Final Fantasy IX needs a particularly cautious backup workflow because the Steam save directory is named EncryptedSavedData and modern mod setups may write additional derived files into the same area. The safest baseline is an untouched copy of the whole directory before any editor or Memoria operation. That gives you a known-good source even if a mod creates exported slot files or changes which file is loaded. The Microsoft Store release uses WGS instead, so SaveEditor does not present a simple rename-and-copy operation as universal compatibility.
For this PC reference, the documented storage is Windows: Steam: %USERPROFILE%AppDataLocalLowSquareEnixFINAL FANTASY IXSteamEncryptedSavedData ; Microsoft Store: %LOCALAPPDATA%Packages39EA002F.FINALFANTASYIX_n746a19ndrrjgSystemAppDatawgs. The known file or folder pattern is Steam master save commonly includes SavedData_ww.dat; Memoria/modded setups may create additional derived files.. The Steam release stores an encrypted save-data set under LocalLow. Microsoft Store uses WGS. Mod frameworks can add their own companion or exported files, so a clean backup should preserve the original game-owned data before modded copies.
Backup guidance: Back up the entire EncryptedSavedData folder on Steam before installing a save editor or mod framework. On Microsoft Store, back up the WGS container rather than renaming arbitrary files into the Steam directory. Steam Cloud and Xbox Cloud are documented for their corresponding editions. Launcher and cloud context matters because Steam and Microsoft Store paths are different. Memoria or other mods can add extra files beside the original save and should not be confused with the untouched source data.
Compatibility and recovery should stay conservative. A Steam master save and Microsoft WGS container are not interchangeable by filename alone. Mod-created Memoria files may depend on the mod version and should be kept separate from the original backup. If the expected progress is not visible, If an edit or restore seems ignored, disable competing cloud restoration temporarily, verify whether the game is loading the original or a Memoria-derived file, and use Load rather than assuming Continue points to the intended slot. SaveEditor.com only labels a game-specific editor as available when a separate linked Tool has a verified operational runtime; this reference page by itself is not an editor claim.