Getting a new Android phone is exciting — until you realize your 80-hour Pokémon Emerald save is still on the old device. The good news is that transferring saves in My Boy! is straightforward once you know where the files are and how to move them. This guide walks you through every method, from the quickest to the most thorough.

Understanding the File Types You Need to Transfer

Before you start, it helps to know what files actually store your progress:

.sav files — These are the in-game save files written by the game itself. They contain your actual game progress: story completion, Pokémon caught, items collected, etc. This is the most important file to transfer. It is also the most compatible — you can move .sav files between different emulators or even use them on a PC.

.sg1, .sg2, etc. files — These are My Boy! save state files. They capture an exact emulator memory snapshot. They are emulator-specific and version-sensitive, meaning a save state from one version of My Boy! may not load correctly in a different version.

ROM files — The actual game files (.gba extension). You will need these on your new device too, since the saves are useless without the corresponding game. You will need to transfer these yourself from your own legally owned cartridges.

Method 1: Transfer via Google Drive (Easiest)

This method works well if both phones have internet access and Google Drive installed.

On your old phone:

  1. Open a file manager app (Files by Google is recommended).
  2. Navigate to your My Boy! save folder. The default location is:
   /storage/emulated/0/MyBoy/
  1. Inside this folder you will find subfolders including saves/ (for .sav files) and states/ (for save states).
  2. Select all the files you want to transfer.
  3. Tap Share → Upload to Drive or manually copy them to a Google Drive folder.

On your new phone:

  1. Install My Boy! from the Google Play Store. See our downloads page for guidance on safe installation.
  2. Open Google Drive and download your save files.
  3. Place the .sav files into /storage/emulated/0/MyBoy/saves/.
  4. Place any .sg state files into /storage/emulated/0/MyBoy/states/.
  5. Launch My Boy!, load your ROM, and your save will be recognised automatically.

Method 2: Transfer via USB Cable (Fastest for Large Files)

If you are also moving ROM files (which can be large), a USB cable between your old phone and a PC is faster than cloud uploads.

Step 1: Connect your old Android phone to your PC via USB. Select File Transfer (MTP) mode when prompted.

Step 2: On your PC, open File Explorer and navigate to your phone’s storage:

This PC → [Your Phone] → Internal Storage → MyBoy

Step 3: Copy the entire MyBoy folder to your PC desktop.

Step 4: Connect your new phone to the PC via USB. Transfer the MyBoy folder to the same location on the new phone’s internal storage.

Step 5: Install My Boy! on the new phone and launch it. It will read the files from the expected location automatically.

Method 3: Transfer via Bluetooth (No PC or Internet Needed)

If you have both phones but no PC or internet access, Bluetooth file transfer works in a pinch.

  1. Enable Bluetooth on both devices and pair them.
  2. On your old phone, open a file manager and navigate to /storage/emulated/0/MyBoy/saves/.
  3. Select your .sav files and share them via Bluetooth.
  4. Accept the transfer on your new phone.
  5. Move the received files to the correct MyBoy folder on the new device.

Note: Bluetooth transfer is slow for large files. For ROM files, use USB or cloud instead.

Method 4: Transfer via Local Wi-Fi / Direct Share

Some Android file managers (like Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer) support local network transfer or Wi-Fi Direct. This is faster than Bluetooth and does not require a PC.

The exact steps vary by app, but the principle is the same: share the save files from the old phone’s /MyBoy/ folder and receive them on the new phone’s same folder.

Making Sure the Transfer Worked

After moving files to your new phone:

  1. Launch My Boy! and open the game you transferred saves from.
  2. Tap the menu → Load State and check if your save states appear with thumbnails.
  3. Start the game and test the in-game load option (usually from the game’s main menu).

If the in-game save loads but save states do not, it is likely a version compatibility issue with the state files. Your .sav (in-game save) data is safe — only the emulator snapshots may be affected. This is why we always recommend maintaining regular in-game saves alongside save states. See our full explanation in how to save and load states in My Boy.

Troubleshooting Common Transfer Problems

The game does not recognise my save after transfer

Check the filename. The .sav file must have exactly the same name as your ROM file (minus the extension). For example, if your ROM is named Pokemon - Emerald Version (U).gba, your save must be named Pokemon - Emerald Version (U).sav. If the names do not match, the emulator will not find the save.

Check the folder location. The save file must be in the correct folder that My Boy! looks in. Confirm the path is /storage/emulated/0/MyBoy/saves/ — if you placed it elsewhere, move it.

My save states show as empty after transfer

Save states are tied to a specific ROM and emulator version. If you updated My Boy! between your old and new phone, states from the older version may not load. Your in-game .sav file should still work perfectly — load the game fresh and use the in-game load option.

The ROM will not load on the new phone

ROM loading issues are separate from save transfer problems. If My Boy! is not recognising your ROM on the new device, see our detailed guide on how to fix My Boy APK not loading ROM files.

I lost my saves when I uninstalled My Boy!

If the save files were stored inside the app’s private data folder (rather than the shared /MyBoy/ directory), they may have been deleted when you uninstalled. Unfortunately, these cannot be recovered without a prior backup. Going forward, always check that saves are stored in /storage/emulated/0/MyBoy/ (external/shared storage) rather than inside the app’s protected folder.

How to Back Up Saves Automatically Going Forward

The best protection against losing saves is a regular backup routine. Here are a few approaches:

Manual monthly backup to Google Drive. Set a reminder once a month to copy your MyBoy/saves/ folder to Drive. Takes two minutes and protects months of progress.

Enable auto-save state on exit. In My Boy! settings, turn on Auto-save state on exit. This creates a save state every time you close the app. Combine this with cloud backup for double protection. Details on this setting are in our My Boy settings explained guide.

Always use in-game saves at proper save points. Save states are convenient but fragile. A real in-game save is always more reliable for long-term storage. See how to save and load states in My Boy for the full breakdown.

Transferring Saves for Pokémon Trading

If you are setting up a new device and want to continue a Pokémon playthrough where trading is involved, you need both the save file and the correct My Boy! setup on the new device. Once your save is transferred and the game loads correctly, trading between two devices works exactly as before. See our guide on how Pokémon trading works in My Boy for setup instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a My Boy! save on a PC emulator like VisualBoyAdvance?
Yes. The .sav file format is standard and compatible with most GBA emulators on PC, Mac, and other platforms. Save state files (.sg1, etc.) are not cross-compatible.

Does My Boy! back up saves to the cloud automatically?
No. My Boy! does not include built-in cloud sync. You need to manually back up your save files using the methods described above.

What happens to my cheats when I switch phones?
Cheat codes are stored in a separate database by My Boy!, not in the save file. You will need to re-enter your cheats on the new device. See our cheat codes setup guide to do this quickly.

Can I transfer saves from My Boy! Free to My Boy! (paid)?
Yes. The save file format is identical between both versions. Simply copy the .sav file to the same location on your device — the paid version will read it without issues. More on the differences between versions in our My Boy vs My Boy Free guide.