4DOSAV File

What are 4DOSAV files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a 4DOSAV file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your 4DOSAV files.

What is a 4DOSAV file?

A .4DOSAV file is a 4DO Saved State file.

4DO Saved State files are binary snapshots created by the 4DO emulator for the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer console. These files preserve the entire emulation state at the moment of saving - this includes CPU state, memory contents, video, audio, and any other status required to resume the exact point in a game later. They are made when the user invokes the emulator's save state feature (for example via the "Save State" command in 4DO) and allow sectioned gameplay exactly where it left off.

The emulator 4DO writes .4DOSAV files and later loads them to restore a session. Filenames follow this pattern: [GameId][GameName][SaveSlotNumber].4dosav, where SaveSlotNumber is typically a slot from 0 upward. The save states are placed in a "Saves" subfolder of the emulator's directory. These files are specific to 4DO's format and version; changing the emulator version may make older .4DOSAV files incompatible.

.4DOSAV files begin with a distinctive byte signature at offset zero: the sequence starting with bytes "01 01 97 97 40 00 00 00 03 81 50 00 87 81 50 00 CF 1E 53 00 2F 20 57 00 4F 20 57 00 5B 20 57 00 BB 41 57 00 71 4F 57 00…" in ASCII this corresponds to "....@.....P...P...S./W.OW.[W..AW.qOW…"

How to open 4DOSAV files

Important: Different programs may use files with the 4DOSAV file extension for different purposes, so unless you are sure which format your 4DOSAV file is, you may need to try a few different programs.

We have not yet verified any programs for Windows that work with this specific file format. If you know one, please use the 'Suggest a program' link below. Thanks!

Last updated: August 16, 2026

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