Persona 4 Golden illustrates why a save “slot” can be more than one file. Steam stores data under app ID 1113000, and documented cross-platform workflows pair each dataXXXX.bin with a companion .binslot structure whose checksum may need to agree. A backup of only the visibly largest file is therefore incomplete. SaveEditor recommends copying the whole remote directory first, then treating any conversion or editor workflow as a separate operation on duplicates. Microsoft Store is again represented by WGS and is not presented as drop-in compatible.
Where Persona 4 Golden stores PC saves
The researched save-location boundary is Windows: Steam: <Steam-folder>userdata<user-id>1113000remote ; Microsoft Store: %LOCALAPPDATA%PackagesSEGAofAmericaInc.D0cb6b3aet_s751p9cej88mtSystemAppDatawgs<user-id>. The known file or folder pattern is Steam commonly uses dataXXXX.bin with corresponding dataXXXX.binslot metadata; cloud metadata also resides in the remote directory.. 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, Microsoft Store. A .bin slot and its .binslot metadata should be treated as a pair. Microsoft Store WGS transfer is a separate conversion problem, not a simple rename. 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
Steam Cloud and Xbox Cloud are documented. 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
Steam stores the save set under app ID 1113000. Community-documented Vita/PC and edited-save workflows note a checksum relationship between dataXXXX.bin and dataXXXX.binslot. Microsoft Store uses WGS. The current filename/folder evidence is Steam commonly uses dataXXXX.bin with corresponding dataXXXX.binslot metadata; cloud metadata also resides in the remote directory.. File-extension context: .bin, .binslot 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 a slot warns or fails to load, restore the matching pair. When moving from Microsoft Store, verify the transfer workflow for the current game version instead of treating WGS blobs as Steam files. 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: Reviewed against current PCGamingWiki Persona 4 Golden save-location and Vita-transfer/checksum notes.