Persona 3 Reload has unusually useful public Steam Cloud metadata: SteamDB shows the exact WinAppDataRoaming root and SaveData*.sav pattern. That makes the Steam backup boundary clear, but it does not solve Microsoft Store compatibility because the Game Pass version lives in WGS and community transfer workflows use conversion/encryption-aware tools. SaveEditor therefore documents both locations while explicitly separating “where the file is” from “whether it is directly compatible.” A safe migration starts with a complete backup of both source and target directories.
Choose the correct backup boundary
For Persona 3 Reload, the researched PC save location is Windows: Steam: %APPDATA%SEGAP3RSteam<64-bit-SteamID> ; Microsoft Store: %LOCALAPPDATA%PackagesSEGAofAmericaInc.L0cb6b3aea_s751p9cej88mtSystemAppDatawgs<user-id>. The known save file or folder pattern is Steam: SaveData*.sav; Microsoft Store: opaque WGS files/containers.. Copy the complete Steam-ID directory or the complete Microsoft WGS tree before any transfer. Keep original SaveData files untouched until the migrated save has been loaded and re-saved successfully. Copying the complete documented save boundary is safer than selecting one visually obvious file, because companion metadata, indexes, backups, or multiple slots can be required together.
Make an offline copy before changing anything
Close the game first, wait for the active launcher to finish writing, then copy the save data to a separate folder that the game and sync client do not watch. Label the copy with the game, storefront, profile, and date. Documented launcher context: Steam, Microsoft Store. The Steam and Microsoft Store save containers are not equivalent. Do not rename an arbitrary WGS file to SaveData001.sav and assume it is valid.
Account for cloud saves
Steam Cloud and Xbox Cloud are documented. SteamDB reports a 550 MiB cloud quota and the SaveData*.sav pattern for Steam. Before restoring an older backup, decide which copy should win. If the game or launcher starts while an older manual copy is in place, synchronization can replace it before you confirm that it works. Keep the untouched backup outside the live save path until the restored progress has been opened and saved normally.
Restore without changing format assumptions
Steam cloud configuration explicitly maps WinAppDataRoaming/SEGA/P3R/Steam/{64BitSteamID} with a SaveData*.sav pattern. Microsoft Store uses WGS and transfer to Steam may require format/encryption-aware tooling. Compatibility note: Game Pass-to-Steam migration can require encryption/container conversion. The existence of both files on disk does not make them byte-compatible. Restore into the matching storefront/profile context whenever possible. Do not rename a save extension, move a folder into a different container type, or assume a console/mobile copy is equivalent unless a tested migration path specifically says so.
Recovery fallback
If Steam does not show an imported slot, confirm the 64-bit Steam ID folder and SaveData numbering. For Microsoft Store migration, restore the original WGS copy if a conversion tool fails. If the restored copy fails, put the untouched original back first. Then compare location, account/profile, cloud state, and the full directory structure before trying a different backup. The objective is reversible recovery, not repeated destructive experiments on the only copy.
Verification context: Reviewed against PCGamingWiki Persona 3 Reload and current SteamDB user-file-system mapping for app 2161700.