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Back up the local save folder for each affected game before its online-service retirement. On Windows, Ubisoft Connect normally stores saves under C:Program Files (x86)UbisoftUbisoft Game Launchersavegames<UbisoftConnectID>. Close the game and Ubisoft Connect, copy the game’s complete numeric subfolder to a separate drive, verify the copy, and keep at least one dated duplicate. Do not rely on cloud synchronization alone, and do not close the Ubisoft account until you have confirmed that your backup is usable.
What an online-services shutdown changes
Ubisoft retires services by game and platform, not through one universal “Ubisoft saves end” date. Its decommissioning table lists separate title entries and dates; examples include 1 October 2022, 25 January 2024, 8 April 2024 and 4 June 2025. Use the row for your exact game, platform and storefront rather than applying one of these dates to every title.
The retired components can include online multiplayer, in-game news and player statistics. Ubisoft states that “the offline features of the games are unaffected and remain available to you.” That does not guarantee that every launcher, account or downloadable item will remain available indefinitely. A 2022 Ubisoft announcement also showed that planned dates could move—in that case, from 1 September to 1 October 2022—and that some PC single-player downloadable content was available only before the change. Check the current title-specific notice while the service is still online.
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Check these details first
- Game: Record the exact title and edition. Different games can use different save formats and folders.
- Platform: Confirm Windows PC, console or another platform. The Windows directory below does not apply automatically to console storage.
- Storefront: Note whether you launch through Ubisoft Connect, Steam or Epic. A game can use a different numeric folder depending on the storefront.
- Retirement entry: Match the game and platform to Ubisoft’s current decommissioning table or title notice.
Where Ubisoft Connect saves are stored on Windows
Ubisoft’s restoration instructions identify this default directory:
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C:Program Files (x86)UbisoftUbisoft Game Launchersavegames
Inside it is a folder named with your Ubisoft account ID, usually a long sequence of letters and numbers. Within that account-ID folder are numeric subfolders for individual games. The numeric value is not a universal game code, so do not guess it.
Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six Siege instructions illustrate why verification matters: the example folder is 635 for Ubisoft Connect or Epic and 1843 for Steam. Those numbers identify that title’s installations in those storefront contexts; they are not a rule for other Ubisoft games. Use the Ubisoft Help page for your exact title to identify its folder.
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- Finish a normal in-game save. Use the game’s own save command or reach a known autosave point. Wait for the save indicator to finish before leaving.
- Exit the game completely. Return to the desktop and confirm that the game process is no longer running. A live process can still be writing files.
- Exit Ubisoft Connect PC. Use the launcher’s Quit or Exit command, not merely the window’s close button if that leaves it running in the notification area. The files should remain unchanged while you copy them.
- Open the save root. In File Explorer, paste
C:Program Files (x86)UbisoftUbisoft Game Launchersavegamesinto the address bar and press Enter. If Ubisoft Connect was installed in a custom location, locate itsUbisoft Game Launchersavegamesfolder there instead. - Open your account-ID folder. Choose the long alphanumeric folder associated with the Ubisoft account you use for the game. If more than one account folder exists, identify the active account rather than copying only the first folder you see.
- Identify the title folder. Consult the game’s Ubisoft Help instructions for the correct numeric subfolder and account/storefront combination. Do not assume that a folder number from another game, guide or storefront is correct.
- Copy the complete folder. Right-click the title’s entire numeric folder, choose Copy, and paste it to a USB flash drive, portable SSD, external hard drive or another storage location that is separate from the computer. Copy the folder itself, including every file and subfolder.
- Keep the source untouched until verification. Do not move, rename, edit or delete the original files while checking the duplicate. A copy operation is safer than dragging the source to a new location.
- Create a dated second copy for valuable progress. Add the game and date to the destination folder name, such as
GameName_2026-10-17. Put the second copy on another drive or in a different physical location when possible. - Record the context. Save a note beside the backup stating the game, edition, storefront, Ubisoft account used, original path and date. Keep the account credentials needed to launch the game while the service remains available.
How to verify that the backup copied correctly
Verification confirms that the files were copied; it does not prove that a save will remain playable after a service change. With Ubisoft Connect still closed, open the copied folder and compare it with the source:
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- Check that the same filenames and subfolders appear in both locations.
- Compare file sizes, especially the larger save files. A zero-byte file or an obviously incomplete folder indicates a failed copy.
- Use the destination drive’s available-space information to confirm that the copy completed without an error message.
- Safely eject the removable drive, reconnect it, and open the folder again to make sure the files are readable.
- Keep the original and at least one dated copy. Never treat a newly copied folder as a reason to delete the source immediately.
For particularly valuable progress, make another dated copy after a later session. Versioned copies protect you from discovering that the newest save was already corrupted or that you accidentally backed up the wrong title folder.
Choose a backup method that does not depend on Ubisoft servers
Different methods solve different risks. A removable copy is the minimum independent safeguard; versioned local history is useful when files change repeatedly; cloud synchronization is convenient but still controlled by the service and account.
| Method | Independence from Ubisoft servers | Recoverability after launcher or account trouble | Portability between PCs | Dated versions | Main overwrite risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USB flash drive | High while the drive is readable | High if the complete folder and account details are retained | High; connect it to another Windows PC and copy the folder | Easy—create a new dated folder for each backup | Copying over the only backup or editing the source instead of the duplicate |
| Portable SSD or external hard drive | High while stored offline | High; capacity makes multiple copies practical | High, subject to the destination PC and game installation | Easy; retain several dated folders | Drive failure or keeping every copy in the same place |
| Windows File History | High when its destination is a local or removable drive | High for earlier versions covered by its retention settings | Moderate; restore the files to a compatible Windows installation | Built in through version history | File History may not include the folder if it was never configured or the backup drive was unavailable |
| Ubisoft cloud synchronization | Low; it remains dependent on Ubisoft’s service and account | Low if the account or service is unavailable | Convenient on supported installations while online | Not an independently controlled archive | Choosing the wrong side of a local/cloud conflict can overwrite the desired progress |
Ubisoft explicitly supports restoring from a backup copy and says Windows File History can restore backed-up saves. Use those facilities as additional layers, not as a substitute for an offline copy you control.
