Backup & Restore your emulator save files on Android
🖥️ Looking for the Desktop/PC version? Check out SaveState for Windows
SaveState App is an Android application designed to backup and restore save files from emulators. Unlike the desktop version which targets PC games in general, this mobile app is specifically built for the Android emulator ecosystem.
The app is functional and can be used to:
- ✅ Detect installed emulators
- ✅ Scan for game saves (folder- and file-level where needed)
- ✅ Create compressed backups (.zip)
- ✅ Restore saves from backups
- ✅ Manage multiple game profiles
- ✅ Persist data across app reinstalls (when using external storage)
- ✅ Optional root mode for saves under protected
Android/data/paths
SaveState App needs Android beta testers before the public Play Store release. If you use emulators on Android and want to help test backup/restore workflows, you can join the beta in a few minutes.
- Request access through the beta tester form.
- Join the Google Group with the same Google account you use on Play Store: SaveState Beta Test group.
- Open the Play Store testing page and opt in: SaveState App beta.
- Install or update the app from the Play Store listing.
- Emulator detection on your device
- Backup and restore for real game saves
- Root mode behavior, if you use a rooted Android device
- Problems with permissions, storage folders, missing games, or failed restores
Please report what device, Android version, emulator, and game you tested when sharing feedback. This makes bugs much easier to reproduce and fix.
- First-launch tutorial: interactive coach-marks (spotlight + tooltips) that walk through storage permission, backup folder in Settings, profile creation, Backup / Restore / Manage, and favorites—shown once per install.
- Eden (Nintendo Switch): detection and backup/restore for Yuzu-style save layout; optional Root mode for
Android/data/paths; game titles resolved via bundled Switch title-ID database.
- Dolphin (GameCube / Wii): backup and restore including MMJR / MMJR2 variants; public paths under
dolphin-emu/and, with Root mode, access to app-private storage. - DuckStation (PS1): memcards and save states; Root mode for private app data when needed.
- Root mode (Settings): toggle to use root (via libsu) for emulators that keep saves in inaccessible
Android/data/locations. Requires a rooted device and granting superuser access. - Settings: max backups per profile, maximum source size (MB) for a single backup, and ZIP compression level.
Paths are preconfigured per emulator in the app (detection + default save locations). Some titles only expose saves in private app storage on modern Android; for those, enable Root mode where indicated.
| Emulator | Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AetherSX2 | PS2 | Memory cards + save states |
| Azahar | 3DS | Citra-style sdmc layout; folder scan |
| Citra | 3DS | SDMC / NAND paths |
| Citron | Switch | User saves under nand/user/save |
| Dolphin | GameCube / Wii | Public dolphin-emu/; MMJR / MMJR2; optional root for Android/data/ |
| DraStic | DS | Backup folder + save states |
| DuckStation | PS1 | Memcards + save states; optional root for app data |
| Eden | Switch | Yuzu-style layout; bundled title-ID DB; optional root |
| Flycast | Dreamcast | flycast/data |
| Lemuroid | Multi-system | Saves + states |
| mGBA | GBA | Battery saves |
| M64Plus FZ | N64 | Default public path; optional root for app-private storage |
| NetherSX2 | PS2 | AetherSX2 fork; memcards + states; optional root |
| Pizza Boy | GBA / GBC | Saves folder |
| PPSSPP | PSP | SAVEDATA + save states |
| RetroArch | Multi-system | Per-core saves + states |
| Vita3K | PS Vita | ux0/user layout |
| Yuzu | Switch | yuzu/nand/user/save |
Compatibility depends on where each emulator stores files on your device. If a game does not appear in the list, check the emulator’s save directory settings or use Root mode if saves are under
Android/data/.
- Install the APK from the Releases page
- Select a backup folder when prompted (this is where your backups will be stored)
- Add a profile with the + button
- Select your emulator from the detected list
- Choose a game from the detected saves
- Backup with one tap; use Restore to write saves back
If you use Dolphin or DuckStation and saves live only in private storage, open Settings, enable Root mode, and grant superuser when asked.
Your profiles and backups are saved to the folder you select. This means:
- ✅ Backups survive app uninstallation
- ✅ Reinstall the app and select the same folder to restore everything
- ✅ You control where your data is stored
- Broad emulator coverage — see Supported Emulators (detection + default paths; root-capable emulators noted in the table)
- Additional emulators (dedicated scanning and backup flows)
- Auto-backup scheduling
- Cloud backup integration (Google Drive, OneDrive)
- Import/Export profiles
- Multi-language support
Feedback is welcome! Feel free to:
- Report bugs via Issues
- Suggest new features or emulator support
- Share your experience with the app
⚠️ Note: This project is developed with AI assistance. Due to this, I'm currently not accepting pull requests for code changes, as reviewing external code contributions is beyond my capacity. Thank you for understanding!
This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0 - see the LICENSE file for details.
Created by Matteo842