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Apollo Save Tool (PS3)


Apollo Save Tool (PS3)

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Apollo Save Tool is an application to manage save-game files, trophies, and licenses on the PlayStation 3.

The apollo-ps3 homebrew app allows to download, unlock, patch and resign save-game files directly on your PS3. It can also unlock and resign trophies, backup/restore licenses, and create PS2 Classic images.


Comments, ideas, suggestions? You can contact me on Twitter and on my website.


Save Management

Trophy Management

Backup Management

PS2 Classics Management


Get the latest version here.


See the latest changes here.

Setup instructions

No special setup is needed. Just download the latest apollo-ps3.pkg package and install it on your PlayStation 3. On first run, the application will detect and setup the required user settings.

Data folders


PS3 Folder
USB saves your files must be placed on /dev_usb00x/PS3/SAVEDATA/.
HDD saves files will be scanned from /dev_hdd0/home/000000XX/savedata/, where XX is the current User ID.
HDD licenses /dev_hdd0/home/000000XX/exdata/ (*.rif)
USB licenses /dev_usb00x/exdata/ (*.rap)


PS2 Folder
USB saves /dev_usb00x/PS2/SAVEDATA/ (*.xps, *.max, *.psu, *.cbs, *.sps)
VMC cards /dev_usb00x/PS2/VMC/ (*.vmc)
VME cards /dev_usb00x/PS3/EXPORT/PS2SD/
PSV saves /dev_usb00x/PS3/EXPORT/PSV/
HDD VME cards /dev_hdd0/home/000000XX/ps2emu2_savedata/, where XX is the current User ID.
HDD VM2 cards /dev_hdd0/savedata/vmc/
HDD ISOs /dev_hdd0/PS2ISO/ (*.bin, *.iso, *.bin.enc)
USB ISOs /dev_usb00x/PS2ISO/ (*.bin, *.iso, *.bin.enc)


PS1 Folder
USB saves /dev_usb00x/PS1/SAVEDATA/ (*.mcs, *.psx)
PSV saves /dev_usb00x/PS3/EXPORT/PSV/
HDD VM1 cards /dev_hdd0/savedata/vmc/


Using the application is simple and straight-forward:


Overriding auto-detected settings

If you want to override the auto-detected IDs used by Apollo to resign the save-games, you can use the owners.xml file. For example:

<apollo version="1.2.0">
  <owner name="PS3 User">
    <console idps="AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 0123456789ABCDEF" psid="FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF 0123456789ABCDEF"/>
    <user id="00000002" account_id="0123456789abcdef"/>
  <owner name="Other User">
    <user id="00000008" account_id="abcdef0123456789"/>

The file must be saved on /dev_hdd0/game/NP0APOLLO/USRDIR/owners.xml. Apollo will load the hard-coded values when launched, and you should select the desired Owner from the Settings menu.

In the owners.xml you need to define:

Online Database

The application also provides direct access to the Apollo online database of save-game files for PlayStation 3 games. These usually offer additional features such as completed games that can save you many hours of playing.

Currently, the list of available games and files is limited, but the project aims to add more save-games shared by the community.

Note: Downloaded save files must be resigned using Apollo before loading them in your games.


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  1. Where I can get a save-game for XYZ game?

    You can check sites like, and GameFAQs. Also, searching on Google might help.

  2. I have a save-game file that I want to share. How can I upload it?

    If you have a save file that is not currently available on the Online Database and want to share it, please check this link for instructions.

  3. Why is it called Apollo?




You need to have installed:

Run make to create a release build. After that, run make pkg to create a .pkg install file.

You can also set the PS3LOAD environment variable to the PS3 IP address: export PS3LOAD=tcp:x.x.x.x. This will allow you to use make run and send apollo-ps3.self directly to the PS3Load listener.

To enable debug logging, build Apollo Save Tool with make DEBUGLOG=1. The application will send debug messages to UDP multicast address To receive them you can use socat on your computer:

$ socat udp4-recv:30000,ip-add-membership= -


Apollo Save Tool (PS3) - Copyright (C) 2020-2021 Damian Parrino
