---
title: "Connect your first save"
description: "Let the Companion find a Stellaris campaign or import a save manually."
---

> Stellaris Companion documentation
> Complete index: https://galacticfilingcabinet.com/llms.txt

# Connect your first save

On first launch, Stellaris Companion looks in the standard local and cloud save folders for your operating system.

## Automatic discovery

1. Start or load a campaign in Stellaris.
2. Create a fresh save.
3. Open Stellaris Companion and select the campaign when it appears.
4. Confirm that the latest in-game date and empire name look right.

If the campaign does not appear, use manual import and select a `.sav` file. The Companion reads a local copy into its archive; it does not modify the original save.

## Verify the archive

Move forward in the campaign, save again, and check that the archive gains a new snapshot. That history is what lets the Companion distinguish a current condition from a developing trend.

Next, [ask your first question](/docs/start-here/ask-your-first-question).

Source: https://galacticfilingcabinet.com/docs/start-here/connect-your-first-save/index.mdx