What are Save States?
Save states capture the complete emulator state at a specific moment:- CPU registers and memory
- GPU state and video memory
- Audio state
- Controller inputs
- Everything needed to resume exactly where you left off
Save states are different from in-game saves. They capture the entire emulator state, allowing you to save anywhere, anytime.
Save States vs In-Game Saves
| Feature | Save States | In-Game Saves |
|---|---|---|
| Save anywhere | Yes | Only at save points |
| Instant save/load | Yes | Usually slower |
| Compatible across versions | Sometimes | Yes |
| Transferable to console | No | Yes (via memory card) |
| Size | Large (100+ MB) | Small (KB) |
Save State Slots
Dolphin provides 10 save state slots (Slot 1 - Slot 10) per game:- Each slot stores one complete save state
- Slots are game-specific
- Overwriting a slot replaces the previous save
Creating Save States
Using Hotkeys (Recommended)
Default hotkeys for save states:- Quick Save
- Selected Slot
Shift + F1 through Shift + F8: Save to slots 1-8Quickly save to a specific slot without interrupting gameplay.
Using the Menu
Saving to File
Save to a custom file instead of using slots:Save state files have the
.sav extension and can be shared, backed up, or organized in custom folders.Loading Save States
Using Hotkeys (Recommended)
Default hotkeys for loading:- Quick Load
- Selected Slot
F1 through F8: Load from slots 1-8Instantly load a saved state.
Using the Menu
Loading from File
Save State Manager
View and manage all save states for the current game:Advanced Save State Features
Undo Load State
If you accidentally load the wrong state:- Hotkey: F10 (default)
- Menu: Emulation > Undo Load State
Undo Load State creates a temporary save before loading, allowing you to revert if needed.
Undo Save State
Revert to the previous save in a slot:- Menu: Emulation > Undo Save State
Load Last State
Quickly load the most recently saved state: This loads the most recent save state regardless of slot.Configuring Save State Hotkeys
Customize save state hotkeys:You can also map save state functions to controller buttons for quick access during gameplay.
Save State Storage Location
Save states are stored in:- Windows:
Documents\Dolphin Emulator\StateSaves\ - Linux:
~/.dolphin-emu/StateSaves/or~/.config/dolphin-emu/StateSaves/ - macOS:
~/Library/Application Support/Dolphin/StateSaves/
File Naming Convention
Save state files are named:GALE01.s01 (slot 1 for Super Smash Bros. Melee)
Custom save states use .sav extension.
Save State Compatibility
Version Compatibility
- Same version: Fully compatible
- Minor updates: Usually compatible
- Major updates: May be incompatible
- Development builds: Frequently incompatible
Always keep in-game saves as backups. Save states should complement, not replace, in-game saves.
What Changes Save State Compatibility
- Emulation core changes
- Memory layout modifications
- Graphics backend updates
- DSP emulation changes
Best Practices
Use Multiple Slots
Don’t rely on a single save state:- Rotate between 2-3 slots
- Keep backup states at major progress points
- Prevents losing progress if a state becomes corrupted
Regular In-Game Saves
Use in-game saves in addition to save states:- More reliable long-term
- Compatible across Dolphin versions
- Can be transferred to real consoles
Backup Important States
For critical progress:Avoid Save States During Specific Actions
- FMV/cutscenes (may cause playback issues)
- Loading screens
- Saving in-game (can corrupt save data)
- Online play (NetPlay has its own state system)
Save States in NetPlay
NetPlay has special save state handling:- Host controls states: Only the host can create/load states
- All players sync: States apply to all connected players
- Automatic saves: NetPlay can create automatic checkpoint states
Troubleshooting
Save State Failed to Save
If save states fail to create:Save State Failed to Load
If a save state won’t load:- Incompatible version: State may be from different Dolphin version
- Corrupted file: File may be damaged
- Wrong game: Ensure you’re loading the correct game
- Missing files: Some games require specific BIOS or system files
If a state won’t load, try loading an earlier state or using an in-game save.
Save States Cause Crashes
If loading states crashes Dolphin:- Update to the latest Dolphin version
- Try loading different states
- Check for game-specific issues on Dolphin Wiki
- Disable Store EFB Copies to Texture Only in Graphics settings
Large Save State File Sizes
Save state sizes vary by:- Game (more RAM usage = larger states)
- Graphics settings (texture cache adds to size)
- Internal resolution (higher resolution = larger cache)
You can enable Save Texture Cache to State in Graphics settings for more consistent state behavior, but this increases file size.
Enable/Disable Save States
Save states can be disabled entirely:
This prevents accidental state saves/loads during competitive play or TAS creation.