Nioh 2 PC doesn't have a manual save button—the game autosaves after every mission

Nioh 2 on PC uses an autosave system only. There is no manual save feature, no save menu option, and no way to create a backup save file from within the game itself. After you complete a mission, die and return to the shrine, or finish a main story checkpoint, the game writes your progress to disk automatically. You cannot interrupt this process or create multiple save slots to choose from later.

This design is intentional. Nioh 2 is built around the idea that your choices—including deaths and setbacks—are permanent within a playthrough. The game does not let you reload an earlier moment to undo a mistake or try a different approach to a boss fight. If you want to preserve a specific character state or gear loadout, your only option is to copy the save file itself using Windows file management, not the game.

Key Takeaways

  • Nioh 2 PC autosaves after missions and at checkpoints, and there is no in-game manual save option.
  • You can back up your save file by copying the folder at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Koei Tecmo\Nioh2 to another location on your computer.
  • Restoring a backup save means replacing the active save folder with your copied version, which overwrites your current progress.
  • The game saves character data, gear, and story progress in the same file—you cannot separate them.
  • If you want multiple playthroughs or character builds, create separate Windows user accounts rather than trying to manage multiple save copies.

Where Nioh 2 PC stores your save file

Your save data lives in a hidden folder on your hard drive. Open Windows File Explorer and navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Koei Tecmo\Nioh2. Replace [YourUsername] with your actual Windows username. If you cannot see the AppData folder, you need to show hidden files: click the View tab at the top of File Explorer, then check the box labeled "Hidden items."

Inside the Nioh2 folder you will see a folder named something like 76561198123456789 (a long number). This is your Steam ID converted to a folder name. Your actual save data is stored inside this folder in files with names like SaveData.bin and related metadata files. Do not edit these files directly—they are binary and will corrupt if you try to open them in a text editor.

How to back up your save file manually

To create a backup, navigate to the Nioh2 folder described above. Right-click on your Steam ID folder (the long number) and select "Copy." Then navigate to a safe location—your Documents folder, a USB drive, or a cloud storage folder like OneDrive or Google Drive. Right-click and select "Paste." You now have a complete copy of your save data at that moment.

Label your backup with the date and what you were doing in the game—for example, "Nioh2_Save_Jan15_BeforeBoss" or "Nioh2_Save_Jan20_NG+Start." This makes it straightforward to find the version you want if you ever need to restore. You can create as many backups as you want; they take up only a few megabytes each.

How to restore a backup save

If you want to go back to an earlier save, close Nioh 2 completely. Navigate to your backup folder and copy the Steam ID folder (the long number). Go back to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Koei Tecmo\Nioh2 and paste the folder there. When Windows asks if you want to replace the existing folder, click "Replace the files in the destination." This overwrites your current save with the backup version.

Start Nioh 2 again. Your character, gear, and progress will be exactly as they were when you made the backup. Any progress you made after the backup was created is gone. This is why labeling backups with dates and descriptions matters—you need to know what you are restoring to.

Why manual saves matter for specific playstyles

Some players use backups to experiment with different builds or strategies without losing their main character's progress. For example, you might back up your save before attempting a difficult boss, try a new weapon or spell setup, and if it does not work, restore the backup and try again with different gear. This is not how the game is designed to be played, but it is possible because of the file system.

Others use backups to preserve a character at a specific point—before New Game Plus, before a major story choice, or before farming a particular area. Since Nioh 2 does not let you create alternate characters easily without starting completely fresh, backups are the workaround players have found.

Using separate Windows accounts for multiple characters

If you want to maintain several different characters or playthroughs without managing backups, the cleanest method is to create a separate Windows user account for each one. Each Windows account has its own AppData folder, so Nioh 2 will create a separate save file for each account. You can switch between accounts and play different characters without overwriting anything.

To create a new Windows account, go to Settings > Accounts > Other people > Add account. You can use a local account (no Microsoft login required) if you prefer. Log into the new account, launch Nioh 2, and it will create a fresh save file for that account. This method is more stable than managing manual backups because you cannot accidentally overwrite the wrong file.

What happens if you lose your save file

If your save file is deleted or corrupted, Nioh 2 will not recover it. The game does not have cloud saves through Steam, and there is no built-in recovery system. Your only option is to restore from a backup you created yourself. This is why regular backups matter if you have invested significant time in a character.

If you have no backup and your save is gone, you will need to start a new playthrough from the beginning. There is no way to contact Koei Tecmo or Steam to restore a lost save file. The lesson: if you care about preserving your progress, copy your save folder to another location every few hours or after major milestones.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use cloud storage like OneDrive or Google Drive to back up my save?

Yes. Copy your Steam ID folder to a cloud storage folder on your computer, and it will sync automatically. When you want to restore, read the folder from the cloud and paste it back into the Nioh2 directory. This works well for keeping backups safe, but do not try to play Nioh 2 directly from a cloud folder—the game needs local file access and cloud sync can cause corruption.

Will backing up my save get me banned?

No. Backing up your own save file is a normal part of PC gaming. Nioh 2 does not have anti-cheat that monitors save files, and creating backups is not against the terms of service. You are not modifying the game or using exploits—you are just copying a file.

Can I transfer my save from one PC to another?

Yes. Copy your entire Nioh2 folder from C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Koei Tecmo\Nioh2 on the old PC to the same location on the new PC. The save will work as long as both PCs have Nioh 2 installed and you are using the same Steam account. If you are using a different Steam account on the new PC, the save may not load.

What if I want to start a new game without losing my current save?

Back up your current save folder before starting New Game Plus or a fresh character. When you start a new game, Nioh 2 will overwrite your save file. If you restore your backup later, you go back to where you were before. Alternatively, create a second Windows user account and play the new character there, leaving your original save untouched.

Does Nioh 2 ever add a manual save feature?

As of the latest PC version, there is no manual save option and no announced plans to add one. The autosave-only design is core to how the game works. If this changes in a future update, it will be listed in the patch notes on the Steam store page.