How to Recover a Deleted No Man’s Sky Save
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Losing hours of progress in No Man’s Sky (NMS) can be a devastating experience. Whether it’s due to an accidental deletion, a corrupted file, or a simple oversight, the panic that sets in is understandable. Fortunately, depending on the circumstances, there are several methods you can try to recover your precious NMS save data.
The first thing you need to understand is that No Man’s Sky keeps a limited number of save files. By default, the game only maintains two save slots: your autosave and a restore point save. If you’ve overwritten both of these, recovery can become more complex, but it’s not necessarily impossible.
Immediate Steps for Potential Recovery
Here’s a breakdown of how you can potentially recover a deleted NMS save:
- Check the In-Game Options: The most straightforward method is to load the game and navigate to the “Options” screen. You will find both autosave and restore point save options there. If you only recently lost your progress, and haven’t overwritten the restore point, this might be your quickest and easiest solution.
- PS Plus Cloud Save (PlayStation Users): If you are a PlayStation Plus subscriber, your saves may be automatically uploaded to the cloud. To check for a cloud save, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings on your PlayStation.
- Navigate to Application Saved Data Management.
- Select Saved Data in Online Storage.
- Choose Download to System Storage.
- Look for your No Man’s Sky save and, if available, download it to your system.
- Restore Previous Versions (Windows PC Users): Windows has a built-in feature that can sometimes restore older versions of files and folders, including your save data. Here’s how to attempt this:
- Find the folder that contains your No Man’s Sky save data. The location varies, but it often resides in %appdata%HelloGamesNMS.
- Right-click the folder.
- Select Restore Previous Versions. If available, select the latest version and click Restore.
- If your save folder was at the top level of your drive, right-click on the drive and select “Restore Previous Versions”.
- The Recycle Bin: On Windows machines, when you delete a file it often initially goes into the Recycle Bin. If you deleted a save file manually and have not emptied the bin, it is easily recoverable.
- Open your Recycle Bin.
- Look for the deleted file in the list.
- Right click and select Restore.
- Data Recovery Software: If the above methods don’t work, you might need to resort to data recovery software. Many third-party applications are designed to scan your hard drive for deleted files that haven’t been overwritten. These programs can be effective but are not guaranteed to recover your data.
- Research and choose a reputable data recovery software, and make sure to read reviews and understand their refund policies.
- Install and run the software, being careful not to write any new data to the disk that may be overwriting your deleted save files.
- Follow the software instructions to scan for and potentially recover your NMS save files.
Understanding Save Files and Storage
It’s crucial to understand how No Man’s Sky saves your progress. The game uses a combination of autosaves and manual restore point saves. However, there are no older backups beyond these two within the game. The locations of the save files are different depending on your gaming platform.
- PC: Save files can be found in %appdata%HelloGamesNMS
- PlayStation: Save files are automatically stored on the system and potentially on the cloud if you have PS Plus.
- Xbox: Save files are generally stored on the console and on the cloud.
Prevention is Key
The most reliable way to avoid the stress of lost progress is to implement preventative measures. Regularly backing up your save data manually is strongly advised. Create a separate backup folder for your NMS saves and copy them over periodically. This way, you will have an extra layer of protection.
By taking these steps and understanding the nuances of No Man’s Sky save management, you greatly increase your chances of recovering lost progress.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 15 frequently asked questions about recovering deleted No Man’s Sky saves, providing you with more comprehensive information:
1. How Many Save Slots Does No Man’s Sky Have?
No Man’s Sky maintains two save slots by default. One is the autosave, which frequently updates as you play, and the other is your restore point which you can activate manually from the in-game menu.
2. Can I Recover a Deleted Save From the Cloud?
Yes, if you are a PlayStation Plus member, your saves might be automatically uploaded to the cloud. Check your PlayStation settings under Application Saved Data Management to download any potential cloud save. Xbox users can check their Cloud save data.
3. Can I Restore Previous Versions of My Save Files on PC?
Yes, Windows users can try using the Restore Previous Versions feature by right-clicking the save folder. If your system has created any restore points, you can recover older versions of the save files.
4. Is it Possible to Recover Files Deleted From the Recycle Bin?
No, files removed from the Recycle Bin are generally unrecoverable through standard Windows means. You may need to resort to third party recovery software.
5. Can I Recover a Save File Deleted with Command Prompt?
While it is possible to recover a file with the UNDELETE command, it only works if no other changes have been made to the disk since deletion. It’s best to use this command immediately after a file is deleted, but it’s not guaranteed to be effective.
6. Where are No Man’s Sky Saves Located?
On PC, No Man’s Sky saves are typically located at: %appdata%HelloGamesNMS. On consoles, save data is generally stored on the system and potentially on the cloud (if applicable).
7. What Does the ‘Restore Point Saved’ Message Mean in NMS?
The ‘Restore Point Saved’ message confirms that your game has saved your progress, allowing you to load back to that point if needed. This save is separate from the autosave.
8. How Do I Transfer My No Man’s Sky Save Between PS4 and PS5?
To transfer from PS4 to PS5, you must load the PS4 version, go to the Select Save Game screen, and choose “Transfer Save Data to PlayStation(R)5”.
9. Can You Overwrite the Restore Point Save?
Yes, the restore point save will be overwritten each time you manually create a new one. If you are about to do something risky, be sure to create a new restore point.
10. Is it Possible to Have Older Backups of My Save File?
The game itself only keeps two saves: your autosave and restore point. You can create additional backups manually by copying your save folder.
11. Are There Storage Containers in No Man’s Sky?
Yes, storage containers allow players to store additional resources and products above the inventory limit of a starship or exosuit.
12. How Many Bases Can I Have in No Man’s Sky?
Each save has a limit of 450 bases, including the freighter base and 449 planetary bases.
13. Can I Replay Old Expeditions?
Generally, you cannot replay old expeditions, except for the occasions where the developers bring them back for a limited time.
14. Is No Man’s Sky a Never-Ending Game?
Yes, No Man’s Sky is designed as a near-infinite game with procedural generation technology, meaning there is a vast and almost endless universe to explore.
15. How Big Is No Man’s Sky in Terms of Storage Space?
The minimum storage space required for No Man’s Sky is around 15 GB. However, it’s advisable to have extra space available for any updates and expansions.
By understanding the save mechanics of No Man’s Sky and utilizing these methods and tips, you can greatly increase your chances of recovering your progress or preventing data loss in the future.