Skyrim Special Edition: How to Transfer Your PC Save Files

The Skyrim Special Edition is not just a newer version of Skyrim - it is its own game, requiring an entire separate download with new filed and everything. Because of this, you may find that your old character files from previous editions of Skyrim will not show up when you load up the game. Thankfully, there is a workaround.

On PCs, both the save files for Skyrim and the Skyrim Special Edition are located in the My Games folder in your Documents.

To transfer your save files, enter the saves folder, and copy all the save files you wish to transfer (they should be listed by (Save # - Character Name, Location). With the files copied, enter the Special Edition save folder and paste them in, then close the folders and launch the game.

When you load up Skyrim Special Edition, you should be able to locate the new save files (if the character name does not show, look for the corresponding Save File #, and highlighting it should show the character name in the corner).

WARNING: If you had used Mods in your previous Skyrim adventures, files from those mods are most likely missing, and won't show up in the Special Edition. Depending on how many mods were enabled and what they affected, you may run into serious problems.

We recommend transferring characters with as little mods used as possible - or wait until the mods have been registered for the Special Edition and installed once more.

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