How Dusk / Dusklight Stores Save Files
Dusk Twilight Princess (rebranded as Dusklight from v1.1.1, May 13 2026) stores your save data, configuration file, and texture packs in a dedicated data folder. This folder is separate from the app itself, so updating or reinstalling Dusk does not delete your saves — as long as you do not manually delete the data folder.
Since Dusklight v1.1.1, you can also change the data folder location from within the app: go to Settings → Interface → Change Data Folder. This is useful for keeping saves on a different drive or backing up to a cloud-synced folder. An "Open Data Folder" button in the same menu takes you directly to the folder in your file manager.
Open Dusk / Dusklight → Settings → Interface → Open Data Folder. This opens the exact folder in your OS file manager. No need to navigate manually.
What's Inside the Dusk Twilight Princess Data Folder
The Dusk Twilight Princess data folder holds three types of files. Knowing what each one does helps you back up selectively and avoid accidentally overwriting settings when restoring saves.
| File / Folder | What it contains | Safe to copy? |
|---|---|---|
| slot1.dusk, slot2.dusk, slot3.dusk | Your in-game save data — one file per save slot. Dusk supports three save slots. | Yes — copy these to back up your progress. |
| config.ini | Your settings: display options, controller bindings, gyro sensitivity, data folder path override, and interface preferences. | Yes, but restore with care — restoring an old config may reset display or controller settings to an earlier state. |
| textures/ | Cached texture packs installed through the in-app texture manager. Each pack is a subfolder. | Yes — safe to copy, but packs can be re-downloaded from within Dusk if needed. |
| logs/ | Crash and diagnostic logs written by Dusk. Not needed for save backups. | Optional — only useful for bug reports. |
To back up only your saves, copy the three .dusk slot files. You do not need to copy config.ini or the textures/ folder unless you want a full environment backup.
Dusk Twilight Princess Save File Location by Platform
The table below shows the default Dusk Twilight Princess save file location for each supported platform. Your save files, config file, and texture pack cache are all stored inside this folder.
| Platform | Default save file location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | %APPDATA%\Dusklight | Type this path directly into the Windows Explorer address bar. On older installs (pre-rebrand), the folder may still be named %APPDATA%\Dusk — Dusklight migrates it automatically on first launch. |
| macOS | ~/Library/Application Support/Dusklight | The Library folder is hidden by default. In Finder, press Cmd+Shift+G and paste the path. Or use Settings → Open Data Folder from inside Dusk. |
| Linux | ~/.local/share/dusklight | Follows the XDG Base Directory Specification. The path can be overridden with the XDG_DATA_HOME environment variable. The folder may be named dusk on older installs. |
| Steam Deck | ~/.local/share/dusklight | Same as Linux. On Steam Deck in Desktop Mode, navigate via Dolphin file manager with hidden files shown (Ctrl+H). |
| Android | Internal storage → Dusk / Dusklight data folder | Use Settings → Open Data Folder from inside the app. On Android, the Files app may not show the folder by default — use the "Open Data Folder" button, which uses the correct storage intent. If you have trouble, try the Files app and scroll to the left nav bottom. |
| iOS | Files app → On My iPhone/iPad → Dusklight | The v1.0.1 patch (May 11, 2026) fixed iOS save file access. Update to v1.1.1 if you cannot find saves in the Files app. Tap the "Open Data Folder" option in Settings → Interface to jump directly to it. |
When you update from an older Dusk install to Dusklight v1.1.1 or later, the app automatically migrates your existing save and config data from the old Dusk folder to the new Dusklight folder on first launch. You do not need to move files manually. If the migration did not happen, use Settings → Change Data Folder to point Dusklight at your old Dusk folder.
How to Back Up Your Dusk Twilight Princess Save Files
Because Dusk Twilight Princess saves are stored in a regular folder, backing them up is straightforward: copy the entire data folder to a safe location. Do this before updating Dusk, before changing your data folder path, or before reinstalling your operating system.
Simple backup steps (Windows / macOS / Linux)
- Open Dusk → Settings → Interface → Open Data Folder.
- In your file manager, go up one level so you can see the entire
Dusklight(orDusk) folder. - Copy the entire folder to a backup location: an external drive, a USB stick, or a cloud folder (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive).
