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How to import your cores, save files and other stuff

By 𝙱𝚎𝚛𝚣𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚞𝚜

In the release of RetroArch on Steam is possible to import the cores and save files you had in the normal non-steam version. This guide works for Windows 10/11 and GNU/Linux.

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Created by

𝙱𝚎𝚛𝚣𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚞𝚜
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Category: Modding or Configuration

Languages: English

Posted

Updated

8 Sep, 2020 @ 4:45pm

24 Nov, 2021 @ 5:12pm

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Guide Index

Overview

Do you just want to get the cores?

Windows 10/11

GNU/Linux

Other stuff you can import

One program to rule them all ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ

Comments

Do you just want to get the cores?

Check out the LibRETRO official buildbot[buildbot.libretro.com], select your RetroArch version, then your platform and download your stuff. Then follow the paths for each system bellow.

Note: As the user Replica has indicated, some cores will say "failed to load content". In order to fix that, you also need the info file for that core that you can find in the core info github website[github.com].

Windows 10/11

Cores

Just go to the path: C:\RetroArch-Win64\cores and there you'll find the cores that you'll have to copy/cut and paste in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\RetroArch\cores.

Savefiles

Go to the path: C:\RetroArch-Win64\RetroArch\saves there you'll find all your save files for all the games you've played for all the cores. Copy/cut and paste them to C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\RetroArch\saves.

Notes

These are the default paths, where C is your main storage device.
You can do the same for many other files and folders between the paths C:\RetroArch-Win64\RetroArch and C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\RetroArch.
Previous to the version 1.9.1, the RetroArch directory by default was C:\Users\YOUR_USERNAME\AppData\Roaming\RetroArch. The process and subfolders are still the same though. Obviously you need to replace "YOUR_USERNAME" for your PC username in the paths (only for 1.9.0 and older).

GNU/Linux

Cores

This is even easier. Copy this text instruction and paste it in the terminal:

cp -rvu .var/app/org.libretro.RetroArch/config/retroarch/cores .local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/RetroArch/

Savefiles

The same. Copy and paste the following into your terminal:

cp -rvu .var/app/org.libretro.RetroArch/config/retroarch/saves .local/share/Steam/steamapps/common/RetroArch/

Notes

I'm using Debian for this and the paths are those that the programs assign by default.
This commands will copy and replace only if the source is newer than destination. So you can execute in every time you want to update your cores, save files and other stuff.
As well as windows, you can copy and replace the files and folders by simply changing the "cores" or "saves" folder name by the respective name of the regarding folder.
GG, isn't it?

Other stuff you can import

You can use this table to import other stuff between your RetroArch versions. The info here has been got from the program itself.

Folder name

What does it contain?

What is if for?

system

System/BIOS

Set the system directory.Cores can query for this directory to load BIOS, system-specific configs, etc.

downloads

Downloads

Save all downloaded files to this directory.

assets

Assets

Menu assets used by RetroArch are stored in this directory.

dynamic backgounds: you've gotta set it out

Dynamic Backgrounds

Directory to store wallpapers dynamically loaded by the menu depending on context.

thumbnails

Thumbnails

Supplementary thumbnails (boxarts/misc. images, et.) are stored here.

start directory: you choose it

File Browser

Sets start directory for the file browser.

config

Config

Setd start directory for menu configuration browser.

cores

Core

Directory where the program searches for content/cores.

info

Core Info

Application/core information files are stored here.

database/rbd

Database

Databases are stored to this directory.

database/cursors

Cursor

Saved queries are stored to this directory.

database/cht

Cheat file

Cheat files are kept here.

filters/video

Video Filter

Directory where CPU-based video filter files are kept.

filters/audio

Audio Filter

Directory where audio DSP filter files are kept.

shaders

Video Shader

Defines a directory where GPU-based video shader files are kept for east access.

rec output: you need to set this

Recording Output

Recordings will be dumped into this directory.

rec config: you need to set this

Recording Config

Recording configurations are stored in this directory.

overlay

Overlay

Overlays are stored in this directory.

layouts

Video Layout

Defines a directory where video layouts are kept for easy acces.

screenshots

Screenshot

Directory to dump screenshots to.

autoconfig

Input Autoconfig

Controller profiles used to automatically configure controllers are stored in this directory.

config/remaps

Input Remapping

Input remaps are stored in this directory.

playlists

Playlists

Save all playlists to this directory.

Runtime logs: you set this as well

Runtime Logs

Save runtime log files to this directory.

saves

Savefile

Save all save files to this directory. If not set, will try to save inside the content file's working directory.

states

Save State

Save all save states to this directory. If not set, will try to save inside the content file's directory.

cache: once again, you set this

Cache

If set to a directory, content which is temporally extracted (e.g. from archives) will be extracted to this directory.

log

System Event Logs

Save system event log files to this directory.

One program to rule them all ᕦ(ò_óˇ)ᕤ

15 Comments

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Mantis 17 Mar, 2024 @ 12:59pm

there is something I noticed. For desktop retroarch...all the save files are in one place but for the steam version..sometimes the save files are in specific core folders.

Beanslinger2 8 Apr, 2022 @ 7:14am

is it possible to import backup memory using the DesMuME core? i can't figure it out.

𝙱𝚎𝚛𝚣𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚞𝚜 [author] 24 Nov, 2021 @ 5:13pm

Thank you, Replica. I've just added that info.

Replica✨ 21 Nov, 2021 @ 8:37am

I only tried duckstation but should work for dolphin

Machine Gun Mac 21 Nov, 2021 @ 8:09am

Does this work with Dolphin?

Replica✨ 20 Nov, 2021 @ 12:02pm

and paste it in info folder in retroarch steam install folder

Replica✨ 20 Nov, 2021 @ 12:01pm

I downloaded duckstation core but it said failed to load content, to fix that you also need info file for that core https://github.com/libretro/libretro-core-info

𝙱𝚎𝚛𝚣𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚞𝚜 [author] 20 Sep, 2021 @ 12:50am

Thank you for all your comments. I've made some minor changes to this guide in order to make it easier to use. (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧ You're great

dedend 15 Sep, 2021 @ 2:13pm

Really useful guide, congrats! I especially like that big "table" that contains a lot of info that I don't really knew before. Thanks again! :D

Bugurtish 14 Sep, 2021 @ 8:55am

To those who doesn't know where to get cores - {LINK REMOVED}

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