Before you install or change Baldur’s Gate 3 mods, quit the game and make a separate copy of your active profile’s Savegames folder. On Windows, the usual location is %LocalAppData%Larian StudiosBaldur's Gate 3PlayerProfilesPublicSavegames. Steam Cloud can help keep saves in sync, but it is not a guaranteed rollback; keep a manual copy you can identify and restore.
Back up your BG3 saves on Windows
- Exit Baldur’s Gate 3. Close the game before copying so the save files are not being changed during the operation.
- Open the active profile folder. Open File Explorer, paste
%LocalAppData%Larian StudiosBaldur's Gate 3PlayerProfilesPublicinto the address bar, and press Enter. Larian identifies Local AppData as the current Windows data location; saves for the public profile are typically underSavegamesStory. See Larian’s Mod Issues guidance. - Copy the saves. Copy the
Savegamesfolder. If you want a broader snapshot that also preserves other active profile data, copy the entirePublicfolder instead. Paste the copy somewhere separate from the active game profile—another folder or a separate drive—and label it clearly, for exampleBG3 pre-mod backup 2026-10-07. Larian’s launcher troubleshooting guidance recommends moving saves to another location for safekeeping before removing them from cloud storage. - Verify the copy. Open the destination and make sure the copied folder is present and contains the expected saves before installing or changing mods.
- Keep the original backup unchanged. Use it as a pre-mod recovery point while testing. If a cloud conflict appears, check file timestamps and do not blindly accept a choice that could overwrite the copy you need.
If the folder is missing
Use the active Local AppData location rather than assuming an older Documents folder is current. Larian says that if the AppData folder does not exist but the game folder in Documents does, starting the game can copy profiles and configuration files from Documents into AppData; older mods may be copied too. Check the active profile after launching rather than treating the old Documents copy as authoritative. Details are in Larian’s Mod Issues guidance.
Steam Deck: back up the correct profile
The save location depends on whether Baldur’s Gate 3 is running through Proton or the native Steam Deck build. Larian lists these profile paths:
| Build | Profile folder |
|---|---|
| Proton/compatdata | /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/1086940/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Local/Larian Studios/Baldur's Gate 3/PlayerProfiles/Public |
| Native Steam Deck | /home/deck/.local/share/Larian Studios/Baldur's Gate 3/PlayerProfiles/Public |
As on Windows, copy the profile’s Savegames folder to a separate location and check that the copy contains the saves you expect. For a manual transfer from Proton to native, Larian instructs players to copy Savegames from the Proton profile and paste it into the native profile. When Steam Cloud saves are enabled, recent saves sync automatically between the builds; older saves may remain in compatdata and require manual transfer. Follow Larian’s Steam Deck save instructions.
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Larian’s support index lists Hotfix #34, dated September 23, 2025, as introducing the native Steam Deck build, and Hotfix #35, dated November 20, 2025, as a later performance hotfix. The index accessed for this guide shows no later patch entry; check the current support information if paths or build behavior change. Larian support index.
What a backup can—and cannot—protect
A separate copy preserves an earlier save state; it does not make a modded save immune to compatibility issues. Larian warns that game updates, mod dependencies, and conflicts can affect mods. Reported symptoms include saves that stop loading at a percentage, launch crashes, interface problems, and shader issues. Larian’s guidance puts it plainly: “While there are always risks of mods breaking – especially when your game updates – supported mods aim to offer greater compatibility and the ability to be used on all platforms.” See Larian’s Mod Issues guidance.
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If trouble starts, Larian suggests disabling installed mods in the in-game Mod Manager to check whether the issue persists. Its separate instructions for third-party mods after a major update discuss removing mod files and identify the game’s install Data folders and profile modsettings.lsx file as troubleshooting locations. Those are troubleshooting steps, not part of making a backup; do not delete them as part of the copy procedure.
For multiplayer, match the mod setup
Larian says all players in a multiplayer session need the exact same mods and versions. The official Mod Manager displays an Update button when a mod needs updating. Confirm the group’s versions match before joining a campaign. See Larian’s multiplayer-with-mods guidance.
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Why Steam Cloud is not your only backup
Steam Cloud stores saves and other user data for synchronization, but Steam says it cannot recover lost saves or resolve cloud conflicts for players. Larian also notes that Steam Cloud can sync recent saves between the Steam Deck builds. Treat cloud sync as useful convenience, not as an independent, guaranteed pre-mod rollback; a dated manual copy in a separate location gives you a distinct recovery point. See Steam Cloud support and Larian’s Steam Deck save instructions.
Do not substitute Steam’s Backup Feature for the profile-folder copy. Steam describes that feature as backing up game files, and its article says saved games are excluded for Valve-created games. For this task, copy BG3’s own profile save folder. See Steam’s Backup Feature instructions.
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