star citizen user folder

Young Esse Change

3 min read

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30-12-2024

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The Star Citizen user folder is a crucial directory containing all your game settings, saved configurations, and personal files. Understanding its location and contents is essential for troubleshooting issues, managing your game experience, and backing up your valuable progress. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of the Star Citizen user folder, its contents, and how to manage it effectively.

Locating Your Star Citizen User Folder

The location of your Star Citizen user folder depends on your operating system:

Windows:

• The default location is typically: %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\StarCitizen
• You can quickly access this by typing %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\StarCitizen directly into the Windows file explorer address bar.

macOS:

• Star Citizen's user folder on macOS resides within your user's Application Support folder. The precise path is: ~/Library/Application Support/Roberts Space Industries/StarCitizen
  • Note: The Library folder is hidden by default. To access it, open Finder, go to "Go" in the menu bar, hold down the Option key, and select "Library".

Linux:

• The location varies significantly depending on your distribution and user configuration. Check your game installation directory for a subfolder typically named "StarCitizen".

Contents of the Star Citizen User Folder

The Star Citizen user folder contains a variety of subfolders and files. Key elements include:

1. PUBLIC Folder:

• This folder contains files shared by all users of the game on a particular system.

2. OPTIONS Folder:

• This folder holds game configuration files. Modifying these files can change various aspects of your game experience (graphics settings, keybindings, etc.). Proceed with caution as incorrect modifications can lead to issues.

3. USER Folder:

• This is where your personal game data resides. This includes:
  • Saved Games: Contains your character profiles, ship configurations, and mission progress. Regular backups of this folder are strongly recommended. Loss of this data means losing your entire gameplay progress.
  • Settings: Contains your personal game settings. These can sometimes be corrupted, causing issues with the game.
  • Cache: Temporary files that assist game performance. Deleting the contents of this folder can sometimes resolve graphical or performance issues, but the game will rebuild it upon relaunch.

4. Other Files and Folders:

• You might find additional files and folders related to specific game updates, patches, or modules.

Managing Your Star Citizen User Folder

Effective management of your Star Citizen user folder is crucial for maintaining a smooth gameplay experience and safeguarding your progress:

1. Backing Up Your Data:

• Regularly back up your USER folder, especially the Saved Games subfolder. This is paramount to avoid losing your progress. Use a cloud storage service (like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive) or an external hard drive for safekeeping.

2. Troubleshooting:

• If you experience issues within the game, deleting the contents of the Cache folder can sometimes resolve problems. The game will rebuild the cache upon relaunch. This is often recommended as a first troubleshooting step when encountering glitches.
• If problems persist, attempting a clean installation of the game may also resolve issues. This should be your last resort after all other options have been exhausted. Note that this will not remove your saved game data.

3. Customizing Settings:

• The OPTIONS folder contains various configuration files. However, be extremely careful when modifying these files directly. Incorrect changes can lead to game instability or corruption. It's generally advisable to adjust settings through the in-game menus.

Conclusion

Understanding the Star Citizen user folder's location and contents empowers you to manage your game experience effectively. Regularly backing up your data, especially your saved games, is crucial to protect your progress. By following the advice in this guide, you can avoid many potential issues and keep your Star Citizen journey running smoothly. Remember to always proceed with caution when making changes to the contents of this important folder.