Subnautica 2 Save File Location (Steam, Epic, Game Pass)
Subnautica 2's expected save location on Steam and Epic is %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Unknown Worlds\Subnautica 2\ â Game Pass stores saves in a packaged container under %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\. Unknown Worlds hasn't published official paths for Early Access, so treat these as expected locations (based on the original game's structure) and verify on your machine before modifying anything.
Last updated: September 5, 2026
Steam & Epic Games Store (Windows)
The original Subnautica stored its saves in the publisher's LocalLow folder, and Subnautica 2 is expected to follow the same pattern:
| Platform | Expected Path | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Steam | %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Unknown Worlds\Subnautica 2\ |
Expected â verify |
| Epic Games Store | %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Unknown Worlds\Subnautica 2\ |
Expected â verify |
How to get there fast: press Win + R, paste %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Unknown Worlds, and hit Enter. If you see a Subnautica 2 folder, you've found it. AppData is hidden by default â the Run dialog shortcut bypasses that.
Early Access games sometimes move folders between patches. If the path above is empty on your machine, check the game's Steam/Epic install directory and recent patch notes â and let the folder with the most recently modified files be your guide.
Game Pass / Microsoft Store (Windows)
Microsoft Store versions of games are packaged apps, so they don't use the plain LocalLow path. Instead, look in the packaged container:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\
Inside Packages, find the folder named after the game's publisher package (it will reference Unknown Worlds, Krafton, or the game's title), then drill down into its app-data subfolders to locate the save files. The exact subfolder structure varies between packaged games, so sort by Date modified after a fresh save to identify the live files.
Packaged app folders have stricter permissions than normal directories. Copy files out for backup freely, but be cautious about moving or deleting anything in place â a mistake here can break the whole installation, not just one save.
Backup Advice Every EA Player Should Follow
Subnautica 2 is Early Access. Builds change, saves occasionally break, and one wrong menu choice can cost you hours. Build these habits:
- Back up before every major patch. Updates like EA 1.1 and EA 1.2 change core systems (biomods, storage, vehicle docking). Copy your entire save folder to a separate drive or cloud folder before updating.
- Back up before experimenting. Mods and third-party tools are unconfirmed and unsupported â see our Console Commands page for the current state. Never test them on your only save.
- Beware "Refund Bases." The Escape menu's Refund Bases option destroys your base AND permanently deletes every item inside its lockers â in co-op it's global. No save backup means no recovery.
- Keep dated copies. Name backups like
SN2-save-2026-09-05so you can roll back to a specific point, not just "the most recent one that might already be corrupted."
Point a cloud-sync folder (or any automatic backup tool) at the save directory. Early Access is a 2â3 year journey â automate your backups once and never think about them again.
Cloud Saves & Cross-Save
A few things to know about platform-level saving:
- Prefer in-game/cloud saves where available. If your platform syncs saves to the cloud, enable it â it's your first line of defense against local corruption.
- Cross-save is not confirmed for Early Access. Don't assume a save started on Steam will follow you to Xbox Series X|S or Game Pass. Plan your main playthrough on one platform.
- Co-op saves live with the host. Since co-op is host + up to 3 drop-in players, the world state follows whoever hosts. If your group rotates hosts, make sure everyone understands whose save is canonical. More in our Co-op Guide.
Save File FAQ
The expected Windows path is %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Unknown Worlds\Subnautica 2\ â analogous to the original Subnautica's LocalLow path. Treat this as the expected location and verify it on your own machine, since Unknown Worlds has not published an official path for Early Access.
Game Pass (Microsoft Store) games store data in a packaged container under %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\. Look for a folder named after the game's publisher package, then check inside for the save data. The exact subfolder can vary, so verify locally.
Yes. Early Access builds can corrupt or invalidate saves, and the game's Refund Bases option permanently deletes items stored in base lockers. Copy your save folder to a separate location before major patches, and prefer in-game/cloud saves where available.
Cross-save and cross-play are not confirmed for Early Access. Assume your saves are tied to the platform and store you play on, and keep local backups if you switch machines.