Windows Save Files: Backups and Recovery
Find your Windows save slot and copy the world before changing any files. Check the host’s backups and game version, then work with a recovery copy while keeping the original world safe.
Save reference
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| World slots | 5 |
| Backups per slot | Up to 5 |
| First backup | 1 minute after session begins |
| Later interval | 30 minutes |
| Crew world | Host’s selected slot |
Find the save and backup folder
On Windows, the game data folder is under %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\DragDropGames\MoonSweepers. Backups are organised under Backups\slot-<n>, where <n> identifies the world slot. AppData is normally hidden in File Explorer; pasting the folder path is easier than searching through unrelated Steam installation files.
The game has five world slots, each with its own Moon. Match the slot and backup time to the world you mean to recover. Do not assume that the newest folder belongs to the slot you were playing.
The backup directory is documented, but this guide does not establish a universal active-save filename or a verified file-by-file restore procedure for every build. Keep that distinction when inspecting the folder. Do not rename files based on a filename suggested for another version.
Back up before changing anything
Exit the game before copying files. Keep a separate copy of the current game-data folder and the backup directory, even if the current world appears damaged. A folder named with the date and slot helps you distinguish that copy from the game-managed backups.
Copy rather than move the files. Keep the untouched copy outside the active game-data folder, and leave it alone while testing a recovery. Automatic backups rotate; they are not a substitute for the copy you make before a change.
- Note the affected world slot, installed version and roughly when the problem began.
- Exit the game and locate the MoonSweepers game-data folder.
- Copy the current files and Backups directory to a separate location.
- Check the copied backup timestamps for a version of the world from before the problem.
- Preserve both the original state and candidate backup while checking the recovery instructions for your installed build.
Understand the automatic backup window
Each slot keeps up to five full backups. The first is made about one minute into a session, followed by backups every 30 minutes. A short session may have a different set of available recovery points from a long one.
Inspect the timestamps before reopening a world repeatedly. If you need to investigate a problem, copying the available backups first preserves that window while you decide which recovery point is useful.
Who keeps a multiplayer world?
The host's selected save slot contains the crew's Moon. If you joined another player, ask the host to identify and back up that slot; changing a guest's unrelated local world will not restore the hosted session.
World details such as station whiteboards and host bans are saved with the slot. Confirm that you are checking the right Moon before judging whether a candidate backup contains the progress you need. The host leaving also ends the session, so agree on a quiet time for a recovery check.
Check version compatibility before recovery
Patch 1.0.3 repaired some worlds that appeared corrupted and added save-replacement protection. Patch 1.0.4 improved automatic backups and crash recovery, and documents that its saves cannot be opened in older builds. A downgrade is therefore not a reliable general recovery step.
Use the patch notes to match the symptom to a documented fix. If the problem is a crash rather than missing progress, separate the crash investigation from file recovery: repeatedly replacing saves will not identify a graphics or loading issue.
Only test a restore when you have instructions that match your build and an untouched copy of both states. A successful load is not enough on its own; check the intended slot, important upgrades and a recognisable area of the world before continuing normal play.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Windows backup folder?
Under %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\DragDropGames\MoonSweepers\Backups\slot-<n>. Match <n> and the timestamps to the world slot you need.
Can I restore a co-op world from a guest's save?
The hosted Moon belongs to the host's selected world slot. Start with the host's files and backups, not an unrelated local slot belonging to a guest.
Should I downgrade the game to open a backup?
Do not assume that an older build can read a newer save. Preserve your files first and check the version's compatibility notes before testing recovery.