[TUTORIAL] PS3 saves in 2026: copying, unlocking and transferring with Apollo Save Tool (SAVEDATA)

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[TUTORIAL] PS3 saves in 2026: copying, unlocking and transferring with Apollo Save Tool (SAVEDATA)

Post by Tgames »

Automatically translated from French.

[TUTO] Sauvegardes PS3 en 2026 : copier, débloquer et transférer avec Apollo Save Tool (SAVEDATA)

Copying a protected save, moving it to another account or another PS3, editing it: Apollo Save Tool does it all, here is how to use it in 2026.


Where PS3 saves are stored
  • On the hard drive: /dev_hdd0/home/000000XX/savedata/, where XX is the user number.
  • On a USB stick: /PS3/SAVEDATA/. This is where the PS3's Saved Data Utility menu copies saves.
  • PS2 saves (virtual memory cards): /dev_hdd0/home/000000XX/ps2emu2_savedata/.
Each save is a folder, with a PARAM.SFO file (description and owner) and a PARAM.PFD file (signature). Some games forbid copying: the Copy option then doesn't appear in the menu.


Installing Apollo Save Tool

Apollo Save Tool (version 2.3.2, April 2026), by bucanero, works on a PS3 running CFW or PS3HEN. Simply install apollo-ps3.pkg. On first launch, it detects the console and account IDs by itself. The interface is translated into French.


What it can do
  • Unlock a protected save: it removes the copy restriction in the PARAM.SFO, then redoes the PARAM.PFD signature, without which the PS3 would reject it.
  • Re-sign a save from another account or another console, so that yours accepts it.
  • Copy saves from the hard drive to a USB stick and back, archive them, and back them up or restore them over FTP from a PC (PS1, PS2 and PS3 saves).
  • Edit a save with codes (Bruteforce Save Data, Game Genie, and the Save Wizard format since 2.2.0): it is the free alternative to Save Wizard.
  • Convert PS1 and PS2 saves to PSV format, and export or import PS2 Classics memory cards.

Transferring a save to another PS3
  1. On the first console, copy the save to a USB stick with Apollo (unlocked if it is protected).
  2. On the second one, open Apollo, choose the save on the USB stick, and re-sign it for that console's account.
  3. Copy it to the hard drive, then launch the game.
A save downloaded from the Internet must also be re-signed before use.


The PS3 folder structure

The main folders used by webMAN MOD (version 1.47.50):
  • /dev_hdd0/PS3ISO: PS3 games as ISOs. /dev_hdd0/GAMES: PS3 games in folder format.
  • /dev_hdd0/PS2ISO, PSXISO, PSPISO: PS2, PS1 and PSP games.
  • /dev_hdd0/game: PSN games and installed applications.
  • /dev_hdd0/packages: PKG files to install.
The same folders work at the root of a USB drive (/dev_usb000/).


The most common errors
  • The save doesn't appear or is “corrupted”: it hasn't been re-signed for your account.
  • “Cannot copy” in the PS3 menu: protected save; use Apollo.
  • The account has never been signed in to PSN: Apollo offers to change the account ID in the PARAM.SFO options.
For everything else, see webMAN MOD and PS3 homebrew, and to play on PC, RPCS3.


Sources and official guides: Apollo Save Tool PS3 · Releases · PARAM.SFO (PSDevWiki) · webMAN MOD folders

Tgames provides no games, BIOS or keys: only use backups of your own games and your own console. A question? Reply to this topic.
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