Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
To preserve a modded game, back up more than its load-order list: save the mod manager’s profiles and settings, installed mods and downloaded archives, the game files, and your saves and configuration as separate groups. Their locations depend on the game, manager, instance type, and your own settings, so verify the actual paths before copying or deleting anything. This guide focuses on Windows, Steam game files, and Mod Organizer 2 (MO2); the same backup principles apply to other managers, but their folder paths and restore steps differ.
What to back up—and why one copy is not enough
A working modded setup is made up of several kinds of data. Keep them distinct so you can tell what a backup contains and restore each part to the right place.
- Mod-manager state: profiles, enabled-mod selections, rules, settings, plugin order, sorting information, and installer choices where supported. An exported order is useful documentation, but it does not contain the installed mods or a complete configuration.
- Mod files and archives: the installed or staged mod folders and any downloaded archives you may need to reinstall mods. The manager’s settings should tell you where its mod and download folders actually are.
- Game files: the game installation, plus any manually installed files that are not managed by Steam or the mod manager.
- Saves and game configuration: preserve these separately. Their locations and whether they are included in a platform backup vary by game.
Before copying, identify the game, operating system, manager, and active instance or profile. Record the manager and game versions if the setup depends on them. In the manager’s settings, note the configured locations for the instance, profiles, mods, downloads, overwrite or staging folders, and any custom paths. Do not rely on a default path without checking it.
Make a separate backup before changing the setup
- Close the game and mod manager so files are not being changed while you copy them.
- Export or record the enabled mods, plugin order, sorting rules, and required installer choices if your manager supports it. Treat this as a reference, not as the backup itself.
- Copy the manager state, mod folders, downloaded archives, saves, game configuration, and manually installed game files as separate groups. Use the manager’s configured paths to find them.
- Store the copy somewhere separate from the original files. An external drive is one option; another independently stored destination can also work. Choose a destination with enough space for the folders you intend to preserve.
- After copying, check that the backup contains the expected folders and files. Test restoration or verify the copied files before relying on the backup.
Moving or restoring a Mod Organizer 2 setup
MO2’s project wiki describes different items to preserve depending on how the instance is configured. For a computer move, its “Moving things” guide says to include %LOCALAPPDATA%ModOrganizer for global instances and global settings, the MO2 installation folder—which also contains a portable instance if you use one—and custom folders configured in each instance’s Paths settings. The guide says registry settings do not need to be transferred for its described migration because they store items such as the last-opened instance and other options. These instructions are from a wiki page last modified on 22 March 2022; check current MO2 documentation for behavior that may have changed.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
#1 Best Overall
- Easily store and access 2TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Move an MO2 instance folder
- Make a profile backup first. MO2’s guide warns that changing folders may reset mod and load orders.
- Close MO2 and manually copy the old folder contents to the new location. The project wiki states: “Mod Organizer will not move files by itself. They have to be moved manually.”
- Start MO2 and update the folder location in Settings > Paths.
- Check the mod and load orders; restore them from your backup if needed. Remove the old folder only after confirming the new setup works.
Move the game managed by MO2
The project wiki’s guide says to exit MO2, move or reinstall the game, and run it at least once. It says MO2 2.4 and later should detect the new game location; if it does not, set it in Settings > Paths > Managed game. Check every executable path as well: the guide says MO2 does not update those paths automatically. Confirm the current behavior for your MO2 version before relying on these steps.
Back up and restore Steam game files
Steam’s Backup feature is for games that download, install, and patch completely through Steam. Valve cautions that games using third-party installers or downloaders may not work with it. Valve also says backups of Valve-created games do not include saved games, custom multiplayer maps, or configuration files; save locations for third-party games vary by developer. Copy any extra files you need separately and return them to their corresponding locations after restoring.
Rank #2
- Easily store and access 5TB of content on the go with the Seagate portable drive, a USB external hard Drive
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Create a Steam backup
- In Steam, open Library, right-click the game, and select Properties > Installed Files > Backup game files.
- Select a destination and create the backup.
- Check the backup after creation. Valve recommends testing backup copies before depending on them.
Restore a Steam backup
- In Steam, choose Steam > Restore Game Backup.
- Follow the prompts to select the backup and restore the game.
- Restore any separately saved saves, configuration, custom content, or manually installed files to their appropriate locations.
