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Common Issues

This page covers common problems you might encounter while using PhasmoDecrypt and their solutions.

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File Not Found Errors

Error Message: No saveFile.txt found at the specified location. Please select the other option.Cause: PhasmoDecrypt cannot locate the save file at the expected path.Default Save Location:
%USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Kinetic Games\Phasmophobia\SaveFile.txt
Solutions:
  1. Verify the file exists:
    • Open File Explorer
    • Paste %USERPROFILE%\AppData\LocalLow\Kinetic Games\Phasmophobia into the address bar
    • Check if SaveFile.txt exists
  2. Use manual file selection:
    • Select “I’ll add it myself” from the menu
    • Navigate to your save file location
    • Copy the full path and paste it when prompted
  3. Check if Phasmophobia has been launched:
    • The save file is created after you start the game for the first time
    • Launch Phasmophobia at least once to generate the save file
The save file path is constructed at Program.cs:88-89
Error Message: No SaveFile_Decrypted.json found at the specified location. Please select the other option.Cause: You’re trying to encrypt a decrypted file, but it doesn’t exist in the current directory.Solutions:
  1. Decrypt a save file first:
    • Go to the Decrypt menu
    • Decrypt a save file
    • Save it as SaveFile_Decrypted.json
  2. Check the working directory:
    • The file should be in the same folder as PhasmoDecrypt.exe
    • Look for SaveFile_Decrypted.json in that location
  3. Use manual file selection:
    • Choose “I’ll add it myself”
    • Provide the full path to your decrypted JSON file
This check occurs at Program.cs:306-309
Error Message: Invalid file path. Please try again.Cause: The file path you entered is empty or contains only whitespace.Solutions:
  1. Ensure you enter a path:
    • Don’t just press Enter without typing anything
    • Provide a complete file path
  2. Copy-paste the path:
    • Right-click the file in File Explorer
    • Select “Copy as path”
    • Paste it into PhasmoDecrypt (quotes will be automatically trimmed)
  3. Use forward or backslashes:
    • Both C:\\Path\\To\\File.txt and C:/Path/To/File.txt work
    • Avoid mixing slash types
Path validation occurs at Program.cs:109-114 and Program.cs:326-331

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Decryption Errors

Error Message: Error: Data is null or empty.Cause: The file you’re trying to decrypt is empty or couldn’t be read.Solutions:
  1. Check file size:
    • Right-click the file and select Properties
    • Verify the size is greater than 0 bytes
    • Phasmophobia save files are typically several KB in size
  2. Verify file permissions:
    • Ensure you have read access to the file
    • Try copying the file to your Desktop and decrypt from there
  3. Re-save from the game:
    • Launch Phasmophobia
    • Make any small change (pick up an item, etc.)
    • Exit the game to trigger a save
    • Try decrypting again
This validation occurs at Classes/Crypter.cs:16-19
Error Message: check the correctness of the file: [Exception details]Cause: The file was decrypted successfully, but the resulting data isn’t valid JSON.Common Causes:
  1. Corrupted save file:
    • The save file may be damaged
    • Try using a backup save file if available
  2. Wrong file type:
    • You’re trying to decrypt a file that isn’t a Phasmophobia save file
    • Ensure you’re using SaveFile.txt from the correct location
  3. File was manually edited while encrypted:
    • Encrypted files cannot be edited directly
    • Only edit decrypted JSON files
  4. Incomplete file transfer:
    • If you copied the save file from another computer, it may not have copied completely
    • Try copying the file again
Solutions:
  • Use the original save file from the game directory
  • Restore from a backup if available
  • Start a new game in Phasmophobia to generate a fresh save file
This error is caught at Classes/Crypter.cs:48-51 after JSON deserialization fails

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Encryption Errors

Error Message: No data to save. Please decrypt the file first.Cause: You’re trying to save decrypted data, but no decryption has been performed in this session.Solutions:
  1. Decrypt a file first:
    • Return to the main menu
    • Select “Decrypt”
    • Complete the decryption process
    • Then save the decrypted data
  2. Don’t restart between operations:
    • PhasmoDecrypt stores decrypted data in memory
    • Closing and reopening the program clears this data
    • Complete decrypt → edit → save in one session
This check occurs at Program.cs:152-159 when accessing the Presets menu

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JSON Editing Errors

Error Message: Invalid amount. Please enter a valid integer.Cause: When modifying money or XP, you entered a non-numeric value.Solutions:
  1. Use only numbers:
    • Enter values like 10000, not 10,000 or 10k
    • Don’t include currency symbols or letters
  2. Stay within integer range:
    • Maximum value: 2,147,483,647
    • Minimum value: -2,147,483,648
    • Going above/below these values will cause errors
  3. Don’t use decimals:
    • Enter 1000, not 1000.5
    • The game only accepts whole numbers
Examples:
  • ✅ Valid: 100000
  • ✅ Valid: 999999
  • ❌ Invalid: 100,000 (contains comma)
  • ❌ Invalid: 1000.50 (contains decimal)
  • ❌ Invalid: $1000 (contains symbol)
Input validation occurs at Program.cs:207-213 and Program.cs:222-228
Cause: You edited the decrypted JSON but didn’t re-encrypt and replace the save file.Solutions:
  1. Complete the full workflow:
    1

    Decrypt

    Decrypt the original SaveFile.txt
    2

    Edit

    Use Presets to modify money, XP, or items
    3

    Encrypt

    Save and encrypt the modified data
    4

    Replace

    Copy SaveFile_Encrypted.txt over the original save file
  2. Backup first:
    • Always backup the original SaveFile.txt before replacing it
    • Keep a copy in a safe location
  3. Close Phasmophobia:
    • The game must be closed when you replace the save file
    • If the game is running, it may overwrite your changes
Always backup your original save file before making changes. If something goes wrong, you can restore from the backup.

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Permission Errors

Cause: Windows is preventing PhasmoDecrypt from reading or writing files.Solutions:
  1. Run as Administrator:
    • Right-click PhasmoDecrypt.exe
    • Select “Run as administrator”
    • This gives the program elevated permissions
  2. Check folder permissions:
    • Right-click the folder containing save files
    • Select Properties → Security
    • Ensure your user account has Read and Write permissions
  3. Disable read-only attribute:
    • Right-click the save file
    • Select Properties
    • Uncheck “Read-only” if it’s enabled
    • Click Apply
  4. Move files to a different location:
    • Copy save files to your Desktop or Documents folder
    • These locations typically have fewer restrictions
    • Decrypt/encrypt from there
  5. Check antivirus software:
    • Some antivirus programs block file modifications
    • Add PhasmoDecrypt to your antivirus exceptions
    • Temporarily disable antivirus to test (not recommended long-term)

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Output Files

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Default Output Locations

PhasmoDecrypt creates files in the same directory as the executable:
FileDescription
SaveFile_Decrypted.jsonDecrypted save data in human-readable JSON format
SaveFile_Encrypted.txtRe-encrypted save file ready to use in Phasmophobia
Output files are created in the application’s base directory (AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory)

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Getting Help

If you encounter an issue not covered here:
  1. Check the error message carefully - It often indicates exactly what went wrong
  2. Verify file paths - Most issues are caused by incorrect file locations
  3. Test with a fresh save - Try decrypting a newly created save file from the game
  4. Report the issue - Create an issue on the GitHub repository with:
    • The exact error message
    • Steps to reproduce the problem
    • Your Windows version
    • Whether you’re using the default or custom save location
Never share your actual save files publicly as they may contain personal information. Only share error messages and steps to reproduce.

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