diff --git a/files/utils.cc b/files/utils.cc
index 764f95105..e39cfce35 100644
--- a/files/utils.cc
+++ b/files/utils.cc
@@ -792,9 +792,14 @@ void setup_data_dir(const std::string& data_path, const char* runpath) {
 	if (is_system_path_defined("<BUNDLE>")) {
 		// We have the flxfiles in the bundle, so lets use it.
 		// But lets use <DATA> in the iTunes file sharing.
-		string path(IOSGetDocumentsDir());
+		bool has_data = false;
+		string path(IOSGetDocumentsDir(&has_data));
 		path += "/data";
 		add_system_path("<DATA>", path);
+		if(!has_data) {
+			string source_data_dir = "./data/game";
+			copy_data_to_documents_dir(source_data_dir.c_str());
+		}
 		return;
 	}
 #endif
diff --git a/ios/include/ios_utils.h b/ios/include/ios_utils.h
index c6dca6b62..6093e332c 100644
--- a/ios/include/ios_utils.h
+++ b/ios/include/ios_utils.h
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ class TouchUI_iOS : public TouchUI {
 	void onDpadLocationChanged() final;
 };
 
-const char* IOSGetDocumentsDir();
+const char* IOSGetDocumentsDir(bool * = NULL);
+void copy_data_to_documents_dir(const char *);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/ios/ios_utils.mm b/ios/ios_utils.mm
index d18e3db96..0241d9197 100644
--- a/ios/ios_utils.mm
+++ b/ios/ios_utils.mm
@@ -274,15 +274,45 @@ - (void)hideButtonControls {
 
 /* ---------------------------------------------------------------------- */
 
-const char* IOSGetDocumentsDir() {
+const char* IOSGetDocumentsDir(bool * hasData) {
+	NSString *docDirectory = nil;
 	if (gDocsDir[0] == 0) {
 		NSArray* paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(
 				NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
-		NSString* docDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
+		docDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
 		strcpy(gDocsDir, docDirectory.UTF8String);
 		printf("Documents: %s\n", gDocsDir);
 		// chdir(gDocsDir);
 		// *strncpy(gDocsDir, , sizeof(gDocsDir) - 1) = 0;
 	}
+	if (hasData) {
+		if(!docDirectory) {
+			NSArray *paths = NSSearchPathForDirectoriesInDomains(NSDocumentDirectory, NSUserDomainMask, YES);
+			docDirectory = [paths objectAtIndex:0];
+		}
+
+		BOOL isDir = NO;
+		if([[NSFileManager defaultManager] fileExistsAtPath:[docDirectory stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"game"] isDirectory:&isDir]) {
+			if(isDir) {
+				*hasData = YES;
+				return gDocsDir;
+			}
+		}
+		*hasData = NO;
+	}
 	return gDocsDir;
 }
+
+void copy_data_to_documents_dir(const char * path)
+{
+	bool has_data = false;
+	NSString * src = [NSString stringWithUTF8String:path];
+	NSString * dest = [NSString stringWithUTF8String:IOSGetDocumentsDir(&has_data)];
+	NSError * err = nil;
+	BOOL result = [[NSFileManager defaultManager] copyItemAtPath:src toPath:[dest stringByAppendingPathComponent:@"game"] error:&err];
+	if(!result) {
+		NSLog(@"Error copying data to documents directory: %@", err);
+	} else {
+		NSLog(@"Copied game data to documents directory.");
+	}
+}
\ No newline at end of file