No Man’s Sky has evolved over many years, so older profile directories can contain naming conventions that differ from current saves. That makes destructive cleanup risky. Archive the whole NMS directory before renaming or moving anything, and keep Microsoft Store WGS data separate from normal desktop .hg files. A future game-specific tool should identify the exact generation and container before writing; Phase 23 only documents the storage and backup boundaries.
Where No Man's Sky stores PC saves
The researched save-location boundary is Windows: %APPDATA%HelloGamesNMS
Microsoft Store: %LOCALAPPDATA%PackagesHelloGames.NoMansSky_bs190hzg1sesySystemAppDatawgs | macOS: $HOME/Library/Application Support/HelloGames/NMS/ | Linux / Steam Play: Steam Play: <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/275850/pfx/. The known file or folder pattern is save*.hg
mf_save*.hg (current/metadata family; older installs may contain storage*.hg names). This is the practical starting point because launcher, profile, and storefront context can change which copy is active even when two folders look similar.
Storefront and profile differences
Documented launchers or storefronts: Steam, GOG Galaxy, Microsoft Store / Xbox app. Desktop storefront files and Microsoft WGS containers are different migration surfaces. Older installations can also contain legacy storage*.hg naming. When looking for a missing save, identify the executable/storefront you actually launched and the user/profile that created the progress before copying anything between directories.
Cloud synchronization
Storefront cloud support can synchronize the same profile. Cross-platform/cross-save features should be treated as service workflows rather than proof that arbitrary local files are byte-compatible. A cloud service should be treated as another copy of the save, not as proof that the local folder is disposable. Before a manual restore, let synchronization finish, make an offline backup, and avoid starting the game while files are being replaced.
What the files represent
No Man's Sky uses profile-scoped .hg save records. The Microsoft Store/Xbox app build uses WGS instead of the same visible Steam/GOG-style files. The current filename/folder evidence is save*.hg
mf_save*.hg (current/metadata family; older installs may contain storage*.hg names). File-extension context: .hg A location guide does not claim that every file in the directory is safe to edit or that files from another storefront are automatically interchangeable.
If the save is not where expected
If an older save is not listed, first preserve every .hg record and compare modification times. PCGamingWiki documents historical storage-to-save rename cases, but any rename attempt should be reversible. Also check redirected Documents folders, Steam Play prefixes, account IDs, and launcher-specific containers where applicable. Preserve every candidate copy before testing a restore so troubleshooting does not destroy the only surviving version.
Verification context: Windows/macOS/Microsoft Store/Steam Play locations and historical .hg naming notes were reviewed against current PCGamingWiki coverage.