---
title: Importing Saves
slug: importing-saves
createdAt: 2025-12-15T19:21:38.328Z
---



## Folder Structure

You can add your own saves, from the internet, friends, or emulators directly to the SD card. For **GameID** and **DisplayID** see \[[Importing for use with GameID](docId\:DPNpCe1i6GcLc5m3TU5rr)] below.

![](https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/GjVHUwar2ANCw2SNu3OTh/phwlmy_VMh9CpbGyMy8uf-20251215-203419.png "Example -- Click to zoom")

The folder structure is shown above. 

For example, if your SD card is drive `H:\` on windows, to create a new VMC  called `MySaves` the path would be:
**`H:\Dreamcast\MySaves\MySaves-1.vmu`**
or for channel 2, channel 99, etc:
**`H:\Dreamcast\MySaves\MySaves-2.vmu`**
**`H:\Dreamcast\MySaves\MySaves-99.vmu`**

The `.vmu` file must be **128kb** (131,072 bytes).

:::hint{type="danger"}
Invalid Examples:
**`H:\Dreamcast\ABC\ABC.vmu`** No channel number.
**`H:\Dreamcast\ABC\XYZ-1.vmu`** ABC and XYZ do not match.
**`H:\Dreamcast\ABC\XYZ-1.bin`** The extension should be .vmu.
:::



:::hint{type="info"}
**Q: Can I use a .vmi or .vms file?**
**A: **`.vmi` and `.vms` pairs are individual saves (as opposed to a whole memory card).
To convert them for use with the Dreamcast, open the `.vmi` or `.vms` in the **EVMU Emulator**, open the menu with the **Mode ** button, and it **Save** as a full `.vmu` with the correct folder layout. It will now be available in the \[[VMU Browser](docId\:jJmU1QOm-Kvx6ySgEfVzs)].
:::

## Importing for use with GameID

When the folder name matches the ID of the game you are playing, the VMUPro can automatically load the correct .VMC for that game.

Take for example the fictional title: **`8Bit Mods Adventures in MemcardLand`** 
With game ID: **`AB-1234-56`**

Strip any dashes and spaces from the ID leaving **`AB123456`** 
Which gives the path: **`/Dreamcast/AB123456/AB123456-1.vmu`**


:::hint{type="info"}
**Q: Are partial matches supported?**
**A:** Yes!
If there are multiple similar versions of a game, with differences in the last 2 digits, those last 2 digits may be omitted.

E.g. Two versions of a game with IDs**`AB-1234 50`** and **`AB-1234 88`** 
Both match to: **`AB-1234`**
Which would be: **`/Dreamcast/AB1234/AB1234-1.vmu`**on your microSD card.
:::

:::hint{type="info"}
**Q: Where do I find the Game ID?**
**A: **Community driven sites like **Redump** have extensive databases of all retail titles.

**kevh182 **on Github also maintains an extensive \`.csv databse.
[https://github.com/kevh182/Redump\_GameID](https://github.com/kevh182/Redump_GameID)

For third party/homebrew titles you can try launching the software to see what is created, or use third party tools to explore the disk/disk image.
:::

## Bulk Import

Trusted developer **K3zster** has created a tool to automatically identify the contents of **.VMU** or **.BIN **files and split them into the correct folder/.vmu structure for each game on the VMUPro. It is written in Python and so works cross-platform.
[https://github.com/K3zter/vmu-save-splitter](https://github.com/K3zter/vmu-save-splitter)