Before updating a PC game, close it, confirm any supported launcher cloud sync has finished, and make a dated copy of the game’s actual save folder somewhere separate from the live folder. Cloud saves are useful but are not a guaranteed rollback: support varies by game, synchronization can fail, and a conflict can put the wrong version back. Keep your manual copy until you have launched the updated game and confirmed that the intended progress is there.
Back up your save before installing the update
- Save and exit the game normally. Wait for any in-game save operation to finish, then close the game. If the launcher shows a synchronization status, wait until it indicates that syncing is complete. Avoid opening the same game on another device while you make the copy.
- Check whether the specific game supports launcher cloud saves. On Steam, check the game’s store page for the Cloud indicator; on Epic Games Store, use the library’s Cloud Saves filter or check the game’s store-page feature tag. Support and the files included are decided on a game-by-game basis, so a launcher account alone does not establish that a particular save is protected. Steam Cloud and Epic’s Cloud Saves eligibility guidance explain where to check.
- Find the save folder for that exact game. There is no universal PC save directory. Common Windows locations include Documents, Saved Games, AppData (Local, LocalLow, or Roaming), and sometimes the game’s installation folder. These are places to investigate, not a checklist of folders to copy wholesale. Check the game’s official documentation or support information; for third-party Steam games, Steam also recommends checking the developer or game community for the save location. Steamworks Cloud documentation lists common Windows locations, and Steam’s backup guidance notes that third-party save locations vary.
- Copy the save folder; do not move it. With the game closed, copy the relevant folder and preserve its subfolders and filenames. Give the copy a clear dated name, such as
GameName save backup 2026-10-07, and put it somewhere separate from the active save directory. A second drive or removable external drive provides a separate copy; Microsoft’s general Windows backup and recovery guidance also describes external drives and cloud storage as backup destinations. - Check the copy before updating. Open the destination and confirm that the expected files and folder structure are present. Keep this dated copy intact rather than using it as a working folder or overwriting it with an unverified restore.
- Update, then verify in the game. Launch the updated game and check the intended character, save slot, or latest progress. Retain the backup until that check succeeds.
Which backup option should you use?
Cloud sync and a manual copy solve different problems. Cloud saves can keep supported saves available across devices, while a dated manual copy gives you a separate version to restore. The practical choice is usually to use cloud sync when the game supports it and also keep a manual copy before a consequential update.
| Option | What it is useful for | What to verify | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launcher cloud saves | Convenient syncing for a game that supports the launcher’s feature. | That the particular game is eligible and that synchronization has completed. | Game support and included files vary; sync is not an independent, guaranteed rollback. |
| Dated manual copy | Keeping a specific pre-update save version available to copy back. | The correct save folder, full folder structure, and readable files. | It only protects the files you copied; keep it separate from the live folder. |
| External drive or other separate storage | Keeping the manual copy apart from the PC’s active save folder; an external drive can remain available if the system drive fails. | That the copy is on the intended drive and can be opened. | It does not identify the correct save folder for you. |
Restore a save from your manual copy
- Close the game. Do not restore over files while the game is running, because it may write its current state back to disk.
- Find the dated backup and the game’s expected save location. Confirm you have the copy made before the update and that you know where the game reads its saves.
- Copy the saved files back, preserving the folder structure. Copy rather than move the backup so the untouched original remains available if this attempt is wrong.
- Handle any cloud conflict by comparing the actual versions. If the launcher asks whether to keep a local or cloud version, inspect the dates and choose the one containing the progress you want. Do not assume that “cloud” or “local” automatically means newer or correct. Epic notes that conflicts can follow use on multiple devices, including after offline play, and advises selecting the newer file to retain the latest saves. Epic’s cloud-conflict instructions describe its conflict flow.
- Launch and inspect before continuing. Check the intended character, slot, or progress. If it is not right, close the game and try again using the untouched backup rather than overwriting that copy.
Steam and Epic details that affect the process
Steam Cloud is game-configured
Steam Cloud only syncs the files a game’s developer has configured. Steamworks describes configured files syncing to Steam after a game exits and downloading to another computer before it launches; that describes correctly configured integrations, not a guarantee that every Steam game syncs its saves. Steam’s default Windows local cloud-data location is C:Program Files (x86)Steamuserdata, organized by account ID and game App ID. This is Steam’s local cloud-data area, not a universal save-folder location for all games. Steam says it generally cannot recover lost cloud saves or resolve cloud conflicts for users. Steam Cloud support and Steamworks documentation describe the feature and its configuration.
Steam installation backups are not save backups
Steam’s Restore Game Backup feature restores supported game installation backups. Valve-created installation backups omit saved games and some custom files, and third-party save locations depend on the game. If you restore a game installation, you may still need to copy separately backed-up save files to the game’s proper save location. Steam’s backup feature guidance distinguishes the installation backup from separate save data.
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Epic Cloud Saves are optional and can conflict
Check the game’s Cloud Saves eligibility and whether Cloud Saves are enabled in the launcher. Epic warns that changing the setting while playing on multiple machines may result in conflicts. Its instructions for enabling the feature are in Epic’s Cloud Saves settings guidance. A manual copy is still useful before an update, particularly if you need a known pre-update version.
Xbox app and PC Game Pass need title-specific guidance
Save access and backup procedures for Xbox app and PC Game Pass games are not established as one universal manual workflow. Consult the game’s official support instructions, verify whether its save is managed by the game or platform, and make a separate copy only if the files are accessible and the official directions permit it. Do not assume Steam’s userdata path or Epic’s conflict steps apply.
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Common mistakes to avoid
- Copying a guessed folder instead of confirming the save location for the exact title.
- Moving the live save instead of making a separate copy.
- Assuming a cloud indicator means every relevant save file has synced successfully.
- Launching the same game on another device during backup or conflict resolution, which can introduce another save version.
- Choosing a cloud or local conflict option by label alone rather than checking which version has the intended progress.
- Deleting the manual copy immediately after the update instead of first confirming the save in-game.
- Using Steam’s installation restore as if it automatically restores the game’s separate save files.
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