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Preserve PC games in two separate archives: a copy of the installer files and a copy of each game’s save data. Keep one complete archive on an external hard drive for game backups and a second independent copy on another drive or backup service. Verify that the files can be read and that a save can be restored before deleting an installation. Refresh the archive after major patches or downloadable content so the preserved installer and saves still match.
Why installers and saves need separate backups
An installed game is not a single preservation target. The program files may occupy tens or hundreds of gigabytes, while saves and settings are often stored elsewhere in your Windows profile or in a launcher-managed cloud service. Uninstalling the program can leave saves untouched, remove them, or remove only the files inside the installation directory, depending on the game and launcher.
Keep two distinct folders for every title:
- Installers: the files needed to reinstall a specific edition and version, including multi-part data files, patches, extras and mod prerequisites that you deliberately preserve.
- SaveFiles: local saves, profiles, settings and other user-specific data that let you continue a playthrough.
A launcher account or cloud synchronization is useful for convenience, but it is not a complete long-term archive. Your account may require an online service, a particular launcher, an activation key or a third-party component years later. A local installer archive plus separately copied saves gives you a recovery path even when a launcher is unavailable or a cloud copy is out of date.
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Plan the archive before copying anything
1. Make a game inventory
Create a simple inventory for each title. Record the storefront, game name, edition, installed version, major patches, downloadable content, mods, launcher and any DRM or activation requirement. Note whether the game uses a third-party launcher in addition to the storefront. This record tells you which installer files belong together and what must be recreated during a future installation.
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- Storefront and account used to activate the game
- Edition, language and release branch
- Installed version and the date of the last major patch
- Downloadable content, expansion installers and required patches
- Mod files or a list of mod versions, when they are part of the preserved setup
- Local save locations and whether cloud synchronization is enabled
- Activation keys, serial numbers and third-party launcher requirements
2. Choose two independent destinations
Keep the primary archive on an external hard drive for game backups or an external SSD with enough capacity for the complete installer library and save folders. Make a second copy on another physical drive or an independent backup service. Do not count two folders on the same disk as independent copies: one disk failure would remove both.
Keep the archive disconnected when you are not actively backing up if practical. This reduces the chance that ransomware, accidental deletion or a damaged operating-system installation will affect both the working copy and the archive. Label each destination and record where the second copy is stored.
3. Use a consistent folder layout
A predictable structure makes a future restore less error-prone. For example:
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Documentation/Use the same game and edition names on both destinations. Put a text or HTML note in Documentation with the account, activation information, launcher dependencies, operating-system requirements and the date of the backup. Do not put passwords in an unencrypted note; store sensitive credentials in your password manager.
Back up Steam games
Use Steam’s Backup feature for eligible titles
Steam Support describes its Backup feature as a way to “save copies of your game files and restore your game files from backup copies.” Use the feature for games that completely download, install and patch through Steam. That limitation matters: a title that relies on a separate installer, external patcher or another launcher may not be fully captured by Steam’s backup set.
- Open the Steam client and select the game you want to preserve.
- Start Steam’s built-in Backup workflow and select the complete game installation, not a partial download.
- Choose a destination with enough free space for the generated backup set.
- Wait for Steam to finish every file, then keep the entire resulting set together. Do not rename, remove or redistribute individual files within it.
- Copy that complete set to the second independent destination.
- In your inventory, write the game title, edition and Steam build or backup date next to the archive.
The backup preserves Steam-managed files; it does not automatically prove that local saves, configuration files or files created by mods are included. Copy those separately from their confirmed locations.
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Treat Steam Cloud as a recovery layer, not the archive
Steam says Steam Cloud can store “game settings, save games, profile stats and other user-specific bits.” Coverage is game-dependent, and a cloud copy can be older or newer than the local files you intend to preserve. Before copying saves, let the game and Steam finish synchronization while online, then make a local copy of the save folders as well.
Steam warns that playing in Offline Mode prevents synchronization until you go back online. When you reconnect, the local and cloud versions can conflict. Resolve any conflict deliberately, select the version that contains the desired progress, and then copy the resulting local save to your archive. Never assume that the cloud prompt itself is a permanent backup.
Back up GOG games with offline installers
Download every installer part
GOG Support directs users to “DOWNLOAD OFFLINE BACKUP GAME INSTALLERS.” These files are designed to install a game without the GOG app, making them the clearest storefront-provided route to launcher-independent installer preservation.
- Open the game’s library page and locate its offline backup installer downloads.
