Visual Novel Wiki

Appearance

Syncthing ​

Syncthing syncs your non-Steam Visual Novel save files between your Steam Deck and PC.

Setup Overview

We are setting up Syncthing on:

  1. Your Steam Deck
  2. Your PC

Steam Deck Setup ​

1. Install Decky Loader ​

Decky Loader lets you install custom plugins on the Steam Deck.
Get it here: Decky Loader

2. Install the Syncthing Plugin ​

Install the Syncthing Plugin via Decky Loader.
Follow the GitHub page for the latest installation steps.
When it asks to use a port put 8384. Not 8081 like the instructions say.

3. Open Syncthing Web UI ​

  • Set the Syncthing UI port to 8384. This can be changed if needed in /home/deck/.var/app/me.kozec.syncthingtk/config/syncthing/config.xml
  • In Desktop Mode, open a browser and visit http://127.0.0.1:8384 to access the interface.

4. Create a Sync Folder ​

Create a folder to hold all your save files, e.g., ~/Documents/game_savedata.

5. Add the Folder to Syncthing ​

  • In the Syncthing UI, click + Add Folder and select your sync folder.
  • adding_save_folder_to_syncthing_UI
  • (Recommended) Under Advanced, set Full Rescan Interval to 10 seconds for faster syncing.

6. Organize Your Saves ​

Inside game_savedata, create one folder per game, e.g., SakuraMusubi.

7. Find Your Game’s Save Location ​

Typical locations include:

  • The game’s own folder
  • Proton prefix roaming directory:
    ~/wine_prefixes/protonge/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Roaming/
  • Documents folder inside prefix:
    ~/wine_prefixes/protonge/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents

TIP

Generally, saves are within the drive_c folder of the wineprefix you used to run the game.

8. Replace Original Saves with Symlinks ​

This step makes your game use the save files from your new Syncthing folder.

We'll move the actual save files to the new Savething folder, then create a "smart shortcut" (a symbolic link) so the game can still find them.

  1. Move Save Files to Syncthing Folder:
    • Locate your game's original save file/folder (from Step 7).
    • Make a backup of your save folder in a zip just in case.
    • Move this entire save file/folder into the corresponding subfolder within your main game_savedata directory.
      • Example: If saves are in .../AppData/Roaming/GameName/Saves/, move the Saves folder to ~/Documents/game_savedata/GameName/Saves/.
      • Note: GameName in ~/Documents/game_savedata/GameName/Saves/ is to make make it easier to recognize. You should only move the last folder that contains your save files, not the entire tree of folders.
  2. Delete the Original Save Folder:
    • Go back to the game's original save location.
    • Make sure the original folder with the savedata doesn't exist.
  3. Create the Symbolic Link ("Smart Shortcut"):
    • Open Konsole (the terminal application in Desktop Mode).
    • Use the ln -s command. This command creates a link at the game's original save location that points to the new location of your saves (inside the Syncthing folder).
      bash
      # Command structure:
# ln -s "SYNC_SAVE_PATH" "ORIG_SAVE_PATH"
# Example:
ln -s "/home/deck/Documents/game_savedata/SakuraMusubi/save_data" "/path/to/original/game/save_location/SakuraMusubi/save_data"
    • SYNC_SAVE_PATH: The full path to where your save files now actually live (e.g., "/home/deck/Documents/game_savedata/SakuraMusubi/save_data").
    • ORIG_SAVE_PATH: The full, exact path where the game used to keep its saves, and where the link will now be placed (e.g., "/home/deck/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/12345/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Roaming/SakuraMusubi/save_data").

Symbolic link in file manager or terminal output

NOTE

Syncthing does not sync symbolic links.

9. Test Your Game ​

Launch the game to make sure it reads your saves correctly.

Decky Plugin

You can monitor your sync status directly from Decky’s interface.

Add More Games

Repeat steps 6 to 9 for any additional games.

Syncthing Daemon not running

If you issues with decky plugin or syncthing-gtk stops conecting to the daemon: Go to /home/deck/.var/app/me.kozec.syncthingtk/config/syncthing/ open config.xml In a text editor and look for the address with a port (Probably 8080 or 8081), and change it 8384 like 127.0.0.1:8384. Restart the daemon trhough syncthing-gtk interface. If now starts working correctly return to Gaming Mode, go to decky -> syncthing > Settings > Syncthing Port and change it to 8384 After one update the Steam Deck put the CEF Remote Debugging page on port 8081 making syncthing stop working.

PC Setup ​

  1. Install Syncthing
    Download and install Syncthing from syncthing.net on your PC.

  2. Open Syncthing GUI
    Usually available at: http://127.0.0.1:8384/.

  3. Connect Your PC to Steam Deck

    • Add your Steam Deck as a remote device.
    • Share the game_savedata folder with it.

  4. Setup Save Sync on PC
    Like on the Steam Deck, move your save files into the synced folder and create symlinks back to their original locations. On Windows, use mklink to create symlinks.

Optional: Use a Cloud Server (VPS, NAS...)

For more robust syncing, especially if your PC and Steam Deck aren't always on at the same time, you can set up Syncthing on an "always-on" device like a Virtual Private Server (VPS), a Raspberry Pi, or a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device.

  1. Install Syncthing on this central server.
  2. Add your Steam Deck and PC as remote devices to this server (and vice-versa).
  3. Share the game_savedata folder from one device (e.g., Steam Deck) to the central server.
  4. Then, share the same folder from the central server to your other device (e.g., PC).

This configuration allows devices to sync through the central server even if they can't see each other directly online at the same moment.

Always Wait for Sync!

Before switching between your Steam Deck and PC, or before shutting down either device:

  • Always ensure Syncthing has finished syncing all changes. Check the Syncthing Web UI on both devices (or the Decky Plugin on the Steam Deck). The folder status should show "Up to Date" and there should be no pending transfers.
  • Failure to wait can lead to sync conflicts (where Syncthing doesn't know which version of a file is correct), data loss, or corrupted save files.

Contributors

The avatar of contributor named as uni uniThe avatar of contributor named as moogul moogul

Changelog