Dumping Save Data

What is in your Save Data?

ACNH Save Data consists of several directories and files that hold your player(s) progress and island’s layout data. Most of the important data for save editing is within the main.dat file. However, everything in the save structure is needed in order to have a save fully working in-game!

• DirectoryACNH Save Data/

  • DirectoryPhotograph/ # Hotel photos

    • hotelroom_0.dat
    • …
    • hotelroom_7.dat
    • hotelviproom_0.dat
  • DirectoryVillager0/

    • DirectoryPhotograph/ # DLC photos

      • npc_17_0.dat
      • …
    • personal.dat
    • personalHeader.dat
    • photo_studio_island.dat
    • photo_studio_islandHeader.dat
    • postbox.dat
    • postboxHeader.dat
    • wherearen.dat
    • wherearenHeader.dat
  • landname.dat
  • main.dat # The main file to be edited by NHSE
  • mainHeader.dat

Dump Save Data on Real Hardware

Make sure your Nintendo Switch is modded and has homebrew capabilities before proceeding. Dumping Save Data requires access to the file system, which is not available on unmodded consoles.

1. Download the latest release of JKSV and copy it to your Nintendo Switch switch folder.
2. Launch JKSV on your Nintendo Switch.
3. Go down to Device and select Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
4. Choose New Backup to back up your save (leave the default name Device - 20YY-MM-DD_HH-MM-SS or name it whatever you want).
5. Go back to hekate.
6. Connect your Nintendo Switch to your PC using a USB cable.
7. Go to Tools, USB Tools, SD Card.
8. Go to sd/JKSV/Animal Crossing New Horizons, and you should find your save folder there

• Directorysd/

  • DirectoryJKSV/

    • DirectoryAnimal Crossing New Horizons/

      • DirectoryDevice - 2026-06-27_21-15-33/

        • …
      • …

Transfer Save Files from an Emulator to Real Hardware

Danger

Disclaimer: Restoring your Save Data is at your own discretion. We are not responsible if your console gets banned from online from restoring your save file. If you’re not planning to go online, use emuMMC, as this has less likelihood of getting your console banned, as long as you keep it permanently offline. Use sysMMC for online at your own risk!

Emulators like Sudachi, Suyu, Eden can follow the same steps as Yuzu. And emulators like Ryubing, KenjiNX can follow the same steps as Ryujinx.

Caution

This guide will not cover how to install or set up Yuzu or Ryujinx.

Yuzu

1. Open Yuzu and right-click on Animal Crossing: New Horizons in the game list.
2. Select Open Save Data Location.
3. In the file explorer window, go up one folder to 00000000000000000000000000000000
4. Copy the 01006F8002326000 folder
5. Paste it in your SD Card sd/JKSV/Animal Crossing New Horizons/
6. Wait for the copying process to complete.
7. Rename it to something more descriptive or easy to recognize if you want like YourIslandName Save, AnyIsle Emu Save, etc.

Ryujinx

1. Open Ryujinx and right-click Animal Crossing: New Horizons in the game list.
2. Select Open Device Save Directory.
3. In the file explorer window, go up one folder to 0000000000000001
4. Copy the 0 folder
5. Paste it in your SD Card sd/JKSV/Animal Crossing New Horizons/
6. Wait for the copying process to complete.
7. Rename it to something more descriptive or easy to recognize if you want like YourIslandName Save, AnyIsle Emu Save, etc.

• Directorysd/

  • DirectoryJKSV/

    • DirectoryAnimal Crossing New Horizons/

      • DirectoryDevice - 2026-06-27_21-15-33/

        • …
      • DirectoryAnyisle Emu Save/

        • …
      • …

Save Restore Enabled

8. Launch JKSV on your Nintendo Switch.
9. Go down to Device and select Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
10. Choose the save you want to restore to your console and press Y.
11. You will get a warning: Are you sure you really want to restore AnyIsle Emu Save?
12. Hold A for a few seconds until it starts the process.
13. Exit JKSV with +, Press Home, and Close software
14. Now Run Animal Crossing New Horizons and choose your preferred profile!

Save Restore NOT Enabled

8. Launch JKSV on your Nintendo Switch.
9. Go down to ⚙ (Gear Icon - Settings) with A.
10. Go down to Enable writing to system saves and NAND.
11. Set it to On if you want to restore your save.
12. Go back to the sidebar with B
13. Go up to Device and select Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
14. Choose the save you want to restore to your console and press Y.
15. You will get a warning: Are you sure you really want to restore AnyIsle Emu Save?
16. Hold A for a few seconds until it starts the process.
17. Exit JKSV with +, Press Home, and Close software
18. Now Run Animal Crossing New Horizons and choose your preferred profile!