Save management

Save management

On a flashcard, your game saves live on the microSD rather than inside a cartridge. That makes them easy to back up and restore, but it also means a little care keeps them safe.

How saves work

When you save in a game, the flashcard writes a save file (often a .sav) next to the matching .nds on the microSD. The next time you load that game, the card reads the save back. Each game keeps its own file, so nothing overwrites another.

Backing up

• Periodically copy your save files to your computer. They are tiny and easy to archive.
• Before reformatting a microSD or replacing a card, copy the saves off first.
• Keep saves alongside the matching game so you remember which is which.

Avoiding corruption

• Always quit to the menu before powering off so the save finishes writing.
• Never pull the microSD while the console is on.
• Use a genuine microSD; fakes silently corrupt data including saves.