steam, test with Steam Cloud disabled for Fallout Shelter, then re-enable only after the edited vault has loaded, saved, closed, and reopened. For mobile, do not toggle cloud restore repeatedly until you have copied the local file or confirmed which slot contains the correct vault.

Safer rule: after a successful edit, create a fresh dated backup of the edited file before letting cloud sync run. That gives you a local recovery point even if cloud sync later chooses the wrong version.

Transfer Checklist for PC, Steam, Android, and iOS

Players often search for "Fallout Shelter save transfer" when they actually need two different answers. The official mobile cloud flow is slot-based and Bethesda says vaults cannot be transferred between Android, iOS, and PC through the official cross-platform cloud system. Manual file workflows are separate: they depend on whether you can access the actual .sav file and whether the destination version can load it.

Editorial map showing a protected Fallout Shelter backup folder used between PC, Steam, Android, and iOS devices — Use a backup folder as the neutral handoff point. Never move the only live copy directly from one active save folder to another.

Transfer goal	Best first step	Risk to avoid
Steam PC to another Windows PC	Back up `%LOCALAPPDATA%\FalloutShelter`, then test the copied save on the second PC with Steam Cloud controlled.	Letting the second PC upload an older cloud copy before your copied vault is tested.
Classic PC folder to Steam folder	Copy the source vault into a dated folder, then place a copy into the Steam save folder while the game is closed.	Confusing the game install folder with the active save folder.
Android to PC for editing	Export the accessible `Vault#.sav` file, edit a copy in the browser, and preserve the original Android folder.	Replacing the phone copy without knowing whether cloud restore will overwrite it.
iOS to desktop for backup or editing	Use an iOS backup or file-sharing workflow to extract the vault, then keep the exported original untouched.	Restoring a whole device backup just to test one edited vault without a separate copy.

If your goal is not transfer but recovery, use the save repair guide first. Repair work starts by preserving every current file, while transfer work starts by proving which platform and slot has the good copy.

How to Test a Restored or Edited Vault

Do not assume a restored vault is safe just because it appears in the vault list. A proper test checks that the game can load it, save it, close it, and load it again. This matters after save editor changes because a file can be readable enough to launch, but still contain values or states the game does not keep reliably after the next save cycle.

Put the restored or edited copy into the correct save slot while Fallout Shelter is closed.
Launch the game and open the target vault.
Confirm the expected change, such as caps, lunchboxes, dweller stats, or room progress.
Make a normal in-game save by playing briefly or changing a small safe value.
Close the game fully, then reopen it.
If the vault still appears and the change remains, copy this tested version into a new dated backup folder.

When the test fails, do not keep editing the same broken active file. Return to the untouched backup, make a smaller change, and test again. For manual JSON-level checks, use the save decryptor only on a copy and verify that the JSON still parses before converting it back.

Official and Technical References

Use official support pages for platform limits and cloud restore behavior, then use technical references for file paths. Bethesda's mobile restore page describes the cloud checkbox, save conflict prompt, and the limitation that vaults cannot be transferred between Android, iOS, and PC through the official flow. SteamDB's cloud-save page lists the Steam app's Windows cloud path and save patterns.

FAQ

Does Fallout Shelter cloud save work on every platform?

Cloud save exists for mobile vault slots and Steam supports cloud saves for the Windows version, but the behavior is not identical across platforms. Treat cloud save as sync, not as a complete manual backup system.

Can I transfer a Fallout Shelter vault from Android to iOS or PC?

Bethesda says vaults cannot be transferred between Android, iOS, and PC through the official cloud flow. Manual file workflows may be possible when you can access Vault#.sav, but they are outside the normal cloud restore path and should be tested with backups.

Should I disable Steam Cloud before editing a Fallout Shelter save?

Temporarily controlling Steam Cloud is safer when replacing a local save. Back up the folder, disable cloud sync while testing the edited file, then re-enable it only after the vault loads and survives a close-reopen test.

What files should I copy before using the save editor?

Copy all visible Vault#.sav files, matching Vault#.sav.bkp files, and nearby metadata files in the same save folder. Keeping all slots avoids losing another vault while focusing on Vault1.

Can I use a .sav.bkp file as a backup?

Yes, but copy it first. Rename a copied Vault1.sav.bkp to Vault1.sav only when restoring, and keep the original backup untouched until the restored vault is tested.

Final Recommendation

The safest Fallout Shelter save workflow is to separate cloud sync, manual backup, editing, and testing into different steps. Cloud save can help you recover a mobile or Steam vault, but a dated copy of the actual save folder is the only backup you fully control. Before every serious edit or transfer, copy the files, edit only a working copy, test a small change, and create a fresh post-test backup before allowing sync to update the cloud copy.