Roguelike DeckbuilderEngine: LÖVE2D (Lua)Difficulty: Moderate2026.08.25

Balatro Save File Location & Editing Guide (.jkr Zlib JSON)

Find your Balatro save files on PC/Steam Deck, decompress .jkr files, and safely modify money, deck unlocks, and joker discoveries.

SaveLab Editorial TeamOfficial Specs VerifiedReviewed 2026.08.25

File Structure & Integrity SpecsZlib Compressed JSON · Zlib Compressed JSON

Key Files: profile.jkr, meta.jkr, save.jkr

Summary

Save File Characteristics

Balatro saves are zlib-compressed JSON packages with the .jkr extension. SaveLab decompresses them in real-time within your browser.

Proprietary .jkr extension wrapping a standard zlib compressed JSON payload.

Press Windows + R, copy and paste the path below to jump straight to the save directory.

Windows (Steam)

%appdata%\Balatro\Paste into Run prompt

Steam Deck (Proton)

~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/2379780/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Roaming/Balatro/

Search for these tags in your editor or SaveLab's structured tree view to modify values safely.

Attribute	Key / XML Tag	Description	Safe Recommended Max
Run Dollars	`dollars`	Current run cash balance	`99999`
Discards Remaining	`discards`	Remaining discards for the round	`99`
Hands Remaining	`hands`	Remaining plays for the round	`99`

Quit Balatro.
Press Win + R, enter %appdata%\Balatro and locate your numbered profile folder (e.g. '1').
Make a copy of save.jkr and profile.jkr before touching them.
Drop the .jkr file into SaveLab — it automatically handles decompression into an editable JSON tree.
Edit your desired keys and download the repackaged .jkr file.

FAQ

Why does opening .jkr in Notepad display random gibberish?

Because Balatro stores files in raw zlib compressed streams. SaveLab decompresses and parses them natively.

How do I unlock all decks and jokers?

Edit profile.jkr (not save.jkr) and toggle discovery flags or set 'all_unlocked' to true.