There are several reasons why you would want to be able to find your save files if you are a Stellaris payer. Among the popular reasons, one is to generate backups that prevent progress loss in case saves are lost or corrupted. These backups are doubled as saves; you can get back to it at a later date for mere nostalgia or to check how much of progress you have made in the game. Certain third-party applications that let you change your game saves also need access to the save files. That is why it is important to know where your saved files are.

But the question should not be why you would want to access your game saves. Rather, it should be how you can access them. For your operating system, you can get help below:

 Windows

 Steam

If you’re playing Stellaris on Windows via Steam, your save files will be in this folder:

%UserProfile%\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Stellaris\save games

Hit WINDOWS + R, paste the above path into the text field and hit OK to quickly open up that folder.

 Paradox Launcher

Paradox Launcher versions of Stellaris on Windows have save files at the following path:

%UserProfile%\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Stellaris Plaza\save games

 Mac

 Steam

If you’re playing Stellaris on a Mac via the Steam client, your game save files will be in this folder:

~/Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/save games

 Paradox Launcher

Stellaris installations via the Paradox Launcher on Mac will have their game saves at this path:

~/Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris Plaza/save games

 Linux

 Steam

Stellaris on Steam on Linux operating systems saves game files in this folder:

~/.steam/steam/userdata/YOUR STEAM3 ID/281990/remote/save games

 Paradox Launcher

If you’re playing Stellaris via the Paradox Launcher on a Linux-based operating system, your save files will be at:

~/.local/share/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris Plaza/save games

Stellaris Screenshot Folder

 Windows

In Stellaris, you can take a screenshot by pressing the F11 key. After taking a screenshot, it’ll be saved into this folder:

%UserProfile%\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Stellaris\screenshots

Note that the above path is for screenshots taken via Stellaris (via F11), not via Steam, which is the F12 key. If you used F12, you took a Steam screenshot (not a Stellaris one), see this guide to locate Steam screenshots instead.

 Mac

Screenshots taken via Stellaris on Macs will be saved in this folder:

~/Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/screenshots

For screenshots taken via Steam (F12 key) see our how to find Steam game screenshots guide instead.

Stellaris Mods Folder

 Windows

On Windows, the Stellaris mods folder can be found at:

Steam:

%UserProfile%\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Stellaris\mod

Paradox Launcher:

%UserProfile%\Documents\Paradox Interactive\Stellaris Plaza\mod

 Mac

On Macs, you should place (and can find) your mods in this folder:

Steam:

~/Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/mod

Paradox Launcher:

~/Documents/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris Plaza/mod

 Linux

Linux devices have their mods folder at:

Steam:

~/.local/share/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris/mod

Paradox Launcher:

~/.local/share/Paradox Interactive/Stellaris Plaza/mod