Steam Cloud saves are specific to each game, so there is no single folder that contains every save. Start with Steam’s local userdata folder, check the game’s own save-location instructions, and use timestamps and play history—not guesswork—to choose between conflicting copies. If your latest progress is missing, check the computer where you last played before assuming the save is gone.
Where Steam Cloud saves are stored
Steam Support lists these default locations for local Steam Cloud files. Steam may be installed in a different location on your computer, so treat these paths as starting points rather than guarantees.
| Operating system | Default local Steam Cloud folder |
|---|---|
| Windows | C:Program Files (x86)Steamuserdata |
| macOS | ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/userdata |
| Linux | ~/.local/share/Steam/userdata |
Under userdata, Steam keeps folders for accounts that have logged in on that computer. Within an account folder, game folders are identified by Steam appID. For example, Steam Support gives Dota 2’s appID as 570, so its Steam Cloud files may be under Steamuserdata[steamID]570. The client’s settings use appID 7. These IDs identify Steam-managed Cloud data; they do not establish that every save for a game is stored there. Steam Cloud file locations and behavior
Find the save folder for a particular game
Developers choose how Steam Cloud is used, including which files are uploaded. Some Steam games do not use Steam Cloud saves at all, and a game’s save files may be outside the Steam userdata folder.
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- Open the game’s Steam store page and look for its Steam Cloud indicator.
- If Cloud support is listed, consult the game developer’s support materials for the exact local save folder and the files included in synchronization.
- If you cannot find a developer guide, check the game’s community information. Do not assume a Steam appID folder is the complete save location.
For third-party games on Windows, Steam says many saves may be under C:Users[Windows user name]DocumentsMy Games, but this is not a universal path. The game developer’s instructions are the better guide. Steam Backup and Restore
Choose the right copy when Steam reports a Cloud conflict
A Cloud conflict means the local and cloud copies differ. Steam cannot determine which one contains the progress you want when changes were made in two places without synchronizing. Offline play can delay synchronization until the computer reconnects, which may lead to a conflict.
- Compare the timestamps Steam displays for the local and cloud copies.
- Match each copy to the computer where it was changed and to when you last played there.
- Choose the copy that matches the progress you want to keep. A later timestamp is a clue, not a substitute for checking your play history.
Before manually copying, replacing, or deleting save folders, make a separate copy of the existing local folders. This preserves the files you have while you decide what to do; it does not guarantee recovery. If Steam reports a sync failure, do not launch the game and proceed as though synchronization succeeded: Steam warns that doing so may create a conflict and lost progress. Steam Cloud conflicts and sync failures
Recover progress that is missing on a new computer
If the old computer is still available, check it before reinstalling or replacing files on the new one. Steam says a newer save may remain on the old computer if it was not synchronized before shutdown. If the old computer can sync successfully, that save may then become available on the new computer.
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- If Steam Cloud is enabled for the game, allow the old computer to synchronize successfully before checking the new one.
- If the game does not use Steam Cloud, follow the developer’s instructions for locating and transferring its saves.
- If neither computer has the desired save, Steam Support says it cannot recover lost saves or resolve Cloud conflicts. It can clarify how the Cloud system works, but it does not provide save recovery.
For troubleshooting sync history, Steam’s cloud_log.txt records files written to or retrieved from Steam Cloud. The default log folders are C:Program Files (x86)Steamlogs on Windows, ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/logs on macOS, and ~/.local/share/Steam/logs on Linux. The log can help show synchronization activity; it is not a save-recovery tool. Steam Cloud logs and troubleshooting
What Steam Backup does—and does not—preserve
Steam Backup creates copies of compatible game files, but Valve-created game backups do not include saved games. Third-party game saves vary by developer and may need to be copied back to their original folders after restoring a game. Do not treat a successful game backup or restore as proof that its saves were backed up. Steam Backup and Restore
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When moving a Steam installation, Steam recommends retaining the steamapps and userdata folders as applicable. Keeping userdata can preserve local Steam Cloud files, but it does not establish that every game’s local saves are included. Check the game developer’s save-location and transfer instructions for that title. Moving a Steam Installation
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