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How to Back Up Save Data

On the PS2, game saves are stored exclusively on a PS2 Memory Card. A PS1 Memory Card is used only for PS1 game saves because it is both too small (128 KiB) and uses a completely different, incompatible logical structure.

Save Data is essentially a directory identified by a unique save ID (for example, BESCES_12345). In theory, backing up a save could be as simple as copying its directory from mc0:/ to mass:/ (usb:/ in wLE R3Z). Unfortunately, this is one of the most common mistakes made by inexperienced users. Some games use the timestamp (stored in the MCFS, the Memory Card File System) as a form of copy protection. Simply copying the save directory may change or lose the original timestamp. For games that validate this timestamp, the value stored by the file system must match the one stored within the save. Otherwise, the save will be detected as corrupted. Additionally, some games use file or directory names containing characters that are not permitted by FAT32 and exFAT. To solve both of these issues, the PSU format was introduced many years ago. A PSU file is a container that stores both the save data and all associated metadata, allowing the save to be restored without losing any information.

This guide describes two methods for exporting and importing saves in the PSU format. A third option is to create a complete image of the memory card (e.g. using Memory Card Annihilator), but that approach is intended for different purposes and is therefore outside the scope of this guide. However, it can also serve as an additional backup.

Method A: Apollo Save Tool

Apollo Save Tool is a save management application. It supports most commonly used save container formats, both types of PlayStation memory cards, USB storage devices (formatted as FAT32 with an MBR partition table), and host:/.

  1. Launch Apollo Save Tool using your preferred method. Press Right on the D-pad until you reach the vase icon labeled Saves.

Apollo: Main Menu

  1. Select Bulk Saves Management.

Apollo: Saves 1

  1. Select .PSU Export All Saves to Backup Storage, then choose Copy Saves to Backup Storage (mass:/) to export the saves to your USB stick.

Apollo: Saves 2

  1. Wait until all progress bars reach 100% and a confirmation message appears indicating that the saves have been exported to mass:/PS2/SAVEDATA/. Press Cross to dismiss the message, then press Circle a few times to return to the main menu and exit the application.

All exported saves will be located in mass:/PS2/SAVEDATA/*.psu and will use the following naming format: <GameID>_<Date YYYY-MM-DD>_<Time HHMMSS>.psu (for example: SCES50294_2026-07-30_105959.psu).

To restore saves, follow the same procedure, except that in step 1 you must select Ext Saves (short for External Saves) instead of Saves. Then, choose Copy all Saves to Memory Card.

Apollo: Restore Saves

Method B: unofficial LaunchELF

You can also back up and restore saves using any version of unofficial LaunchELF (uLE) or double-unofficial LaunchELF (wLE). Although these applications are primarily file managers, they can also create and extract PSU files. I recommend wLE R3Z, as it supports all currently available storage devices.

  1. Launch double-unofficial LaunchELF R3Z (abbreviated as wLE R3Z) using your preferred method.

  2. Navigate to mc0:/ (the PS2 Memory Card in Slot 1) or mc1:/ (Slot 2). Press the L1 button to change the display mode to Show Content as: Game Title + Details and Sort Content by: Game Title. Then press the Triangle button to close the popup and apply the changes.

wLE: List 1 wLE: List 2

  1. Mark all save folders by pressing the Square button, or select only the ones you want to back up by pressing the Circle button on each folder.

  2. Press the R1 button and select Copy.

wLE: Copy Saves

  1. Return to the device list and open usb:/ (in other versions of wLE, the mount point is named mass:/ instead). Then press the R1 button and select Create PSU (psuPaste in most versions of wLE – not Paste). After the export is complete, the new PSU files should appear in the destination you selected.

wLE: Create PSU

To restore saves, follow the same procedure, except that instead of Create PSU, choose Extract PSU (psuPaste in most versions of wLE – not Paste).


Berion
2026-07-31

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