- Download the executable installer and every numbered data file shown for that game.
- Download associated patches, language packs, bonus content and extras that you want available during a future reinstall.
- Place the executable and all numbered data files in one folder. Keep the files together when copying them to either archive destination.
- Record the edition, build and download date in your inventory.
A multi-file installer is one logical set. Moving only the executable, changing the numbering or omitting one data file can make the future installation fail. Keep the original filenames unless the storefront’s instructions explicitly say otherwise.
Allow for publication delays
GOG’s developer documentation says an offline backup installer is generated after a build is published and may take several hours to appear in a game library. A newly released build therefore may not have an immediately available offline installer. Check again later rather than assuming that the absence of a download means the game has no offline package.
Offline installers still do not eliminate every dependency. A game can require an account, an activation step, an online service or a compatible operating system. Document those requirements alongside the files.
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Back up Epic Games Store and other launcher saves
Copy local saves before uninstalling
Epic Games Support warns that if a game does not support Cloud Saves, uninstalling it may delete files in the installation location, including save files. Save files are title-dependent: some games use a profile folder, a documents folder, an application-data folder or a custom directory. Do not assume the installation directory is the save directory.
- Exit the game completely, including any background process that may still be writing a save.
- Allow the launcher to finish any available cloud synchronization.
- Find the game’s documented local save location. Check the game’s support or developer documentation when it is not obvious.
- Copy the entire save folder, preserving its subfolders and filenames.
- Open a representative save or inspect its files only as needed to confirm that the copy contains your latest progress; do not edit the original.
- Store the copy under the game’s
SaveFilesfolder and make the independent second copy before uninstalling or moving the game.
Epic notes that different games can store saves in different folders and recommends contacting the developer when the location cannot be found. Follow that advice instead of guessing. The same approach applies to other launchers: identify the title’s actual save path, then copy it separately from the program files.
Do not confuse cloud-save support with a complete restore
Epic Cloud Saves are title-dependent. A game may synchronize progress, synchronize only some files, or provide no cloud support. Even when cloud saves exist, a local archive protects you from an accidental deletion or a cloud conflict. Preserve local files first, then treat the cloud copy as an additional convenience.
Find and preserve Windows save locations
Common user-profile locations can include Documents, Saved Games, AppDataLocal, AppDataLocalLow and AppDataRoaming, but these are starting points rather than guarantees. Confirm the actual path for the specific title before copying. Some games use a custom folder beside the executable, a publisher-specific directory or a separate launcher profile.
Back up the complete folder, including configuration files that control key bindings, graphics settings or installed mod lists when those settings matter to your future restore. Keep saves separate from installers so you can restore progress to a fresh installation without overwriting the program files.
Use Windows Backup for documented files
Microsoft describes Windows Backup as backing up certain files and folders, settings, credentials and apps to the cloud through one interface. It can be useful for a save folder or configuration directory after you have confirmed that the game actually stores its data there. Select the documented folders and verify that they appear in the backup set.
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Windows Backup should not be treated as the installer archive. Its documentation does not promise preservation of every launcher’s installed game files. Keep a separate local copy of Steam backup sets, GOG offline installers and any other installer files you need for a future reinstall.
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A successful file copy is not the same as a tested backup. Verification catches incomplete multi-file downloads, failing disks and permissions problems while the original installation is still available.
- Check completeness: compare the number and total size of files in the source and each archive destination, especially for large installer sets.
- Keep checksums: generate and store checksums for large or multi-part sets when your backup software supports it. A later checksum comparison can reveal silent corruption.
- Open a sample: launch or inspect a representative installer from the archive. For a multi-part set, confirm that the installer can see every numbered data file.
- Perform a test restore: install to a separate test location or another computer, copy a preserved save into the title’s confirmed save path and check that the game recognizes it. This is a recommended maintenance practice; do not delete the working installation until the test succeeds.
- Record the result: write the verification date and any required launcher, account or patch step in the documentation folder.
When a restore fails, compare file counts and checksums first. Re-copy the complete set from the original source, check that the archive drive is healthy and confirm that the restored save belongs to the same edition and patch level. If the game still does not recognize the save, recheck the title’s documented path and whether the launcher created a different profile directory.
Maintain the archive over time
Refresh after meaningful game changes
Make a new installer backup after a major patch, expansion or downloadable-content release. Keep the older set when you need compatibility with an existing save or mod configuration; label each version rather than overwriting it blindly. For storefronts that generate offline installers after a build is published, check again when a new build has recently appeared.
