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To back up a GOG cloud save, open the game in your GOG library, select Extras, scroll to Cloud Saves Backup, then click the download arrow. For a separate local backup, copy the game’s save files from their actual save folder before deleting cloud saves or replacing files. Restoring is game- and operating-system-specific: verify the correct folder and filenames first, and keep the originals in a separate location.
Download a backup of a GOG cloud save
- Open your game library and select the game.
- Open Extras.
- Scroll to Cloud Saves Backup and click the download arrow to save a backup to your computer.
GOG documents this download workflow in its cloud-save backup instructions. This downloaded backup is distinct from a separate copy you make of local save files.
Make a separate copy of local save files
Before removing cloud saves, troubleshooting sync, or attempting a restore, copy the local save files to another folder or storage device. GOG Support Center advises: “Before removing saves from the cloud, please make a backup of your save files (just in case) by navigating to the game’s save directory and creating a copy of them.” See GOG’s guidance on removing saves from the cloud.
A local copy is useful even when you have downloaded the cloud backup: it gives you another copy to preserve while you determine which version of a save is current.
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Where GOG game saves are stored
There is no single save-folder path that applies to every GOG game. A title may store saves in a location separate from its installation directory, and the path can differ by game and operating system. Check the game’s support instructions or a current, title-specific save-location reference before copying files.
Do not confuse the installation folder with the save folder. GOG’s installation guidance describes the default $HOME/GOG Games directory as an installation location; users can choose a different install path. That does not establish where a particular game stores its saves. See GOG’s article on finding where a game is installed.
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Restore a GOG save without overwriting the wrong files
- Identify the game and operating system, then confirm the correct save directory and filenames using that title’s support instructions or a maintained title-specific reference.
- Copy the existing files in the save directory somewhere safe before changing them.
- Follow the instructions for that game to place or rename the backed-up save files. Do not assume a downloaded cloud archive belongs in the game’s installation folder.
- Start the game and check whether the expected save appears before removing your preserved copies.
GOG’s general guidance does not provide one universal local-restore procedure. Its support example for Boxer DOS games on macOS describes using an existing .BAK file and renaming it, but that instruction applies only to the setup described in GOG’s “We Are Not Alone” support article; it should not be applied to unrelated games.
Manage cloud saves carefully
GOG’s cloud-removal instructions describe disabling cloud saves in the game’s Manage Installation configuration and note that removing saves from the cloud can take up to 24 hours in some cases. Before changing sync settings or removing anything, keep a separate local copy and establish which save is the one you want to preserve. The steps and labels may depend on the game and GOG interface version; consult GOG’s cloud-removal instructions.
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What GOG’s 200 MB cloud-save notice means
In a 2024 notice, GOG stated a default allocation of 200 MB per game and said files exceeding it would be removed after 31 August 2024. The notice recommended downloading a backup and reviewing files in Cloud Saves Management, and said local saves on users’ computers would not be affected by that cloud cleanup. Because the stated date has passed, this is historical information—not an upcoming deadline or confirmation of the current quota. See GOG’s 2024 cloud-save notice.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choose a place for the second copy
A second copy can go in another folder or on a removable drive. Choose based on the amount of space your game’s saves need, whether you want the copy to be portable, and whether another independent copy already exists. An external drive is optional, not a GOG requirement; after copying, check that the files are present and keep their location clear enough to find when needed.
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