GBA Save Converter
Open a GBA save and download it as a raw .sav for mGBA, VBA-M or a flash cart, a RetroArch .srm, a GameShark .sps or an Action Replay .xps. GameShark SP .gsv files can be opened too. Pick a size if your emulator wants a 512 B, 8 KB, 32 KB, 64 KB or 128 KB file.
Or drop them here. They are read on this device and never uploaded.
Which GBA save formats does it convert?
A GBA cartridge saves to EEPROM, SRAM or Flash. Emulators keep that chip as a plain file. Cheat-device formats put a header in front of the same bytes.
| Format | Files | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| Raw save | .sav | mGBA, VBA-M, flash carts |
| RetroArch save | .srm | RetroArch mGBA, VBA-M and gpSP cores |
| GameShark | .sps | GameShark and Action Replay for GBA (SharkPortSave) |
| GameShark SP | .gsv (open only) | GameShark SP software |
| Action Replay | .xps | Datel Action Replay for GBA |
How to convert a GBA save
Open your save
Drop the .sav, .srm, .sps, .gsv or .xps file. For a GameShark .sps output, add the game's ROM as well: only its header is read, to name the game.
Check what was found
The converter names the format it found and lists the saves inside, with any problem it spotted in the file.
Pick the format you need
Press the button for the emulator or device you are moving the save to. The new file downloads straight away.
Copy it into place
Put the downloaded file where your emulator or device keeps its saves, using the name the game expects.
Why does an emulator say the save is the wrong size?
Some tools pad saves. A GameShark file of an 8 KB EEPROM save often holds 64 KB, with zeros after the real data. mGBA and other emulators expect the chip's true size and may ignore a padded file.
Pick the size in the Save size menu before you download. Cutting removes the end of the file; growing adds zeros. The checks confirm that a real 64 KB GameShark file cut to 8 KB matches the raw save savefileconverter.com made from it.
Other save converters
- PS1 Save Converter: Memory cards (.mcr, .mcd, .srm), PSP and Vita .VMP, DexDrive .gme, PS3 .PSV and single saves.
- PS2 Save Converter: PCSX2 .ps2 cards, EMS .psu, Action Replay .max, CodeBreaker .cbs and PS3 .PSV.
- N64 Save Converter: EEPROM, SRAM, FlashRAM and Controller Pak saves, RetroArch .srm, EverDrive 64 and DexDrive .n64.
- DS Save Converter: Raw .sav, DeSmuME .dsv and Action Replay .duc / .dss, with trimming and padding.
- GameCube Save Converter: Single .gci, GameShark .gcs and MaxDrive .sav saves, and whole Dolphin .raw cards.
- Game Boy Save Converter: GB and GBC .sav and .srm, with the MBC3 real-time clock carried across.
- SNES Save Converter: .srm and .sav for emulators and flash carts, Retron 5 saves, resizing.
- Genesis Save Converter: Gens and Kega Fusion, RetroArch Genesis Plus GX, Retrode, MiSTer and MegaSD saves.
- Saturn Save Converter: Mednafen .bkr and .bcr, Beetle Saturn, Yabause and plain memory images, plus single .BUP saves.
- Dreamcast Save Converter: VMU images, Nexus .DCI saves and .VMS with .VMI pairs.
Frequently asked questions
Is a .srm file the same as a .sav file for GBA?
Yes. RetroArch's GBA cores write the same raw bytes and name the file .srm. Renaming works when the size is right.
Does it write GameShark SP .gsv files?
No. Part of the .gsv header is not documented, so the converter opens .gsv files but does not write them.
Why does the GameShark output need the ROM?
A .sps file names the game it belongs to, with the title and checksum from the ROM header. Some emulators check that name. Only the first 192 bytes of the ROM are read, on your device.