The “different device” error is a deliberate anti-cheat and compatibility lock in Ren’Py. While it protects save integrity, it frustrates players who legitimately transfer saves. The only reliable solutions are:
For most users, the simplest answer is: Saves are not designed to be cross-device in Ren’Py without custom patching.
The message "This save was created on a different device. Maliciously constructed save files can harm your computer..." is a security feature introduced in Ren'Py 8.1 to protect users from potential exploits hidden in shared save files. Why This Happens
Ren'Py save files use the Python pickle format, which is highly flexible but can be used to execute arbitrary code on a computer if the file is maliciously modified.
New Security Layer: To prevent "spiked" save files from running unauthorized scripts, Ren'Py now tracks where a save was created.
Trigger: If you move a save file between computers (e.g., from a phone to a PC or from a friend's device), Ren'Py detects the mismatch and asks if you trust the source. User Experience and Impact
Security: This provides a necessary warning for players who download "100% completion" saves from untrusted internet sources. renpy this save was created on a different device link
Minor Inconvenience: For users simply syncing progress between their own devices, this pop-up adds an extra step but is generally a one-time confirmation per save.
Potential Bugs: In some games with custom UIs, this prompt may appear as a blank screen if the developer hasn't updated their confirm screen to include the new security prompts (UNKNOWN_TOKEN and TRUST_TOKEN). Workarounds & Solutions
If you are confident the save file is safe (e.g., it is your own file), you can bypass or fix the warning using several methods:
Official Syncing: Use Ren'Py Sync, a built-in SDK feature that allows secure transfer of saves and persistent data via a 10-character code.
Manual Token Reset (Advanced): Users often fix this by navigating to their %appdata%/RenPy/tokens/ folder and editing the security_keys.txt file to remove specific strings under the signing and verifying keys, then setting the file to "read-only".
Engine Modification: For those with technical knowledge, modifying the Ren'Py engine file by replacing if token_dir is none: with if true: effectively disables this check. The “different device” error is a deliberate anti-cheat
"This save was created on a different device" a security notification introduced in Ren'Py 8.1 as part of a new Save Token Security Why this message appears
Ren'Py now assigns a unique "token" to save files to identify the device that created them. If you try to load a save from a different computer or a modified save file (e.g., from a save editor), Ren'Py prompts you to confirm that you trust the source.
This warning is designed to prevent "maliciously constructed save files" from potentially harming your computer. How to resolve it Depending on whether you are a , here is how to handle this: For Players: Click "Yes":
If you manually transferred the save yourself or trust the person who gave it to you, click to continue loading the file. Blank Screen Issue:
If you see a blank screen instead of a "Yes/No" prompt, the game developer likely hasn't updated their UI to include the new security prompts. You may need to wait for a game update or manually disable the protection (see below). For Developers: Update your UI: Ensure your screens.rpy includes the gui.UNKNOWN_TOKEN gui.TRUST_TOKEN Disable Save Protection:
If you want to bypass this check during development, find the initialization file and replace the line if token_dir is none: Moving Saves Between Devices For most users, the simplest answer is: Saves
If you want to move saves without encountering this error frequently, consider using the official Ren'Py Sync On the original device: "Upload Sync" in the game menu to get a 10-character code. On the new device: "Download Sync"
and enter the code to transfer your saves and persistent data. Ren'Py Sync
Not all games support Ren'Py Sync; it must be enabled by the developer using the Sync SDK. Ren'Py Sync Are you experiencing this message while playing a game developing one Ren'Py Sync
If a Ren'Py game shows the message “This save was created on a different device,” players may be blocked from loading saves across devices or after updates. Use this quick guide to explain the problem and give clear fixes for players and developers.
Tools like UnRen or rpatool can unpack the game and patch 00common.rpy to disable the check.
If you’re making a Ren’Py game and want saves to work across devices without warnings:
# In options.rpy or script.rpy
define config.use_save_token = False
This disables the device-locking mechanism entirely. Use this if:
⚠️ Warning: This does make saves more vulnerable to corruption or cheating.