Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
The ten questions the community has been asking for a decade — answered from the author's GitHub issues and verified threads.
Safety
Where do I download it safely — and why does my antivirus complain?
From the verified release: the file bl2_saveedit_1.0.46.zip, not “Source code”. Antivirus and VirusTotal flags are false positives — the author explained in issue #144 that the outgoing connections are standard .NET calls to Microsoft certificate servers. Safe download guide →
Will I get banned? Is this even allowed?
Borderlands 2 has no VAC and no anti-cheat — editing single-player saves carries no ban risk. Community etiquette: don't bring obviously modded gear into random online lobbies.
Errors
“Failed to load save: reencode mismatch” — what do I do?
Corrupted download or an outdated build. Delete the folder, re-download 1.0.46 from GitHub into a clean folder. The most-discussed issue in the repo (#21 plus six duplicates). Full fix →
“invalid SHA1 hash” on a console save
The save is encrypted. Decrypt/resign it first with an external tool (Bruteforce Save Data, Save Wizard, PS3 Game Resigner), then open it in Gibbed with the correct platform selected, and re-encrypt after editing.
I downloaded it but it won't launch
Most often the “Source code” archive was downloaded instead of the release ZIP. Also: .NET Framework 4.5+ is required, run as administrator, extract the full archive into an empty folder, and don't mix the BL2 and Pre-Sequel editors in one folder.
My edits don't show up / the game resets my level and skills
The game's sanity check (issue #77) reverts inconsistent levels, XP and skill points on load. Keep the values consistent, and don't add items from DLC you don't own.
Usage
Where are my BL2 saves on PC?
C:\Users\<you>\Documents\My Games\Borderlands 2\WillowGame\SaveData\ — same path for Steam and Epic. Back up the folder and close the game before editing. Details →
Does it work with Epic Games / cross-platform saves?
Epic saves use the same folder and the PC format — select platform PC. Console saves (PS4/Switch/PS5) must be decrypted externally first.
Can I edit Badass Rank?
Not with this editor — Badass Rank lives in profile.bin, not the character save. You need a separate profile editor.
Alternatives
Are there working alternatives or companion tools?
CLI tools by pclifford / apocalyptech (Python, BL2 + TPS), a community fork for the standalone Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep, and a Switch fork. For consoles: Bruteforce Save Data and Save Wizard. WillowTree no longer works with BL2. None of these are Gibbed's own tools — I always label them as community forks.
Sources I used
These answers come straight from the author's GitHub issues (the antivirus explanation is issue #144, the sanity-check revert is #77, the reencode mismatch is #21), plus verified community threads on Steam, Se7enSins and the Gearbox forums. Each detailed page has its own sources note. Checked June 2026.