Recheck both copies periodically
At an interval that suits how often you play, connect each archive destination and verify that the drives are readable. Recalculate checksums or compare file counts and sizes for large sets. Restore a representative save to a test installation. Replace a drive that reports read errors or behaves intermittently instead of trusting it as the only copy.
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Update the documentation
When you install a patch, expansion or mod, update the inventory with the version and date. Record whether the title now requires a third-party launcher, an online activation or a different operating-system component. A future reinstall is much easier when the archive explains not only what files exist, but also which account and software dependencies remain.
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Storefront differences at a glance
| Storefront or layer | Installer independence | Save coverage | Maintenance burden | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Backup | Preserves Steam-managed files for eligible titles; remains tied to Steam’s ecosystem. | Steam Cloud can synchronize settings, saves, profile statistics and other user-specific data when a title supports it, but local saves still need a separate copy. | Run the backup workflow again after major patches or downloadable content; retain the complete set. | Limited to games that completely download, install and patch through Steam. |
| GOG offline backup installers | Designed to install without the GOG app. | Save files are not automatically guaranteed by the installer; copy them separately from their confirmed location. | Download every installer part, patch and desired extra; new builds may take several hours to produce an offline installer. | The files may still require an account, activation, online service or compatible operating system. |
| Epic Games Store | Installer recovery remains connected to the launcher and title-specific requirements. | Cloud Saves are title-dependent; local saves can be deleted during uninstall when Cloud Saves are unsupported. | Copy local saves before uninstalling or moving the game and refresh after important changes. | Save locations differ by game; consult the developer when the path is unclear. |
| Windows Backup | Not a guaranteed archive of every launcher’s installed game files. | Useful for documented save folders, settings and other files selected through the service. | Confirm that the intended folders are included and periodically verify a restore. | Use it as a save/configuration layer alongside, not instead of, a local installer archive. |
Common failure modes and fixes
“The backup folder is missing files.”
For Steam, confirm that the title is eligible for Steam’s Backup feature and that the workflow completed. For GOG, check that the executable and every numbered data file were downloaded and kept together. Compare file counts and sizes with the source, then copy the complete set again.
“My save disappeared after uninstalling.”
This is possible for games without cloud-save support, particularly when the save lived in the installation directory. Restore the separately archived save to the title’s documented path after reinstalling. If no local copy exists, check the launcher cloud history and the developer’s recovery guidance, but do not assume an uninstall preserved anything.
“Steam shows a cloud conflict.”
Offline play can leave Steam unsynchronized until you reconnect. Compare the local and cloud timestamps and choose the version that contains the progress you intend to keep. After the conflict is resolved, copy that local save into your independent archive.
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Verify that the game edition, user profile and patch level match the archived save. Recheck the developer-documented location, including hidden AppData folders, and preserve the original subfolder structure. Some titles create a new profile directory on first launch; in that case, exit the game, place the archived files in the newly created profile path and launch again.
“The installer works, but the game will not activate.”
An installer copy does not cancel account, key, DRM, third-party launcher or online-service requirements. Use the account and activation details recorded in the documentation. If the original service is required, the archive can preserve the files and saves but cannot guarantee that an unavailable service will accept a future activation.
A practical restore sequence
- Read the archive documentation and identify the edition, version, patches, downloadable content and required accounts.
- Prepare a compatible Windows installation and install the required storefront or third-party launcher when the game needs one.
- Restore the installer set to a temporary location and confirm that every required file is present.
- Install the game, then apply the archived patches and downloadable content in the documented order.
- Launch once so the game creates its profile folders, then exit completely.
- Copy the archived save folder into the confirmed save path, preserving its structure. Keep the newly created folder as a temporary safety copy until the restore is confirmed.
- Launch the game, select the restored profile and verify several expected saves or progress markers.
- After a successful restore, update the archive documentation with the operating-system and launcher steps that worked.
What long-term preservation can and cannot guarantee
Two independent copies substantially improve your chances of recovering a game, but no file archive guarantees perpetual access. Hardware can fail, a storefront can change its client, an account can require verification and an online service can disappear. Keeping installers, saves, account information, activation keys and dependency notes together gives you the strongest practical record of what you own and how it was configured.
The most portable arrangement is a local installer archive plus separately copied saves. GOG’s offline installers are designed for app-free installation; Steam’s backup files remain within Steam’s ecosystem; cloud synchronization is easier to maintain but can be delayed or conflict after offline play. Choose the arrangement that matches the title, then verify it with a test restore while the original installation still works.
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