Handle cloud-save synchronization conflicts safely
Cloud sync can be useful while the game and service are operating, but it is not the same as an offline backup. If Ubisoft Connect reports a conflict between a local save and a cloud save, preserve both versions before selecting an option. Copy the local save folder to a separate location and, if the interface allows it, retain the cloud version rather than immediately replacing it.
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Ubisoft’s troubleshooting sequence for a corrupted cloud save is:
- Quit the game.
- Disable cloud synchronization in Ubisoft Connect.
- Start the game and create or load the desired local save.
- Exit the game after the local save completes.
- Re-enable cloud synchronization.
- Restart the game and choose the local save when Ubisoft Connect prompts you.
The selected local save then replaces the corrupted cloud version. Because the final choice can overwrite progress, make an independent copy before beginning this sequence and do not experiment with the only remaining folder.
Restore a save from your backup
Restore only after you have preserved the current folder. Ubisoft’s procedure is based on a backup copy:
- Close the game and Ubisoft Connect PC.
- Open
C:Program Files (x86)UbisoftUbisoft Game Launchersavegamesand then your account-ID folder. - Make a safety copy of the existing title folder before changing anything. Give it a date and a name such as
BeforeRestore_2026-10-17. - Locate the backed-up version for the same game, platform and storefront.
- Copy the backed-up game folder and paste it into the account-ID folder, replacing the corresponding current folder only after the safety copy exists.
- Start Ubisoft Connect and the game. Check that the expected progress appears before making another save.
If the backed-up folder is on a different drive, copy it rather than moving it so the original remains available. If Windows File History was configured, use its previous-version restore feature to recover the desired folder or files instead of overwriting your only manual backup.
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What account closure can permanently remove
Backing up files does not preserve access to every Ubisoft service. Ubisoft’s account-closure help says that closing an account removes access to Ubisoft games, in-game progression, Ubisoft Connect and other Ubisoft online services, and that associated data cannot be restored after closure. Ubisoft’s Terms of Use likewise state that termination of an account or associated service causes loss of save files and in-game progression related to the services.
For that reason, do not close the account merely because a particular online feature is being retired. Keep the account credentials, complete the local backup, and test the game while the account and launcher remain available. A local folder may preserve data, but launching the game on another PC can still require the original account, installation and platform entitlement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting common backup problems
The path does not exist
Confirm that Ubisoft Connect is installed on the expected drive and that you included Ubisoft Game Launchersavegames in the path. A custom installation location can move the root directory. Search the computer for the savegames folder rather than creating a new empty folder with that name.
You see several account-ID folders
Do not merge them. An account-ID folder represents an account context, and copying the wrong one can produce a backup with no usable progress. Match the folder to the Ubisoft account that launches the game, then retain the other folders separately until you have identified them.
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You cannot tell which numeric folder belongs to the game
Use the title-specific Ubisoft Help page. Storefront differences matter: Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six Siege example uses 635 for Ubisoft Connect or Epic and 1843 for Steam. That example demonstrates the problem but does not identify folders for other titles.
Windows says a file is in use
Exit the game and Ubisoft Connect, including any launcher process still running in the notification area, and try again. If the file remains locked, restart Windows and copy the folder before launching the game or another Ubisoft software.
The destination has less space than the source
Use a larger drive or remove unrelated files from the destination. Do not select only a few files from the game folder unless Ubisoft’s title-specific instructions explicitly identify a complete set; partial copies can omit essential metadata.
The restored save is not visible
Recheck the account-ID folder, numeric title folder, storefront and game edition. Confirm that Ubisoft Connect was closed during the replacement and that you copied the folder level Ubisoft’s restoration instructions require. Preserve the attempted restore as a dated copy, then return to the original safety copy if necessary.
Quick Recap
Platform and timing limits to keep in mind
- The Windows path and copy procedure apply to local PC saves stored by Ubisoft Connect. Console saves and games that store data elsewhere require platform-specific instructions.
- Retirement dates are title- and platform-specific. Historical dates in Ubisoft’s table are examples, not a future schedule for every game.
- Offline features may remain available after online components are shut down, but the availability of a launcher, account authentication, downloadable content or a particular save format can vary by title.
- No published Ubisoft statistic establishes how often shutdowns cause save loss. A dated backup and a second independent copy are practical safeguards, not a guarantee that every game can be restored.
A final pre-shutdown checklist
- ☐ Match the exact game, edition, platform and storefront to Ubisoft’s current retirement entry.
- ☐ Complete an in-game save and exit the game.
- ☐ Quit Ubisoft Connect PC completely.
- ☐ Open the correct account-ID folder below
Ubisoft Game Launchersavegames. - ☐ Confirm the title-specific numeric folder instead of guessing.
- ☐ Copy the complete folder to a separate USB drive, SSD, hard drive or configured File History destination.
- ☐ Compare filenames and sizes, reconnect the removable drive and confirm the copy is readable.
- ☐ Make and date a second copy if the progress matters.
- ☐ Preserve both versions before resolving any local/cloud conflict.
- ☐ Keep the Ubisoft account credentials and avoid account closure until the backup and launch path are confirmed.
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