Game saves are not stored the same way everywhere. Some games sync through Steam Cloud, GOG Galaxy, or a publisher account, while older and smaller games may store progress only as local files on your PC.
These steps apply to Windows PC games from Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, EA, Ubisoft, and standalone installs.
Does this affect you?
Use this before reinstalling Windows, replacing a PC, moving to a new drive, or protecting a long save from drive failure.
Use built-in cloud saves first
- In Steam, right-click the game, choose Properties, and check General for Steam Cloud.
- Make sure Enable Steam Cloud synchronization is checked if the game supports it.
- In GOG Galaxy, open the game settings and check Cloud Saves.
- For EA, Ubisoft, and similar launchers, confirm you are signed into the correct account.
- Look for a cloud icon, sync status, or last-synced time.
- Close games through Quit or Exit to Desktop so the final sync can complete.
Not every game supports cloud saves. If the option is missing, use a manual backup.
Back up saves manually
- Check DocumentsMy Games[Game Name].
- Check %APPDATA%[Game Name].
- Check the game’s install folder for Saves or SaveGames.
- If the location is unclear, search the exact game name plus save file location.
- Copy the entire save folder, not just one file.
- Store the copy on an external drive, USB stick, or cloud storage folder.
- Label it with the game name and date.
To restore, copy the backed-up folder to the original location on the new or repaired PC. Most games detect it automatically.
Automate and avoid conflicts
Tools such as GameSave Manager can scan known save locations and back up many games at once, which is useful for large mixed libraries.
Cloud saves have limits and can create conflicts if you play on two PCs without letting sync finish. Wait for the cloud sync icon to complete before switching machines.
For heavily modded games, back up the mod folder and load order too. A save can fail to load if the required mods are missing or installed in a different order.
Sources
- Valve – Steam Cloud Documentation (2025)
- GOG – GOG Galaxy Cloud Saves Support (2025)
- Microsoft Support – Back Up and Restore Files in Windows (2025)