Start with the safest answer
Close Silksong, copy the affected userX.dat, and keep one untouched backup. The editor works on a browser copy and does not replace the file in your game folder for you.
Save files, privacy, and backups
Does Silksong Save Editor upload my save to a server?
No. The editor reads, decodes, changes, and re-encodes your userX.dat inside your browser. The original file is not sent to this site for save processing, and you do not need an account to use the editor. The file stays on your device until you choose a download action.
Read the privacy policyWhich Silksong file should I upload?
Upload the userX.dat file for the affected profile, where X is the slot number. For example, user1.dat normally represents slot 1 and user4.dat represents slot 4. Do not upload shared.dat, a screenshot, an executable, or an unrelated Hollow Knight save. Close the game before copying the file so Silksong is not writing to it at the same time.
Find userX.dat on your systemWhere is the Silksong save folder on Windows, macOS, or Linux?
The folder is inside LocalLow on Windows, Application Support on macOS, and unity3d configuration data on Linux. Steam then stores each user’s saves in a numeric Steam ID sub-folder; non-Steam builds use a default sub-folder. The editor’s upload panel lets you select your operating system and copy the correct base path.
Open the full save-location guideWhy should I download an original backup before editing?
A backup is the only reliable way to return to the exact bytes you started with. Use Download Original Backup after your file loads, and keep it outside the live game folder until the edited save opens, saves normally, and opens again. If an edit has an unexpected effect, restore that untouched file instead of stacking more guesses onto the modified copy.
Upload a save and download its original backupEditing and recovery tools
What can Quick Edit change?
Quick Edit provides player-friendly controls for established resource values such as Rosaries, Shell Shards, Health, and Silk. It is the best starting point when the value you need is already listed because it avoids searching for internal field names and validates the input before updating the editable copy.
Open Quick EditCan the editor recover a defeated Steel Soul save?
Yes, but only when the uploaded save contains the exact defeated Steel Soul state the editor recognizes. In that case the recovery card becomes the highest-priority action and offers one confirmed change from defeated to active Steel Soul. Normal saves, active Steel Soul saves, missing fields, and unknown values are never forced into a different mode.
Review the verified Steel Soul recovery workflowDoes Steel Soul recovery change my original file immediately?
No. The editor changes only the in-browser working copy after you confirm the recovery. Your original file remains untouched, and the game folder is never edited by the website. Download the original backup first, download the recovered copy separately, then replace the in-game file yourself while Silksong is closed.
Can the Plasmium Phial Troubleshooter apply a guaranteed fix?
No. Team Cherry fixed a Plasmium Phial and Flea Brew bench-restoration issue in Patch 2, while community reports describe several values and symptoms that do not always match. The current tool checks the detected save version and recognized related fields, then explains safer next steps. It does not apply a universal community mutation.
Troubleshoot the Plasmium Phial safelyWill the Tool Pouch Checker restore a missing upgrade?
Not automatically. The checker compares the recorded upgrade count with the supporting flags this version of the editor can recognize. It can flag a possible mismatch, but it will not invent or toggle every progression value when the complete relationship has not been verified across game versions.
Check the known Tool Pouch evidenceWhen should I use Advanced Mode?
Use Advanced Mode when Quick Edit and Popular Actions do not cover the task and you can identify a specific item, field, or value. Its search is case-insensitive, shows a match count, highlights results, and lets you move between matches. Read the surrounding object before editing and make one small, testable change at a time.
Learn the Advanced Mode search workflowCompatibility and troubleshooting
Why does Silksong say “Version Incompatible”?
Team Cherry says this appears when a save has been opened by a newer game build that added data not present in the older build you are now running. Match or update the game version before assuming the file is corrupt. This editor does not downgrade saves or promise compatibility between different game builds.
Read the version-compatibility stepsWhat should I do if my save disappeared or seems broken?
Preserve every current file before changing names or replacing anything. First use Silksong’s Auto Saves option on the Select Profile screen; Team Cherry warns that restoring an auto save overwrites the current save. On PC, also inspect the correct Steam ID or default folder for userX.dat and backup copies, but treat community filename workarounds as case reports rather than a guaranteed repair.
Follow the backup and Auto Save guideWhy can’t the editor read my .dat file?
The selected file may be the wrong file, an unsupported save, empty or corrupted, too large, or written by a game version the current decoder does not understand. Try the original userX.dat from the correct slot rather than a renamed download. The editor keeps technical details in the browser console and shows a short, player-facing error instead of exposing a raw exception.
Can this editor fix every Silksong bug or progression problem?
No. A save can reflect game logic, patch differences, mods, cloud-sync conflicts, or several related progression flags. The editor provides a one-click action only for a narrowly verified state; uncertain cases remain read-only checkers or guided inspection. If the complete field relationship is unknown, restoring an official Auto Save or reporting the bug is safer than guessing.
Compare verified actions and checker-only toolsStill unsure what your save needs?
Upload the original file and let the save-aware cards report what they can actually detect. A missing or unknown value should stay a diagnosis, not become an automatic edit.