How do I open a .sav file?

Load it from inside the program that made it — a game's load menu, or the app (e.g. SPSS) that created the data. Double-clicking usually will not work.

Will I lose progress if I delete a .sav file?

Yes, for game saves. Deleting a .sav erases that progress and it is usually unrecoverable, so back it up first.

Why do I have multiple .sav files?

Games keep separate saves for slots and auto-saves so you can resume from different points.

Is a .sav file safe to delete?

Only if you want to reset or the save is corrupt. Copy it somewhere safe before deleting.

What Is a .SAV File?

A .sav file is saved data — most often your progress in a game, sometimes a settings or data backup. Here is what holds it and whether you can delete it.

What a .sav file is

A .sav file stores saved state. In games it holds your progress, characters, and settings; in some apps and statistics tools (like SPSS) it is a saved data file. The name is short for "save."

Why you have one

The program wrote it when you saved. Games often keep several .sav files for different slots or auto-saves, so you can resume exactly where you left off.

How to open a .sav file

Open it inside the program that created it — a game loads its .sav from its own load menu, and SPSS opens .sav data directly. Double-clicking rarely works because the format is app-specific. If it is a game save, leave it in the game's save folder; moving or renaming it can break the load. To inspect an unknown .sav, open a copy in a text editor to see whether any of it is readable.

Is it safe to delete?

Be careful. Deleting a game .sav erases that progress, and it is usually not recoverable. Only delete if you want a fresh start or the save is confirmed corrupt. Back it up first by copying it elsewhere.

How to handle a .sav file by OS

Windows: game saves often live in Documents\My Games or AppData; copy the folder to back up. macOS: check ~/Library/Application Support. Linux: look under the game's config directory in your home folder.

Common problems

If a save will not load, it may be from a different game version or corrupted. Keep a copy before overwriting, and never delete the only .sav unless you mean to lose that progress.