- Label the backup with the date and your Dusklight version number.
Restoring a backup
- If you need to restore, close Dusk completely.
- Replace the current data folder with your backup copy.
- Alternatively, use Settings → Change Data Folder and point Dusk at your backup folder directly — this is non-destructive and avoids overwriting anything.
Copying the save folder while Dusk is open may result in an incomplete or corrupted backup, because the save file may be partially written. Always close Dusk before copying your saves.
Changing the Data Folder Location
From Dusklight v1.1.1 onward, you can store saves, config, and texture packs in any location you choose. This is useful for saving to an SD card on Steam Deck, keeping data off a small SSD, or pointing Dusk at a cloud-synced folder.
- Open Dusk → Settings → Interface → Change Data Folder.
- Select the new folder you want to use.
- Dusk asks whether to move existing data to the new location. Choose Move to bring your saves with you, or Leave if you want to start fresh.
- Restart Dusk to confirm the change took effect. Use Open Data Folder to verify the new path.
On Windows with a non-English username: if the old Dusk releases had trouble saving (a bug fixed in v1.0.1), changing the data folder to a path with only ASCII characters (such as C:\DuskData) is a reliable workaround even on updated versions.
Syncing Saves Across Devices with Cloud Storage
Because Dusk stores saves in a regular folder, you can point the data folder at any cloud-synced location. This is the most reliable way to keep saves in sync across two PCs, or to access your PC save on Steam Deck.
Dropbox
- Create a folder inside your Dropbox folder, for example Dropbox\DuskSaves.
- In Dusk, go to Settings → Interface → Change Data Folder and select that folder.
- Choose Move to bring your existing saves into the Dropbox folder.
- On the second device, install Dropbox, wait for DuskSaves to sync, then point Dusk at the same folder path.
Important: never run Dusk on both devices at the same time with the same cloud folder — simultaneous writes can corrupt or overwrite saves. Always close Dusk on one device and let it sync before opening it on another.
Google Drive (desktop app)
- Install Google Drive for Desktop. It creates a G:\My Drive (Windows) or ~/Google Drive/My Drive (macOS) folder.
- Create a subfolder, for example My Drive\DuskSaves.
- In Dusk, use Change Data Folder to point at that subfolder.
- On your second device, repeat after Google Drive finishes syncing.
OneDrive
- OneDrive is pre-installed on Windows. Your OneDrive folder is typically at C:\Users\YourName\OneDrive.
- Create a subfolder, for example OneDrive\DuskSaves.
- Point Dusk at that folder via Settings → Change Data Folder.
OneDrive sometimes pauses sync when files are in use. If you see sync errors, make sure Dusk is fully closed before the sync completes.
Steam Deck: saving to an SD card
On Steam Deck, the internal SSD is limited. Moving the Dusk data folder to an SD card frees up space and makes it easy to carry saves between a Steam Deck and a PC.
- Insert a microSD card and format it as ext4 in SteamOS (Storage settings). The card mounts at /run/media/mmcblk0p1/ by default.
- In Desktop Mode, open Dusk and go to Settings → Interface → Change Data Folder.
- Navigate to /run/media/mmcblk0p1/ and create a new folder called dusklight.
- Select that folder and choose Move to transfer existing saves.
- Verify with Open Data Folder — it should now open the SD card location.
Note: if you remove the SD card and then launch Dusk, it will not find the data folder and may create a new empty one on internal storage. Dusk will warn you if the configured data folder is missing at launch.
