Hogwarts Legacy needs more careful path checking than a single copy-and-paste instruction suggests. Different PC storefronts and packaging contexts can produce `Hogwarts Legacy`, `HogwartsLegacy`, `Hogwarts`, or `Phoenix` paths, while Microsoft Store uses WGS. The safest backup begins by finding which directory changed most recently after an in-game save, then copying the entire user-ID folder. Keep alternate folders until you have positively identified the live one.
Known Hogwarts Legacy save-file structure
The researched filename or folder pattern is *.sav. File-extension context: .sav The documented format notes are: Steam/Epic PC saves are .sav files under Unreal Engine-style Saved/SaveGames directories. Microsoft Store uses WGS instead of the same visible-file layout.
Why an extension is not enough
A save filename can identify a likely container, but it does not prove the internal schema, game version, checksum rules, encryption state, or editability. Microsoft Store WGS data should not be treated as a renamed Steam/Epic .sav file. Storefront migration is a separate conversion problem. SaveEditor therefore separates file identification from Tool compatibility and only labels a game-specific Tool Verified when its exact profile/version evidence passes the runtime gate.
Where the format is stored
PC save locations: Windows: Steam: %LOCALAPPDATA%Hogwarts LegacySavedSaveGames<user-id>
Epic may use %LOCALAPPDATA%HogwartsLegacySavedSaveGames<user-id>
Microsoft Store: %LOCALAPPDATA%PackagesWarnerBros.Interactive.PHX_ktmk1xygcecdaSystemAppDatawgs<user-id> | Linux / Steam Play: Steam Play: <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/990080/pfx/. Storefront context: Steam, Epic Games Launcher, Microsoft Store / Xbox app. PCGamingWiki documents multiple folder-name variants, including launcher/streaming-specific paths. Identify the active storefront and actual modified folder before restoring anything. This matters because two releases can use different containers or companion files even when the visible slot name is similar.
Back up before inspecting or editing
Copy the full active SaveGames user-ID folder. If more than one Hogwarts/Phoenix path exists, compare modification times and preserve all candidates before cleanup. A read-only viewer is lower risk than a writer, but the live save should still be copied first. Cloud context also matters: Steam Cloud, Epic cloud, and Xbox Cloud are documented for the corresponding releases. Keep the original bytes available so any experiment can be reversed without relying on a cloud service or automatic backup.
What this reference does not claim
This page does not infer an undocumented checksum algorithm, encryption key, compression layer, or cross-store conversion from the file extension. Troubleshooting evidence: If the expected path is empty, search the documented alternate HogwartsLegacy/Hogwarts/Phoenix directories and check the storefront. Do not delete the older folder until the active save set is confirmed. Those questions require a verified parser/profile or a game-specific source, not a generic format guess.
Verification context: Multiple Windows storefront paths, Steam Play behavior, and cloud services were reviewed against current PCGamingWiki coverage.