Fastest for most Windows installs
Windows EXE (MSI)
This is the shortest path for a standard Windows install. Extract it to an empty folder, then run the included EXE or MSI file.
Download Windows archiveDownload & Install
Download and install No Man's Sky Save Editor
Download the build that matches your setup, extract it properly, run the included EXE or MSI on Windows, then open the right save and test one small change first.
Download options
Choose the build that fits your setup.
For most Windows installs, the archive with the included EXE or MSI is the fastest option. The second card is for the JAR build if you need the cross-platform route.
Best for Java-based and cross-platform paths
JAR
The JAR is the clean route for Mac, Steam Deck and other Java-based setups.
Download JARRequirements
What you need before the first launch.
Have the correct save folder ready, use Java for the JAR build, use Save Wizard for PS4, and keep a backup before deep edits.
A real No Man's Sky save to work on
The editor works on save data, not on cloud myths. Start from the exact save you want to change and keep a clean rollback path.
Java Runtime Environment 8
Java 8 remains the visible requirement for the JAR workflow and for cross-platform setups where the Windows wrapper is not the right path.
Save Wizard for PS4 only
PS4 editing is a separate workflow. Treat it as its own route instead of assuming it behaves like a normal PC install.
Backups and in-game validation
Even a simple edit is better when you check it in game before stacking more changes on top.
Install steps
Install notes by platform.
Windows, Mac, Steam Deck and PS4 do not follow the same setup path. Pick your platform and use the short checklist below.
For most Windows installations, this is the fastest route. Depending on the update, the extracted folder can include an EXE or an MSI installer.
- Download the Windows archive.
- Extract the files to an empty folder. Do not run the editor from inside the archive.
- Launch the included EXE or MSI.
- When the editor opens, point it at the save folder you actually want to use and select the most recent save.
- Make one small change first, save it, then validate it in game before you do anything more ambitious.
On Mac, start with the JAR. Put it in an easy-to-find folder and verify Java before you troubleshoot anything else.
- Download the JAR build and place it in a normal local folder you can find again easily.
- Confirm that Java is installed before you do anything more complicated.
- If double-click launch is not working, run the JAR from Terminal so runtime errors are visible instead of silent.
- Open the save you want to edit, make a narrow test change and verify the result in game.
Desktop Mode is the normal setup path here. It keeps file browsing, Java launches and save-path troubleshooting much more predictable.
- Switch to Desktop Mode before you try to set anything up.
- Download the JAR build and keep it in a folder you can reach without hunting through the filesystem.
- Use your preferred Java launch path and keep the save folder visible inside the Proton prefix instead of guessing from memory.
- Make one small test edit and confirm it in game before you treat the whole workflow as stable.
PS4 editing uses Save Wizard and follows its own transfer workflow.
- Confirm your Save Wizard workflow before you touch the editor itself.
- Move the save through the required PS4 transfer path first.
- Make one deliberate change and verify it before you write more edits back to the console save.
Antivirus and extraction note
Some antivirus programs flag EXE or MSI files as suspicious. If that happens, turn off Windows Defender or your antivirus and download the archive again. If you do not want to use compiled files, download the source code from GitHub and build it yourself.
Save file locations
Copy the correct save path.
Save location is the most common setup problem, especially on Game Pass and Steam Deck.
| Platform | Save path | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows / Steam or GOG | %AppData%\HelloGames\NMS | This is the normal PC starting point. From there, use the editor to pick the most recent save. |
| Windows / Game Pass | %LocalAppData%\Packages\HelloGames.NoMansSky_bs190hzg1sesy\SystemAppData\wgs | Some newer installs also show an xgs folder, so treat Game Pass save detection as version-sensitive. |
| Mac | ~/Library/Application Support/HelloGames/NMS | If the JAR launches but you still cannot open a save, verify both the folder and your Java runtime first. |
| Steam Deck / Linux | ~/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/275850/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Roaming/HelloGames/NMS | Desktop Mode keeps this route easier to inspect and copy correctly. |
Common install problems
If setup goes wrong, start here.
These are the problems that show up most often during the first launch.
Antivirus flagged the EXE
If Windows Defender or another antivirus blocks the archive, turn it off temporarily, download the archive again, then run the included EXE or MSI.
Open the Defender stepsThe editor cannot find my save
This is especially common with Game Pass or when the wrong folder level is selected first.
Find your save filesJava is missing or outdated
The JAR path depends on Java 8. Fix the runtime before you blame the editor itself.
Check the Java requirementI need Mac or Steam Deck notes
Mac and Steam Deck have their own setup steps. Open the platform guides if the default Windows flow does not apply.
Open platform guidesMy changes do not show in game
Check that you edited the correct save, saved the file, and are not arriving right after a game update that changed the underlying data.
Check compatibility statusI need to fix a broken quest or state
Start with the least invasive repair path, and only move to raw JSON or deep edits when a normal screen is not enough.
Fix common save issues