The Apollo Save Tool is a must-have utility for PlayStation 3 enthusiasts looking to take control of their game save data. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to import and export your PS3 game save data using this helpful tool.
What Is Apollo Save Tool?
Apollo Save Tool is a homebrew application designed specifically for the PlayStation 3. It allows users to manage game save files, trophies, and digital licenses beyond what Sony’s standard firmware permits.
Developed by bucanero, Apollo is a powerful solution for players seeking greater flexibility over their PS3 save data.
Prerequisites
Before you start importing or exporting PS3 game saves with Apollo Save Tool, you’ll need a few essential tools and setups:
- PlayStation 3 Console with Custom Firmware (CFW) or PS3HEN – Apollo Save Tool is a homebrew application, meaning it won’t work on a standard PS3. You’ll need a PS3 with Custom Firmware (CFW) or PS3HEN (Homebrew Enabler) installed. If your PS3 is still running official firmware, you’ll need to jailbreak it before proceeding.
- Apollo Save Tool Installed on Your PS3 – Download and install Apollo Save Tool from a trusted source like Brewology or GitHub, or install it via PKG file using a USB drive.
- USB Drive Formatted to FAT32 – You’ll need a USB flash drive (or external hard drive) formatted to FAT32. If your drive is formatted to NTFS or exFAT, reformat it to FAT32 using your PC before continuing.
How To Set Up Apollo Save Tool on Your PS3
Before proceeding to the following steps, you’ll need to install Apollo Save Tool on your PS3 first.
- Insert a FAT32-formatted USB drive into your PC.
- Locate the downloaded Apollo Save Tool .pkg file.
- Copy and paste the .pkg file into the root directory of the USB drive (not inside any folders).
- Eject the USB drive safely to prevent file corruption.
- Plug the USB drive into your PS3.
If you are using PS3HEN, enable it first before proceeding.
- Navigate to Package Manager on your PS3.
- Go to Install Package Files → Standard.
- Locate and select the apollo-ps3.pkg file.
- Wait for the installation to complete.
- Once installed, go to the XMB menu and launch Apollo Save Tool.
Exporting PS3 Game Saves
Here’s how to export your PS3 game saves to your USB drive:
- On your PS3, navigate to the Apollo Save Tool icon in the XMB menu.
- Press X to launch the application.
- In Apollo Save Tool’s menu, select HDD Saves.
- This will display all the game saves stored on your PS3’s internal hard drive.
- Scroll through the list and highlight the save file you want to export.
- Under the File Backup menu, you have two options:
- Copy Save Game – Copies the save directly to your USB drive.
- Export Save Game to Zip – Creates a compressed .zip backup of the save file.
- Select “Copy Save to USB 0” or “USB 1”, depending on which USB port your drive is connected to.
- USB 0 = Right USB port.
- USB 1 = Left USB port.
- Remove the USB drive from your PS3 and plug it into your PC.
- Navigate to either of the following directories:
- SAVEDATA (for raw save files).
- PS3/EXPORT/ (for .zip backups).
This backup can now be transferred to your PC, shared online, or stored safely in case you need to restore it later.
Importing PS3 Game Saves
If you want to import PS3 game saves from your PC, follow these steps.
- Insert your USB drive into your PC and open it.
- Navigate to the SAVEDATA directory on the USB drive.
- Delete any existing files in the target game’s save folder to avoid conflicts.
- Copy the desired save-game files from your PC into the corresponding game folder on the USB drive.
- Insert the USB drive into your PS3.
- Launch Apollo Save Tool from the XMB menu.
- Once inside Apollo Save Tool, select USB Saves.
- You will see a list of the save files stored on your USB drive.
- Highlight the save file you want to import.
- Under File Backup, choose Copy Save Game.
- Select Copy Save to HDD to transfer the save to your PS3’s internal storage.
- Confirm overwrite if prompted, especially if there is an existing save file for the same game.
(Optional) Resigning PS3 Game Saves
If the imported save was created on another PS3 console or under a different PSN profile, the save will not work until it is resigned to your current profile.
- Launch Apollo Save Tool on your PS3.
- Navigate to HDD Saves to view your internal save files.
- Locate the recently imported save file and select it.
- Select Apply Changes & Resign.
Once these steps are complete, your imported save file should function properly with your games, allowing you to load progress, unlock content, or resume where someone else left off.
