To ensure your save data is safe and secure:

Sometimes, players launch the game after an update to find their farm missing. This often happens if the game is installed in a different location than where the save files are pointing, or if a mod has interfered with the loading process.

Once you are in the Saves folder, you will see folders named after your characters. Inside each folder, there are two files. It is important to understand the difference.

Each save is contained in a folder named " _ " and includes files such as SaveGameInfo and a SaveGame file (XML or compressed XML depending on settings/mods) that contain the world state, player inventory, relationships, farm layout, and in-progress events.

: The fastest way to reach your saves is by pressing Windows + R , pasting %appdata%\StardewValley\Saves , and hitting Enter.

If you need to recover a deleted save (without backup), try file recovery software immediately – but no guarantees. Regular backups are your safest bet.