Quick Answer: To transfer GBA save files between emulators, find the save file locations for both your old and new emulators. Copy the save file from your old emulator and paste it into the new emulator’s save folder. Make sure the file extension is compatible with the new emulator, and if it is not, rename it to the format the new emulator supports.
Many players switch between emulators in the middle of a game for various reasons, such as accessing features that are not available on their current emulator or moving their game progress on another platform.
Fortunately, transferring save files between emulators does not require any advanced knowledge. This guide will walk you through the process in detail, from locating your save folders to understanding the file extensions used by different emulators and the difference between save files and save states.
Where Do GBA Emulators Store Their Save Files?
The location of save files can vary depending on the GBA emulator and the platform you are using. The subsections cover some of the most popular GBA emulators for PC and Android, so if you use one of them, you can follow the file locations and instructions we provide.
| Emulator | Save File Location |
|---|---|
| mGBA and Visual Boy Advance | In the same folder as the ROM file. |
| RetroArch | Android: Inside the saves folder of the main directory of RetroArch. PC: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\RetroArch\. Linux: ~/.config/retroarch/ macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/RetroArch/ |
| My Boy! | Android -> data -> com.fastemulator.gba -> save |
| Pizza Boy A | Android -> data -> it.dbtecno.pizzaboygba -> save |
mGBA and Visual Boy Advance
These apps are two of the most widely used GBA emulators for PC devices today. If you try playing your favorite Pokemon games on any of these emulators, they automatically put their save files right at the same location as the ROM file you’re playing.
For example, if you’re playing Pokemon FireRed, simply locate the folder where your FireRed ROM file is located, and you should find the .sav file bearing the exact file name of the game. Again, this file location works for both mGBA and Visual Boy Advance.
RetroArch
Unlike mGBA and VBA, RetroArch’s save files are a bit harder to locate, as this emulator is available on both PC and Android devices.
For Android users, look for RetroArch’s directory folder (it can be stored in your main storage area or in a custom location that you selected during setup). Inside the RetroArch folder, click on saves, select the folder of the core you used (mGBA or VBA-M core), then find the save file in .srm file extension.
Finding the save file for the PC versions of RetroArch is even more complicated, as the location changes depending on how you downloaded the app.
If your source is RetroArch’s official website, the main folder’s location should depend on where you extracted it during installation. On the other hand, if you downloaded RetroArch via Steam, follow this file path: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\RetroArch\.
Here are other file paths of the RetroArch main folder for Linux and macOS:
- Linux: ~/.config/retroarch/
- macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/RetroArch/
As long as you can find the RetroArch main folder, you can easily find the save file inside, under the saves folder. Like in Android, the save files are also presented in .srm format.
My Boy!
Newer versions of Android force certain app files to remain hidden in the Android/data directory for security and privacy reasons.
To access My Boy!’s save files, you may need to use your device’s built-in Android Storage Access Framework or a trusted third-party file manager. If you choose the latter, avoid downloading file management apps from outside the Google Play Store.
Once you can access this file path: Android -> data ->com.fastemulator.gba, open the files folder to see the save folder. Inside, you should find the save files in .sav format (same as in mGBA and VBA).
Pizza Boy A
Another popular GBA emulator among Android users today is Pizza Boy A. The save file location is almost similar to My Boy! where you also need to access the Android/data directory, but this time, you have to look for the folder named “it.dbtecno.pizzaboygba.”
Within the Pizza Boy A main folder, open the files folder, followed by the pizzaboygba and save folder. You will find your save files there, featuring the familiar .sav file extension.
How to Transfer GBA Save Files Between Emulators
After getting ahold of the file location of your respective GBA emulator, transferring GBA save files to another emulator is now much easier.
After saving your game, go to your old emulator’s save file location and copy the save file.
The catch is that your new emulator must support the save file extension used by your old emulator. So far, most GBA emulators use the .sav and .srm formats, so you need to keep these file extensions in mind.
mGBA, Visual Boy Advance, My Boy!, and Pizza Boy A all use the .sav format, so you don’t need to do anything with the save file if you’re transferring between any of these emulators.
However, if your save file comes from RetroArch or you are switching to RetroArch, you need to rename its file extension. Change .srm to .sav when transferring to a .sav-compatible emulator or rename .sav to .srm when switching to RetroArch.
Warning: You only need to change the file extension of the save file, the one after the dot (.) sign. Making any changes to the actual filename (like Pokemon Emerald.sav to Pokemon Emerald new save.sav) will lead to the new emulator not recognizing the save you pasted.
Once your new GBA emulator has access to the save file of the old one, go back and read the previous section above to find the save file folder of your new GBA emulator. Paste your save file inside it (making sure the file extension is compatible).
Load your game using the new emulator, and it should pick up from the last progress you saved on your previous emulator.
Save Files vs. Save States: What’s the Difference?
The save file is generated every time you save your progress using the game’s built-in save feature. However, if you pause the game and use the emulator’s save function instead, it creates what is known as a save state.
Save states give you an extra layer of protection, especially if you frequently save your game. Using both the game’s save function and the emulator’s save state feature gives you two copies of your progress, which can be useful if one becomes corrupted or when transferring your progress to another emulator.
GBA Save File FAQ
Do I need a save converter for GBA files?
Usually, no. Most GBA emulators use common save formats such as .sav, so you can transfer the file directly as long as the new emulator supports the same format.
Why won’t my save load in the new emulator?
Your save may not load if the file extension is unsupported, the file is in the wrong folder, or the save file is corrupted. Make sure the save uses the format supported by your new emulator and is placed in the correct save folder.
Can I transfer a save state between emulators?
Usually, no. Save states are created by specific emulators and are not generally compatible with other emulators, so it is better to use the game’s built-in save file when transferring your progress.
Why does RetroArch use .srm instead of .sav?
RetroArch uses .srm as part of the libretro save-file convention for battery-backed SRAM saves, while many standalone GBA emulators use .sav instead. This is why you need to rename the extension when transferring a save between RetroArch and a .sav-compatible emulator.
More Emulator and ROM Hack Guides
- How to Patch IPS and UPS Files – Learn how to patch ROM hacks that come with .ips or .ups files
- Best GBA Emulators for Android – Find out which GBA emulators we recommend for Android users
- How to Edit Save Files With PKHeX — Learn how to edit and change the contents of your Pokemon save files
- ROM Hacks Playing and Cheating Beginner’s Guide – A beginner-friendly guide for new ROM hack players
- Completed Pokemon ROM Hacks – Explore our list of excellent completed Pokemon ROM hacks
- How to Transfer Save Files in Citra – Easy guide to transfer save files in Citra
Final Thoughts
Transferring GBA save files from one emulator to another only takes a few seconds to a minute if you know where each emulator stores its save files and which file extensions they support.
Always keep a backup of your original save file from your first emulator. This way, if you run into any issues with the new emulator, you can restore your progress.
Did you successfully transfer your save file to a new emulator? Share your experience in the comments section below!
