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SaveSync User Guide

Everything you need to configure peer-to-peer save synchronization, resolve conflict states, and set up cross-platform translations like a pro.

Welcome to SaveSync! This guide will walk you through setting up and using the app step-by-step. By the end of this guide, you will be syncing save files between your PC, Steam Deck, or emulator configurations reliably and securely.

🧭 Core Concepts

SaveSync runs in the background as a lightweight system tray service (the "Daemon") and opens a dashboard in your browser.

LAN

LAN Sync (Local Network)

Automatically detects other devices running SaveSync on your local Wi-Fi or Ethernet network. It copies and synchronizes saves directly peer-to-peer over your local network at maximum speed without routing files to external servers.

WAN

Internet Sync (Relay Network)

Connects devices in different locations (e.g. your home PC and a Steam Deck on mobile data) using a secure, temporary Room Code. Traffic is routed via a cloud relay, completely eliminating the need for port forwarding or firewalls.

ZIP

Automatic Snapshots

Every time a file change is made, SaveSync takes a tiny .zip backup snapshot of your save folder. If a save gets corrupted by a game crash, or if you want to undo your latest play session, you can restore any snapshot with a single click.

🚀 Step 1: Launching SaveSync

Set up the service on your first machine:

  1. Download and run the SaveSync Setup installer on your devices.
  2. Once installed, launch SaveSync. You will see the SaveSync icon in your system tray (bottom-right on Windows, top-bar on Linux/Steam Deck).
  3. Right-click the tray icon and select Open Dashboard (or open your web browser and go to http://localhost:8383).

📂 Step 2: Tracking Game Saves

To synchronize a game, SaveSync needs to know where its save files are stored on your disk:

  1. On the Games tab of the dashboard, click Track New Folder.
  2. Game Title: Enter the name of the game (e.g. Elden Ring).
  3. Save Directory: Click Browse and select the directory where the game stores its saves.
💡
Tip for Steam Games: You can find standard Steam save directories under C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Local or C:\Users\<YourUsername>\Saved Games.
  1. Click Track Game.
  2. SaveSync will scan the folder, catalog your files, and create your initial baseline snapshot backup automatically.

🔗 Step 3: Pairing Your Devices

To synchronize saves, you must link your devices together. Choose local pairing if your systems share a network, or WAN room codes for separate networks.

Option A: Local Network Sync (LAN) — Recommended

If both devices are on the same Wi-Fi or Ethernet network:

  1. Go to the Devices tab on both machines.
  2. Look at the Discovered on LAN section. If automatic discovery is working, you will see the other device listed. Click Pair.
  3. A approval modal will appear on the target device. Click Approve to establish the link.
  4. Done! Your devices are now paired. Whenever you exit a game, SaveSync will automatically sync it to the other machine.
⚠️
If your router settings or Windows Firewall blocks automatic discovery, you can pair manually:
  • On Device A, look at the Connect via IP or PIN Code card to find your Local Sync PIN (e.g. SS-LAN-03CBCC).
  • On Device B, type Device A's PIN into the manual input box and click Pair.

Option B: Internet Sync (WAN)

If your devices are in different locations (e.g., one at home and one on a remote Wi-Fi network):

  1. Go to the Internet Sync tab on both devices.
  2. On Device A, click 🎲 Generate Random Code (or input a custom name like ELDEN-COOP-SYNC) and click Join Room.
  3. Input the exact same room code on Device B, then click Join Room.
  4. Both devices will join the secure relay room. They are now linked over the internet!

⚡ Step 4: Syncing & Conflicts

Automatic Syncing Pipeline

Once paired, SaveSync handles directories automatically in the background:

  • SaveSync detects when files in a tracked directory are modified.
  • It waits for write operations to stop (a 2-second debounce timer) to prevent copying partial saves.
  • It generates a backup ZIP snapshot locally.
  • It queries the paired peer. If online, SaveSync divides files into blocks and transfers only modified content blocks (reducing WAN/LAN usage).

⚠️ Resolving Save Conflicts

If you play a game offline on your PC, and also play it offline on your Steam Deck, both devices will have save files that are newer than the last sync. This creates a Conflict.

SaveSync will display a **Version Conflict Modal** showing:

  • Local Version details (Comment, Timestamp, Snapshot ID).
  • Remote Version details.
  • Altered Files list showing exactly which files were added, deleted, or modified.

Your Options:

  1. Keep Local: Overwrites the peer's save files with your current device's files.
  2. Keep Remote: Overwrites your local directory files with the peer's files.
  3. Keep Both (Branches): Keeps your local saves active, but pulls the peer's saves into a separate branch (e.g. conflict-steamdeck-1234). You can swap between these branches at any time in the History tab!

🕒 Step 5: Rollback & History

If a save file gets corrupted or you want to undo a gaming session:

  1. Go to the Games tab and click on the game.
  2. Scroll down to the Backup History timeline.
  3. You will see a chronological list of backups.
  4. Full Rollback: Click Rollback on any snapshot to reset the entire save folder to that exact moment. SaveSync automatically takes a safety backup of your current files before doing this so you can't lose anything.
  5. Granular Restore: Click Browse Files on a snapshot to view all files contained inside that backup ZIP. Click Restore File next to a specific file to restore *only* that file, leaving the rest of your save folder untouched.

🛠️ Advanced: Path Translations

If you sync between a Windows PC and a Linux Steam Deck, SaveSync automatically translates standard user folder prefixes (e.g. mapping C:\Users\John\Documents to /home/deck/Documents).

For custom game folders or emulators:

  1. Go to Settings > Custom Path Translations.
  2. Click Add Rule.
  3. Pattern A: Enter your Windows folder path (e.g. D:\Emulators\Saves).
  4. Pattern B: Enter the corresponding path on your other device (e.g. /home/deck/Emulation/saves).
  5. Click Add Rule.
  6. Now, any saves synced within these folders will translate correctly across both systems!

Need more help?

SaveSync is free and open-source. For issues, source code compilation, or bug reports, visit our GitHub page.

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