Open the community-reported saves folder
The Find The Needle save file location reported by Windows players is %APPDATA%\Godot\app_userdata\Haystack Incremental\saves. Press Windows+R, paste that path into Run, and press Enter to open it. This shortcut matters because the reported directory uses Haystack Incremental rather than the title you might search for in Steam's installation folder.
The path comes from the September 29–30 Steam Community Game Saves discussion. It is a community report for the demo/beta context, not a personal filesystem test or a developer guarantee covering every platform and future build.
Use the Windows shortcut without substituting a username
The thread first points players to the roaming AppData directory under their Windows user account, then supplies the direct Run shortcut to the saves subfolder. Using %APPDATA% avoids manually typing the drive letter and account name.
Follow these steps:
- Press Windows+R to open Run.
- Enter
%APPDATA%\Godot\app_userdata\Haystack Incremental\saves. - Press Enter and inspect the folder that opens.
The shortcut uses your current Windows account. If it does not open, check the spelling, spaces, and account before assuming your progress has been deleted. You can also open %APPDATA%\Godot\app_userdata\Haystack Incremental and look for its saves subfolder.
The supplied discussion does not establish a complete list of filenames or a slot-to-file naming scheme. Identify what actually exists in your directory rather than renaming files to match an invented example.
Keep a separate copy before changing files
Once you find your actual saves directory, a straightforward precaution is to close the game and copy the folder to a separate backup location before editing or replacing anything. Give the backup a date or another clear label so it is distinguishable from the working folder.
That is file-preservation advice, not proof of an official import feature. Keeping the original directory intact also gives you a reference if a later experiment produces a different result than expected.
The community thread begins with a question about duplicating or transferring progress, but the replies establish a location rather than a complete, verified transfer procedure. A folder path alone does not prove how every save slot behaves or whether another build accepts its contents.
Keep demo backups separate from release compatibility
As checked November 3, 2026, the official Find The Needle Steam page lists Early Access as planned for November 6. The supplied evidence does not confirm that demo saves will transfer into that release.
Label backups with the game version or demo context when you know it. If you later investigate migration, keep the original backup separate rather than overwriting it with files from a newer build. The same source also does not establish Linux, Steam Deck, or macOS save paths; the reported %APPDATA% route is Windows-specific.
FAQ
What is the reported Windows save path?
Community players give %APPDATA%\Godot\app_userdata\Haystack Incremental\saves, with Windows+R as the shortcut to open it.
Why does the folder say Haystack Incremental?
That is the directory name supplied in the community discussion. Its presence in the path does not mean you need to rename it to Find The Needle.
What is the exact save filename?
The selected discussion does not establish a verified filename list. Inspect your own saves directory and preserve its contents before making changes.
Will my demo save work in the full game?
The supplied material does not confirm demo-to-main-game compatibility. Finding and backing up the folder is separate from proving a transfer works.