Application directory/Changing the save directory

By default the save location is at this path:

• Windows (Zip file): <install directory>\saves
• Windows (Installer): C:\Users\<username>\AppData\factorio\saves
• OSX: ~/Library/"Application Support"/factorio/saves
• Linux: ~/.factorio/saves

To store just your saves in something like Dropbox, do the following while the game isn't running:

1. Move your saves to the new location
2. Remove the existing saves directory
3. Make a symlink to the new saves directory

For our examples I'll assume I've created a directory in my Dropbox named factorio and created another directory inside that called saves:

• Windows: D:\Dropbox\factorio\saves
• OSX: ~/Dropbox/factorio/saves

Windows:

1. Open a command prompt as administrator: Start Menu->All Programs->Accessories->Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as Administrator
2. Change to the factorio directory: cd \<install directory> or cd \Users\<username>\AppData\factorio
3. Make the link: mklink /D saves D:\Dropbox\factorio\saves
4. If done correctly, should look like this: 05/06/2014 07:57 PM <SYMLINKD> saves [d:\Dropbox\factorio\saves]

OSX:

1. Open Terminal
2. Change to the directory: cd ~/Library/"Application Support"/factorio/"
3. Create the symlink: ln -s ~/Dropbox/factorio/saves
4. If done correctly, ls -alF should show something like: lrwxr-xr-x 1 username staff 37 May 6 17:40 saves -> /Users/username/Dropbox/factorio/saves

Don't load the same save on two different computers at the same time

Dropbox will generate a sync error and create alternate files, other sync programs may have different behaviors.