Why didn't my game save?

FAQ
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How do I properly save my game?

To ensure your in-game save is written to storage, you must exit content properly using one of the following methods:

  • Menu + Start shortcut
  • RetroArch Quick Menu > Close Content (MENU + X)
  • Sleep to Shutdown (not Sleep until Wake)

If you do not use one of the methods above, the SRAM remains in memory and is never saved to disk.

Important: This is not a bug. It is how RetroArch is intended to behave. In-game saves (also known as SRAM) are only written to disk when the content is closed properly.

What happens if I put the device to sleep?

So, if you:

  • press Reset
  • run out of battery while asleep, or
  • use normal Sleep Suspend (not Sleep to Shutdown),

then the power is cut without shutting the system down properly!

This means your in-game save will be lost and you may potentially corrupt system files! These devices do not have the same advanced power management found in smartphones. Do not rely on Sleep for long periods.

Isn’t this an emulator issue?

Not at all. This behaviour also exists on real retro consoles!

Many older consoles stored game data in RAM and only flushed it to persistent storage (if available) after the console was powered off properly. Some didn’t even have persistent save storage, hence the use of password systems in older titles.

It’s more noticeable in emulation because:

  • Users often leave games suspended for long periods
  • Emulators simulate the original system’s save logic
  • Unexpected shutdowns are more common on handheld or embedded systems

What can I do to prevent save loss?

Here are some suggested safer alternatives:

  • Use Sleep to Shutdown
    Enable Sleep to Shutdown, so after a period of inactivity the system will shut down cleanly — saving your game before powering off.

    • Combine this with:
      Resume Game on Boot (loads the last game on startup)

  • Enable Auto Save/Load State
    In RetroArch:

    1. Go to Settings > Saving
    2. Enable:
      • Auto Save State
      • Auto Load State
    3. Then go to Main Menu > Configuration File > Save Current Config
      This way, RetroArch creates a save state on shutdown and automatically resumes from that state on boot.

  • Adjust SaveRAM Autosave Interval (optional)
    Also under Settings > Saving, you can enable SaveRAM Autosave Interval
    This periodically writes in-game saves to disk while playing (e.g. every 30 minutes).

Please Note: Enabling SaveRAM uses more system resources and it may increase wear on your SD card. Use this option with care.

If you’re losing in-game progress, it’s not a bug or failure of the muOS or RetroArch. It is how many original systems, and by extension, emulators work.

To avoid this:

  • Always exit games properly
  • Use safe shutdown or Sleep to Shutdown
  • Enable Auto Save/Load State and/or SRAM autosave

Protect your progress!

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