Steam menus can change, so if a label differs in your client, consult current Steam Support instructions rather than guessing at a different option.
Steam Cloud is useful, but it is not a complete mod backup
Steam Cloud can store game-specific data such as settings and saves, but coverage depends on the game. It does not preserve the mod manager’s installed files, archives, and full configuration as a whole setup. Valve warns that if a file is changed in two locations without synchronization, a conflict can occur and may result in lost progress. Keep your own copy before resolving an unclear conflict, and choose the version you intend to keep instead of dismissing the prompt without checking.
Rank #3
- Easily store and access 4TB of content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Vortex and other mod managers
Folder structures and deployment methods differ between managers and games, so do not apply MO2 paths or steps to Vortex. A Steam Community guide—not current official Vortex documentation—describes profiles as a way to separate enabled mod lists, game settings, and saves, and gives a Skyrim Special Edition loadorder.txt location under local AppData. That example is not a universal Vortex backup path. Consult the current documentation for your manager and confirm the actual profile, staging, download, and deployment paths in your installation. A copied load-order text file alone cannot recreate a complete setup.
Choose a backup method for each layer
Manager-aware backups and platform backups solve different problems. Use them together when you need to preserve both the modded configuration and the base game.
Rank #4
- Customize your drive’s RGB lighting with the downloadable WD_BLACK Dashboard (Windows only) to show off your style and make every play personal.
- Kick loading into overdrive with a USB 3.2 Gen2x2 interface and speeds up to 2,000MB/s. (Based on read speed. 1 MB/s = 1 million bytes per second. Based on internal testing; performance may vary depending upon host device, usage conditions, drive capacity, and other factors.)
- Compatible with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles. {Compatible with PlayStation 4 Pro or PS4 with system software version 4.50 or higher, PlayStation 5 (Play and store PS4 games; archive PS5 games), Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S (Play and store Xbox One games; archive Xbox Series X|S games).}
- Keep more of the latest and largest titles installed and ready to launch with capacities of up to 2TB. (1TB = 1 trillion bytes. Actual user capacity may be less depending on operating environment.)
- Built with WD_BLACK toughness thanks to a shock-resistant structure, this durable drive can survive a drop of up to two-meters.
| Backup layer | What it can preserve | What it does not guarantee | Restore considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mod-manager folders and settings | Profiles, manager configuration, mod files, and archives, depending on the folders included | Game files, saves, or custom paths that were not copied | Restore to the intended paths; check profile and plugin order afterward |
| Exported load or mod order | Ordering or enabled-mod information supported by the manager’s export | Installed mods, archives, saves, manager configuration, and the game installation | Use as a reference or restore aid, not as a standalone backup |
| Steam game-file backup | Eligible game files handled through Steam | For Valve-created games, saves, custom multiplayer maps, and configuration files; third-party coverage varies | Restore through Steam, then return separately copied files to their corresponding locations |
| Steam Cloud | Game-specific data supported by that game, which may include saves and settings | Mod-manager files and any data the game does not sync | Check conflicts carefully; unsynchronized edits can lead to lost progress |
| Separate local or removable copy | Whatever folders you deliberately copy | Anything omitted from the copy; it is not automatically synchronized | Keep it separate from the originals and verify it can be read or restored |
An external SSD is optional, not a requirement; a hard drive or another independent destination may suit the amount of data and portability you need. MO2’s guide notes that files physically remain on the drive holding its mods folder and that drive speed affects load times. That does not establish a required capacity or make one storage type necessary for every setup.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Easily store and access 1TB to content on the go with the Seagate Portable Drive, a USB external hard drive.Specific uses: Personal
- Designed to work with Windows or Mac computers, this external hard drive makes backup a snap just drag and drop. Reformatting may be required for Mac
- To get set up, connect the portable hard drive to a computer for automatic recognition no software required
- This USB drive provides plug and play simplicity with the included 18 inch USB 3.0 cable
- The available storage capacity may vary.
Before you rely on the restored game
- Open the manager and confirm it points to the intended instance, profile, mod folders, and game installation.
- Check that the expected mods are present and that the mod and plugin orders match your saved reference.
- Verify executable paths, especially after moving a game.
- Launch the game and confirm the intended save and configuration are available.
- Keep the untouched backup until the restored setup has been checked and works as expected.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Recommended Free Tools