Dusk Twilight Princess Save File Missing or Not Loading
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Save slot is empty after an update | Data folder changed or migration did not run | Check Settings → Change Data Folder. Make sure Dusk is pointing at the folder that contains your old saves. If the old folder is named Dusk, point Dusk at it manually. |
| Save missing on iOS after v1.0 install | Pre-v1.0.1 bug with iOS Files app access | Update to Dusklight v1.1.1. The Files-app save access fix was included in v1.0.1. |
| Can't find saves on Android | Android storage access restrictions | Use the Open Data Folder button inside Dusk Settings. Do not navigate manually through the file manager — the storage path may not be visible to all file managers. |
| Saves present but game does not load them | Wrong data folder selected, or disc region mismatch | Confirm that Dusk is reading from the correct data folder. Also confirm your disc image region matches the region of the save (GameCube USA saves do not load on a EUR disc). |
| Windows username issue | Non-ASCII characters in Windows username path (pre-v1.0.1) | Update to v1.1.1. Or use Change Data Folder to move data to a path with only ASCII characters. |
| SD card removed before launching on Steam Deck | Data folder path no longer exists | Reinsert the SD card before launching Dusk. If the card is permanently gone, use Change Data Folder to point Dusk at a new location and restore from backup. |
| Cloud sync conflict — save appears corrupted | Dusk was open on two devices simultaneously writing to the same cloud folder | Close Dusk on all devices. In your cloud app, look for a conflict copy (usually named with a device name suffix) and restore the most recent uncorrupted version. Set up a rule to never run Dusk on two devices at once. |
| slot1.dusk missing after restoring a backup | Backup copied while Dusk was still running — file was partially written | Always close Dusk before copying save files. Restore from an earlier backup if available, or check if your cloud provider keeps version history. |
Save File FAQ
Where is the Dusk Twilight Princess save file location on Windows?
The default path is %APPDATA%\Dusklight. Type this directly into Windows Explorer's address bar to open it. On older Dusk installs before the rebrand, the folder may be called %APPDATA%\Dusk.
Where is the save file on macOS?
The default location is ~/Library/Application Support/Dusklight. Since the Library folder is hidden in Finder by default, the easiest way to reach it is via Settings → Open Data Folder from inside Dusk.
Where is the save file on Linux?
Dusk follows the XDG Base Directory Specification, so saves are stored at ~/.local/share/dusklight by default. You can override this with the XDG_DATA_HOME environment variable.
Can I move my save from PC to Android?
Save file transfer between platforms is not officially documented as supported at this time. The save format is consistent internally, but platform-specific paths and storage access rules mean that copying files manually may or may not work. Use the Change Data Folder feature on both platforms and test carefully. Do not overwrite your only save copy without a backup.
Does updating Dusk delete my saves?
No — updating Dusk / Dusklight replaces the application but does not touch the data folder. Your saves, config, and texture packs remain in place. The Dusk → Dusklight migration (v1.1.1) also moves your existing data automatically.
How do I find the save file if Open Data Folder is not available?
On older versions, navigate manually to the default path for your platform listed in the table above. On Android, try a different file manager that can access app-specific storage, such as the one linked in the Android row of the table above.
How many save slots does Dusk have?
Dusk supports three save slots, stored as slot1.dusk, slot2.dusk, and slot3.dusk inside your data folder. Each slot is independent — you can back up a specific slot file without affecting the others.
Where are texture packs stored?
Texture packs installed through Dusk's in-app texture manager are cached in the textures/ subfolder inside your data folder. Each installed pack has its own subfolder. If you move the data folder using Change Data Folder, the texture cache moves with it. Packs can be re-downloaded from within the app if they are lost.
How do I sync saves between two PCs?
Use the Change Data Folder feature to point both installations at the same cloud-synced folder (Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive). See the cloud sync section above for step-by-step instructions. Never run Dusk on both machines simultaneously with the same cloud folder — always close and sync on one device before opening on the other.
Can I transfer a save from PC to Steam Deck?
Yes — the most reliable method is via cloud sync. Point the PC installation and the Steam Deck installation at the same cloud-synced folder, let them sync, and both will read the same save files. Alternatively, copy the individual slot1.dusk (or slot2.dusk / slot3.dusk) file to the Steam Deck data folder over a USB connection or via the network. Back up your existing Steam Deck saves before overwriting.
Related Guides
- Dusk Twilight Princess Controls Guide — controller configuration is also stored in the data folder.
- Dusk Twilight Princess Install Guide — full setup before you need to worry about saves.
- Dusk Twilight Princess Not Working — if saves are missing alongside other launch problems.
- Dusk Twilight Princess Android — Android-specific storage access guide.
- Dusk Twilight Princess Steam Deck — Steam Deck storage paths and SD card setup.