Fallout Shelter PC & Steam Save Editor Guide 2026

If you are using a Fallout Shelter PC save editor or a Fallout Shelter Steam save editor, the editing step is usually easy. The part that causes trouble is choosing the right Vault1.sav file, keeping a clean backup, and stopping Steam Cloud from restoring the old save after you replace it. This guide gives the direct file paths first, then walks through the safest complete workflow.

Quick Answer: Where Fallout Shelter Saves Are Stored on PC and Steam

For the Bethesda.net or classic PC version, Fallout Shelter usually stores save files here:

For the Steam version, the usual Windows save folder is different:

The active vault files are normally named Vault1.sav, Vault2.sav, and Vault3.sav. The number matches the vault slot in the game. If you have only one vault, you may only see Vault1.sav. Some folders also contain backup files such as Vault1.sav.bkp. Do not delete those backups while testing an edited save.

Bethesda's own migration instructions list Fallout Shelter's Bethesda save folder under Documents\My Games\Fallout Shelter and the Steam folder under AppData\Local\FalloutShelter. SteamDB's Cloud Saves data also shows the Steam Cloud path using %USERPROFILE%/AppData/Local/FalloutShelter with *.sav files. Those two references are useful because they separate the folder location from the editor itself.

PC, Steam, and Windows Store Versions Compared

Search results often mix three different Windows versions together. That creates confusion because the same editor can read the save file, but the file location and sync behavior are not identical. Treat the game version as the first diagnostic question before you edit anything.

This page focuses on PC and Steam because your search intent is usually different from mobile. Android users often need help accessing Android/data; iOS users need an extraction tool such as iMazing or a backup workflow. PC and Steam users usually already have the file system access they need, but they need a clean sequence so the edited save survives the next launch.

How to Edit a Fallout Shelter PC or Steam Save Safely

The safest workflow is to edit a working copy, never your only copy. This matters even if you plan to make small changes such as caps, lunchboxes, SPECIAL stats, rooms, recipes, or dweller health. A save editor can write a valid file, but extreme values or a wrong restore location can still leave the game unable to load the vault.

1. Close Fallout Shelter completely Exit to desktop and make sure the game is not still running in the background. If you are on Steam, closing the game first also reduces the chance that cloud sync rewrites files during your edit.
2. Open the correct save folder For Steam, press Win + R, enter %LOCALAPPDATA%\FalloutShelter, and look for Vault1.sav, Vault2.sav, or Vault3.sav. For PC/Bethesda, open Documents\My Games\Fallout Shelter.
3. Create two backups Copy the target vault to a folder such as Desktop or Documents. Keep one untouched backup named clearly, for example Vault1_original_pc_backup.sav, and use a second copy as your editable working file.
4. Upload the working copy to the online editor Open the Fallout Shelter Save Editor, load the copied .sav file, then make the changes you actually need. Avoid changing too many unrelated values in one pass.
5. Download and rename the edited save The final filename must match the slot exactly, such as Vault1.sav. Watch for browser-added names like Vault1 (1).sav or accidental .json extensions.
6. Replace the local save while the game is closed Copy the edited file back to the original PC or Steam save folder. Confirm that you are overwriting the active slot file, not just placing the edited file beside it with a different name.
7. Launch once and verify Open Fallout Shelter and check a few obvious values such as caps, Nuka-Cola Quantum, dweller stats, or unlocked rooms. If the vault loads correctly, make a fresh backup of the edited version.

How to Stop Steam Cloud from Overwriting Your Edited Save

Steam players have one extra step: cloud sync. Bethesda's PC cloud saving note confirms that Steam players can use Steam Cloud to save their vaults. That is convenient for normal play, but it can be frustrating during save editing because Steam may decide the cloud copy is the version to keep.

The conservative workflow is to disable Steam Cloud temporarily, edit and test the local save, then re-enable it only after the edited vault opens correctly. In Steam, right-click Fallout Shelter in your Library, open Properties, go to General, and turn off the Steam Cloud option for the game. Close Steam fully before replacing files if you have seen it restore old saves before.

When to Re-enable Steam Cloud

Re-enable Steam Cloud only after you have launched the game, confirmed the edited vault is visible, and exited normally. When Steam asks about a cloud conflict, read the timestamps carefully. If your edited local save is the version you want, choose the local save. If you are unsure, cancel, back up both versions if possible, and compare file timestamps before continuing.

What If You Use Multiple PCs?

If you play Fallout Shelter on two computers, do not edit on one PC while the other PC still has an older cloud copy waiting to sync. Edit on one machine, verify the save, let Steam upload the accepted version, then open the game on the second machine. This sequence reduces the chance of a conflict where the second PC reintroduces an outdated vault.

Troubleshooting Common PC and Steam Save Editor Problems

The Edited Save Does Not Show in the Game

Check the filename first. Fallout Shelter expects the slot name to remain exact: Vault1.sav, Vault2.sav, or Vault3.sav. Then check the folder. Steam users should be in %LOCALAPPDATA%\FalloutShelter, not the installation folder under steamapps\common. The installation folder contains the game files; the save folder contains your vault files.

Steam Restored the Old Save

This usually means Steam Cloud synced after the file replacement. Close the game, disable Steam Cloud for Fallout Shelter, restore the edited save again, launch the game once, exit normally, then decide whether to re-enable cloud sync. If you still have the untouched backup, keep it separate until the edited version has worked for a few sessions.

The Vault Crashes After Editing

Restore your original backup and repeat the edit with smaller values. Extremely high resource totals, invalid dweller states, or too many simultaneous changes can make troubleshooting difficult. A practical range is to keep SPECIAL stats between 1 and 10 and use resource values that the game UI can handle comfortably.

You Only See .bkp Files

A .bkp file is a backup file, not the normal active save. If the active .sav file is missing or broken, copy the backup file to a safe folder first, then rename the copy from something like Vault1.sav.bkp to Vault1.sav. Do not rename your only backup in place until you have copied it.

FAQ

Final Recommendation

For most PC players, the best Fallout Shelter save editor workflow is straightforward: find the right Vault1.sav, make a clean backup, edit a working copy, and replace the original while the game is closed. Steam players should add one more safeguard by disabling Steam Cloud until the edited vault has loaded successfully.

If something goes wrong, do not keep editing the broken file. Restore the untouched backup, repeat the process with smaller changes, and verify the folder path before launching the game again. The fastest recovery is almost always a clean backup plus a careful second pass.