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Before switching a PC game to another launcher, copy its complete save folder to a separate location and leave that backup untouched. First find the save location for that specific game, then let the current launcher finish syncing and close the game and launcher before copying. A launcher’s cloud save or game-installation backup is not proof that your progress is independently backed up—or that another store’s version of the game can use it.
The safest order is simple: identify the game’s actual save folder, let the source launcher finish syncing, copy the folder while the game and launcher are closed, and verify the destination version before removing anything. Save paths and cloud behavior vary by title, so there is no single folder or transfer method that works for every game.
Why a cloud save or game backup may not be enough
Cloud sync is not the same as a separate backup
Cloud support is determined game by game. Valve’s Steam Support documentation says, “Developers are able to completely customize how The Steam Cloud is used for their games, including which user files are uploaded.” A game might use Steam Cloud for some files but not its saves; the Store page may indicate Steam Cloud support, but the game’s own documentation is the better place to confirm what it saves and where.
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Ubisoft says cloud synchronization is available for supported games and is enabled by default for those titles. That does not establish that every Ubisoft game supports cloud saves or that a cloud copy is independent of local files. In any launcher, keep a separate copy you control before changing where or how the game is launched.
Cloud copies can also differ from local files. Steam explains that a conflict prompt may appear when files have changed in two places without synchronization. A synced file might represent an earlier play session, or the local file could be the older version. For that reason, the existence of a cloud copy is not enough: you still need to know which version reflects the progress you want and preserve a separate copy before making a choice that could replace files.
A backup of the installation may omit saves
Steam’s Backup Feature is for game files, not a dependable save-data backup. Valve notes that save locations vary by developer, and some Valve-created game backups do not include saved games. Copy the relevant save folder separately rather than assuming a game backup includes it.
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →This distinction matters because an installed game and its saved progress are different things to protect. A backup or reinstallation of the game files may help restore the program, but it does not establish that the title’s save folder was included. Treat save data as its own item: find the save location in the game’s support instructions, copy that folder, and retain that copy even if you also back up or reinstall the game.
A save may not transfer between storefront versions
Moving a save folder preserves a copy of the files; it does not make the destination version compatible with them. The game may use a different save format, account association, or save location. The available platform guidance does not establish universal compatibility between Steam, Epic Games Launcher, and other storefront versions. Check the game developer’s support information for the specific game and launcher pair.
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Think of the transfer as two separate questions: first, did you preserve the source save; second, can the destination version recognize and use it? A copy answers the first question, not the second. The destination game might look in another location, or its save format and account setup might not accept the source files. Keep the original installation and the untouched backup until the destination has loaded the expected progress and made a new save successfully.
Where PC game saves may be stored
There is no single save folder for every PC game. Saves can sit outside the installation directory, and developers may choose their own locations. These documented locations are starting points, not a guarantee that a particular game uses them.
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| Launcher or source | Documented location or behavior | What to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Steam | C:Program Files (x86)Steamuserdata is the Windows folder for Steam Cloud files. |
Cloud files are arranged under account and app ID folders. This is not a universal local-save path; developers choose where third-party games store saves. |
| Epic Games Launcher | %localappdata%EpicGamesLauncherSavedSaves[EpicGamesAccountID][Yourgamefolder] is a location Epic gives for local saves. |
Epic also lists Documents, AppDataLocalLow, Saved Games, and %APPDATA% as common alternate locations. Some games store saves elsewhere. |
| Ubisoft Connect | Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six Siege troubleshooting instructions give game-specific examples for Epic Games Launcher, Steam, and Ubisoft Connect. | Those examples apply to that game’s troubleshooting, not to every Ubisoft title. Use the support page for the particular game to identify its folder. |
The Steam folder above is specifically for Steam Cloud files; it should not be treated as the place to look for every game’s local saves. Steam organizes those cloud files by account and app ID, but those folders are not a universal map of local save locations. Steam says developers determine where third-party games store their saves, and many titles do not use Steam Cloud for saves at all.
Epic’s listed path is more specific, but it is still only a location Epic gives for local saves. The account ID and game-folder portions are placeholders in the path. Epic also names Documents, AppDataLocalLow, Saved Games, and %APPDATA% as common alternatives. Those are places to check only when supported by the game’s own instructions; do not assume that every game uses all of them or that a similar-looking folder belongs to the right title.
Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six Siege troubleshooting article is a useful example of why the game matters: it provides separate folder examples for Epic Games Launcher, Steam, and Ubisoft Connect for that title. These are not general Ubisoft Connect paths. The instructions are for Rainbow Six Siege troubleshooting, so use the official support page for your own game rather than copying a path from an unrelated title.
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If a support article does not identify a save folder, ask the game developer. Epic explicitly recommends contacting the developer when the location is unknown, and Steam also notes that third-party save locations vary. Avoid guessing from the install directory, a launcher label, or a folder name alone. A wrong folder can give you the false impression that you have preserved progress when you have not.
Back up saves before switching: a safe sequence
- Find the exact save folder. Look up the game’s support page or developer documentation. Confirm whether the title supports cloud saves and whether it identifies a local save location. Do not assume the launcher’s installation folder or backup feature contains progress. If platform documentation gives a general folder, use it as a lead and check that it applies to your game.
- Let the source launcher finish syncing. While the original installation still works, let any pending upload or download complete. Do not close the client during an active sync. Steam, Epic, and Ubisoft describe cloud synchronization and conflict behavior, but their instructions do not promise recovery if a sync is interrupted. Wait until the current launcher is no longer showing an active transfer before moving on.
- Close the game and launcher. Once syncing has finished, exit the game and close the launcher before copying. Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six Siege troubleshooting instructions use this order: close the game and Ubisoft Connect, then copy the save folder to a safe location. This reduces the chance that you copy while the game is still using or updating files.
- Copy the whole relevant save folder elsewhere. Use a clearly named folder in a separate location, such as an existing external drive or another storage location. A USB drive or external SSD can serve as an optional second destination; the support instructions require a copy, not a particular device or purchase. Copy the complete relevant folder rather than selecting only files that appear important. Keep the original files and an untouched copy of the backup.
- Label the copy so you can identify it later. Include the game name and the launcher or account that produced the copy in the folder name or nearby note. This is a practical way to keep separate versions straight when comparing source and destination files. Do not edit the preserved copy during troubleshooting; if you need to try another action, make a working copy and leave the untouched one alone.
- Install or launch the destination version and check progress. Start the game through the new storefront and confirm that it loads the expected character, campaign, or other progress before treating the transfer as successful. The ability to launch the title through a different store does not prove that its save transferred. Keep the backup until the expected progress is loaded and a new save has been made successfully.
- Keep the source available until the check is complete. Do not remove the original installation or discard the backup just because the destination launcher has installed the game. The useful test is whether the destination version actually opens the expected progress and successfully saves it. If it does not, preserve the copies and consult the developer’s game-specific instructions before trying an overwrite or recovery step.
A second copy on an existing USB flash drive or external SSD is optional, not a requirement. Any separate destination you can access later can serve as a place to keep a copy; the support instructions do not require a paid service, a particular storage device, or a cloud subscription. The important distinction is that the save folder should exist somewhere separate from the files that a launcher or game might change during the switch.
What to do if a cloud conflict appears
A conflict means the local and cloud copies differ; it can happen after files have been changed in more than one place without synchronization. Steam recommends considering timestamps alongside your activity. Epic says conflicts can occur after playing offline on more than one device and advises choosing the newer file. A newer timestamp is useful evidence, but compare it with your last play session rather than choosing automatically.
Before deciding, consider four things together: the time shown for each version, when and where you last played, which account or platform produced the copy, and whether sync is about to replace local data. The newest timestamp alone is not a guarantee that the file contains the progress you want. Steam’s guidance calls for considering timestamps and activity, while Epic’s advice to select the newer file addresses conflicts that can follow offline play on multiple devices.
- Pause before choosing. If the prompt allows you to cancel or defer, do so when you are unsure. Avoid confirming an overwrite until you have another copy of the files you may need. If the prompt cannot be deferred, first use the separate backup you made to preserve the files you can access.
- Compare the versions. Check the displayed timestamps against when you last played, and consider which device or account produced each copy. A later time does not necessarily mean that version contains the progress you intend to keep. A file may have changed at a time that does not match the session you want to preserve.
- Keep the copy with the intended progress. Choose the local or cloud version that matches the latest progress you want. If you cannot tell, preserve both versions separately before proceeding, if the interface permits. Do not select a version simply because the prompt labels it local or cloud; compare the available information with your play history.
- Load the game and verify. Check that the expected progress appears before allowing further changes to replace your backup. If the wrong version loads, stop and consult the game developer’s recovery instructions rather than continuing to save over files.
