The warning message " This save was created on a different device a built-in security feature of the Ren'Py engine
. It warns users because save files are technically executable Python code (pickled data), and malicious files could harm a computer. If you are a developer looking to provide a "proper feature" to solve this for your players, you should implement Ren'Py Sync or official Cloud Saves 1. The Official Solution: Ren'Py Sync Ren'Py 8.1+ includes a native feature called Ren'Py Sync
designed specifically for this purpose. It allows players to move saves between devices (like PC to Android) without manually copying files or triggering security warnings. Ren'Py Sync How it works for the player: old device , they click "Upload Sync" in the Save/Load menu to get a 10-character code. new device , they click "Download Sync" and enter that code. How to implement it:
Ensure you are using a recent version of Ren'Py (8.1 or later). Include the renpy_sync module in your project. Add the sync buttons to your screen load screen save screens.rpy The sync server is provided for free by the Ren'Py Project , though data typically expires after 24 hours. Ren'Py Sync 2. The Platform Solution: Steam Cloud If you are publishing on , the best "proper feature" is Steam Auto-Cloud
In your Steamworks dashboard, set up a cloud path pointing to your config.save_directory On Windows, this is usually %APPDATA%/RenPy/
Saves sync automatically in the background whenever a player switches between their PC and Steam Deck. 3. For Advanced Players (Manual Fix)
If you just want to get past the error yourself, you can "trust" the save: When the warning appears, select to trust the creator. Once loaded,
the game into a new slot on the current device. This generates a new security token valid for the local machine, and the warning won't appear for that new save. screens.rpy code to add these sync buttons to your game's menu?
This is a common issue with games when moving save files between different operating systems or versions of the game engine. Why it happens Persistent Data Mismatch:
Ren'Py stores some information in a "persistent" file and other data in individual "save" files [2, 5]. If you move a save file but not the persistent data, the game sees a discrepancy in the engine version internal script headers Ren'Py Version Updates:
If the developer updated the game to a newer version of the Ren'Py engine between your two play sessions, the old save may be technically incompatible with the new engine's "pickling" (data saving) process [2, 4]. Steam Cloud Conflicts:
If playing via Steam, the cloud might have synced a save from a different OS (e.g., Mac to Windows), which occasionally causes pathing errors within the save metadata [3]. How to fix it Force Load: Most of the time, you can simply click
or "Proceed" when the warning pops up. Ren'Py is generally good at reconstructing the state, though you might see minor glitches or missing images for one or two frames [1, 4]. Sync Persistent Data: If you are manually moving files, ensure you copy the persistent file located in the /game/saves/ folder or the %APPDATA%/RenPy/ directory alongside your files [2, 5]. Check Game Version:
Ensure both "devices" are running the exact same version of the game. If one is an older build, the save headers won't match [4]. Are you trying to transfer a save between a PC and a phone, or did this happen after a game update renpy this save was created on a different device link
This message is part of a Save Token Security system introduced in Ren'Py 8.1. It is a security feature designed to protect your computer from malicious save files when you transfer progress from a different device. How to Resolve the Message When you see this prompt, you generally have two choices:
Trust the Save: If you created the save yourself on a different device or trust the creator, you can select "Yes" to proceed with loading.
Create a Fresh Save: To stop seeing the message for that specific progress, load the save (by clicking "Yes"), then immediately save the game again in a new slot. This generates a new security token linked to your current device. Why You Are Seeing It
Device Transfer: You moved a save file from one computer/phone to another.
Cloud Sync: You are using a cloud service (like Steam Cloud or a manual sync) that downloaded a save created on another machine.
Edited Saves: If you used an online save editor, the resulting file will lack the security token for your specific device. For Developers
If you are developing a game and this message appears as a blank screen or causes an error, your custom confirm screen might be missing the necessary logic to handle these specific prompts. You need to ensure your UI can display the UNKNOWN_TOKEN and TRUST_TOKEN messages. Linking Saves Across Devices
If you want to sync your saves officially without manual file moving, look for the Ren'Py Sync feature in the game's menu if the developer has enabled it:
On Device A: Go to the Save menu and select Upload Sync to get a 10-character code.
On Device B: Go to the Load menu, select Download Sync, and enter that code. Note: This sync typically only lasts for 24 hours.
Are you trying to manually move files between specific platforms, like Android to PC?
When you see the message "This save was created on a different device," it is due to a security feature in Ren'Py 8.1+ called the Save Token Security system. This system flags saves moved between computers to prevent potentially malicious files from harming your device. How to Fix the "Save Created on Different Device" Error
Depending on whether you just want to play or if you are seeing a blank screen, follow these steps: The warning message " This save was created
Standard Prompt: Simply click "Yes" if the game asks if you trust the device or the save's creator.
Fixing a Blank Screen: If your screen goes blank when trying to load, the game's code might be missing the required "Yes/No" prompts for this security check. Developers must update their confirm screen in the game's code to support these new security messages. Manual Workarounds
If you cannot click "Yes" or want to bypass the security check entirely, you can try these methods found on community forums like Reddit and Lemma Soft Forums: Clear Security Tokens (PC):
Navigate to your game's saves folder, typically found in %AppData%\RenPy\GameName. Find the tokens folder and open the security_keys.txt file.
Delete the strings under signing-key and verifying-key, then save the file as Read-Only before restarting the game. Modify Engine Logic (Advanced):
Locate the renpy file within your Ren'Py installation folder.
Open it with a text editor and find the line: if token_dir is none:.
Change it to if true: to force the engine to ignore save protection. Official Sync Feature
For games that support it, you can use the official Ren'Py Sync SDK to transfer data without manual file moving:
On Device A: Select "Upload Sync" to get a 10-character code.
On Device B: Select "Download Sync" and enter the code to automatically download your saves.
Are you experiencing a blank screen when loading, or are you just looking for the file path to move the saves manually?
Ren'Py identifies "devices" (or distinct installations) using this unique string ID. Why is this happening
Inside the game's specific folder, you will find a file named persistent (no extension). This binary file contains the unique key for that game on that device. Copy this file.
If you are an avid visual novel gamer or a developer testing builds across multiple machines, you have likely encountered a frustrating roadblock. You copy your saves folder from your laptop to your desktop, or from an Android device to a PC, only to be greeted by the ominous gray text:
"This save was created on a different device. Locked."
For many users, this seems like a deliberate anti-piracy measure. In reality, it is a security and data integrity feature built into the Ren’Py engine. This article explains why this happens, and more importantly, provides the definitive guide to creating a "Ren'Py this save was created on a different device link" —essentially, how to bridge the gap between two different installations so your saves work everywhere.
Ren'Py provides a compatibility layer that allows you to load save files created on different devices or platforms. You can enable this layer by adding the following code to your game/script.rpy file:
init python:
config.savedir = 'savedata'
This code sets the save directory to savedata, which allows Ren'Py to load save files from different devices or platforms.
Ren’Py generates a unique device-specific identifier (based on hardware, OS, and Ren’Py version) and embeds it into each save file. When loading, the engine compares the save’s device ID with the current device’s ID. If they differ, the error appears.
Common causes:
In recent Ren’Py versions, the error message ends with the word "link". That’s because the system now shows a clickable [link] that opens a confirmation screen.
Example message:
"This save was created on a different device. Loading it may not work correctly. [link]"
Click the link, and Ren’Py will ask if you want to force-load the save anyway.
Ren’Py ties saves to a unique device identifier (generated when the game first runs).
If you copy save files from another computer/phone/Steam Deck, the game sees the mismatch and blocks loading — unless the developer enabled multi-device support.