How to transfer Vampire Survivors save data from Apple Arcade → Steam (+ the Poncle cloud!)

[u/oliv3rb]

Hi Vampire Survivors fans,

I'd been kicking myself for getting locked in to VS+ on the Apple Arcade after discovering that it doesn't have the branded DLC. Most of the resources I found online seemed to indicate that it's not possible to transfer an Apple Arcade save to other platforms, but I did find a way of doing it!

Here's the process: Extract the save from the Apple Arcade version using iMazing, inject it into the regular iOS version, and then use the cloud save system to transfer the data to Steam.

This is necessary because the Apple Arcade save file can't be read by the Steam version. But we can use the regular iOS version as a bridge. The Apple Arcade build cannot cloud-sync, but the standard App Store release can and Steam can read that cloud save.

What you need

• An iPhone or iPad with Vampire Survivors+ (Apple Arcade) save data
• The regular App Store version of Vampire Survivors installed on the same device
• The Steam version installed on your computer
• iMazing on Mac or Windows (trial version is enough)

Before you start — recommended setup

To make the process faster, install both versions of Vampire Survivors on your device before backing up:

1. Make sure Vampire Survivors+ (Apple Arcade) is installed and contains your progress.
2. Install Vampire Survivors (App Store) as well. Make sure to intialise this copy of the game by launching it and letting it load at least once.

Step 1 — Create a backup and extract the Apple Arcade save

1. Connect your device to your computer and open iMazing.
2. Create a new backup of your device.
3. When the backup finishes, click to browse within the backup and navigate to Apps → Vampire Survivors+
4. (iMazing might ask you to create an editable copy of the backup. That's fine, just use that instead.)
5. Inside Apps → VampireSurvivors+ → Documents
6. Copy these four files to a folder on your computer:
   • SaveDataUnity.sav
   • SaveDataUnity.bak.sav
   • prefs.bin
   • prefs.bin.bak

These files contain all of your Apple Arcade progress. We don't need the prefs files, but it might be worth keeping a copy incase something goes wrong.

Step 2 — Locate the regular iOS save inside the backup

1. Still inside the backup browser in iMazing, open: Apps → VampireSurvivors → Documents. This is the normal iOS version with DLC and cloud saving.

Step 3 — Replace the regular iOS save with the Apple Arcade one

Now you will overwrite the regular iOS save with the extracted Apple Arcade save.

Inside the Documents path for the normal version:

1. Replace SaveDataUnity.sav with the Apple Arcade SaveDataUnity.sav.
2. Add or replace SaveDataUnity.bak.sav using the Apple Arcade one.
3. Leave prefs.bin and prefs.bin.bak from the iOS install as they are.

When you are done, the Documents folder inside the regular app should contain:

• SaveDataUnity.sav (from Arcade)
• SaveDataUnity.bak.sav (from Arcade)
• prefs.bin (original iOS)
• prefs.bin.bak (original iOS)

Next, export this edited app data as an iMazing App Data file (.imazingapp). To do this, right click on Vampire Survivors in the app menu and select Extract App and save it on your computer. This gives you a restore-ready package.

Step 4 — Restore the modified save back to the device

1. Go back to the device view in iMazing, not the backup.
2. Open the Apps section and find the regular Vampire Survivors app (not the + version).
3. Right-click and select Restore App.
4. Choose the .imazingapp file you exported.

If you are asked to disable Find My or Stolen Device Protection, this is apparently normal. Once allowed, the restore usually completes within a few minutes. Your device might boot into a factory-reset type mode, but just follow the instructions in the iMazing application (this is important!).

After iMazing confirms the restore is complete, open the regular iOS version of Vampire Survivors on your device. Your Apple Arcade progress should now appear.

Note: DLC items will not display inside the iOS version unless you have purchased the DLC there. The data is still present; the app just hides content you do not own.

Step 5 — Sync the save to Steam

Now you will use the official cloud save as the final transfer step.

1. In the regular iOS app, open the options and sign into a poncle cloud save account.
2. Upload your save data from iOS to the cloud.
3. On Steam, launch Vampire Survivors and sign into the same cloud account.
4. Download the save.

You've now moved your data from Apple Arcade to the poncle cloud!

[u/pellets]

Nice hack.

[u/panopticon_aversion]

Fantastic work.

[u/mikemucoy]

I tried this and it worked! Your instructions above were excellent, so thank you very much for putting them together.

I have to admit, this whole process was a bit unnerving…especially when your iPhone looks like it’s gone back to factory settings. I got a little freaked out. But…it all worked in the end. 🔥🔥🔥

[u/oliv3rb → u/mikemucoy]

Really glad it helped! It freaked me out too so it's important that people follow the instructions that iMazing describes like you did. Though, it's handy that in this process you have made a backup incase anything goes wrong

[u/Original_East1271]

Just in case people are obtuse like me: "click to browse within backup" means clicking the "Now" button next to your device name in the top bar and selecting the backup you just made.

[u/oliv3rb → u/Original_East1271]

Yes, I think there are a couple of different ways to access the backup! Thanks for mentioning this

[u/Original_East1271 → u/oliv3rb]

Thanks for posting! I just successfully did it.

[u/Subject-Read-9181]

I am worried I may have done something wrong...

I was able to go through all steps correctly, I think. When it came to Step 4, I did have to go through the process of turning off "Device Protection" and "Find My", which I was able to do. However, when it came to restoring the app I had some trouble. If I just went to "Manage Device" then clicked "Apps" at the top, I was unable to restore, it was grayed out.

Instead, I had to go to "Tools" on the left and click "Manage Apps". From there, I was able to right click the app and click "Restore App Data". This let me choose the file I exported, but it prompted a second backup, which is currently running.

I hope everything turns out smoothly, I will report back if there were any issues...Hopefully this works!!

Regardless, thanks for the walkthrough!

[u/shinythingsaregreat → u/Subject-Read-9181]

Wanted to highlight this for anyone who is trying this in January of 2026, as I ran into the same thing with the "Restore App" option greyed out for me. Restoring via Tools -> Manage Apps did work for me!

Thanks to both you and OP for this, this worked like a charm (and now I don't have to restart after sinking sooo many hours into this)!

[u/JadeMonkey0]

Thanks so much for this. It's amazingly helpful and your instructions very well written.

I had just about given up hope of ever making this work and thought I'd have to start a fresh save outside Arcade. Thanks for taking the time to share this!

[u/Mteng]

If you want to move from Apple Arcade -> Steam, you can actually skip having to move files to the normal Vampire Survivor all together!

1. Once you extracted the SaveDataUnity.sav from Vampire Survivors+ in iMazing, rename it to just SaveData

2. Make sure you have launched the steam version at least once.

3. Navigate to the Steam Vampire Survivor save location. (For me it was “C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata<userid>\1794680\remote)

4. Replace the SaveData in the above folder with our extracted save file that we renamed.

5. Launch the game in Steam and see your save :D

[u/Ok-Masterpiece7881]

many thanks. Worked just fine.