Steam says support is unlikely to recover lost data. That is why an untouched local copy matters: a cloud conflict decision can replace one version with another, and cloud availability by itself is not a recovery guarantee. Treat the prompt as a choice between versions, not as a reliable way to merge progress or restore everything automatically.
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If the new launcher does not show your save
- Do not delete or overwrite the backup. Preserve it while checking the new version. If you need to experiment with a copy, keep the untouched backup separate so you can return to the files as they were before the switch.
- Recheck the game-specific save location. The destination version may look in a different folder from the source version. Use the developer’s instructions rather than assuming the launcher path is correct. Platform-level locations are not universal paths for every title.
- Confirm which account and storefront created the save. Keep track of the account or platform associated with each copy when comparing files. Steam cloud files are organized under account and app ID folders, while Epic’s documented path includes an account ID and game-folder placeholder. Those identifiers are useful context; they do not by themselves prove the destination will accept the save.
- Check compatibility with the developer. The platform documentation does not guarantee cross-store compatibility, so ask the game developer whether the save format and account setup are supported. Include which storefront versions you are moving between and whether the source game still loads the save.
- Do not assume a launcher’s cloud setting solves a location problem. Steam Cloud settings can be changed globally or per game, and Ubisoft cloud synchronization applies to supported games. These settings describe cloud behavior; they do not identify every local save folder or ensure another storefront version will read it.
Do not remove the source installation or treat the transfer as complete until the destination game loads the expected progress and saves successfully. If the game’s official documentation does not identify the folder or explain cross-store saves, the developer is the appropriate source for those game-specific answers. Preserve the original files while you wait for clarification; repeated launches or save attempts are not a substitute for knowing which copy is safe.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Quick checklist before you switch
- Have you checked the support page for this exact game, rather than relying on a general launcher folder?
- Has the source launcher finished any pending sync?
- Are both the game and launcher closed before you copy?
- Did you copy the complete relevant folder to a separate location and keep an untouched copy?
- Do you know which account, platform, or launcher produced each copy?
- Have you checked that the destination version loads the expected progress and makes a new save before deleting or replacing anything?
If any answer is no, keep the source installation and avoid choosing a cloud-conflict option that could replace files until you have preserved the versions you can access. Save paths, cloud support, and cross-launcher compatibility are title-specific; a careful backup protects the files you have, but it cannot guarantee that a different storefront version can use them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are my PC game saves located?
There is no universal save folder. Use the specific game’s support page or developer documentation first. Steam’s C:Program Files (x86)Steamuserdata folder is for Steam Cloud files, not every game’s local saves. Epic lists %localappdata%EpicGamesLauncherSavedSaves[EpicGamesAccountID][Yourgamefolder] and common alternatives such as Documents, AppDataLocalLow, Saved Games, and %APPDATA%, but some games store saves elsewhere. Ask the developer if the location is unclear.
Will my save transfer from Steam to Epic?
It may, but the platform guidance does not guarantee compatibility between storefront versions. Copying the files preserves them; it does not ensure the Epic version will recognize the save, use the same folder, or accept the same format or account setup. Check with the game developer, keep an untouched backup, and verify the expected progress in the destination version before treating the transfer as complete.
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No. Steam’s Backup Feature concerns game files and is not a dependable save-data backup. Save locations vary by developer, and some Valve-created game backups do not include saved games. Find and copy the save folder separately.
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Should I choose the newer file in a cloud conflict?
Use the timestamp as evidence, not as an automatic answer. Epic advises choosing the newer file for conflicts that may follow offline play on more than one device. Steam recommends considering timestamps alongside your activity. Compare the displayed times with your last play session and which device or account produced each version; preserve both separately first if you are unsure and the interface permits.
Do I need an external drive or paid cloud service?
No particular device or service is required by the platform instructions. An existing separate storage location can hold the copy; a USB flash drive or external SSD is an optional second destination. The key is to keep an untouched copy apart from files that may be changed during the launcher switch.
When can I delete the old save backup?
Keep it until the destination version loads the expected progress and has made a new save successfully. Do not remove the source installation or discard the untouched copy merely because the new launcher has installed the game.
The Bottom Line
Before switching launchers, find the save path for the specific game, let the source launcher finish syncing, and copy the complete save folder while the game and launcher are closed. Keep an untouched copy somewhere separate, then verify the destination version actually loads and saves the progress you expect. Cloud sync, game-installation backups, and cross-store compatibility are all title-specific; none replaces that separate backup.
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