What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Make two fresh backups before a major Final Fantasy XIV update: one for client settings and one for every character you need to protect. At Character Selection, use the gear-icon backup controls and choose Upload for each category. On Windows or Mac, you can also create a local FFXIVconfig.fea export from the launcher. After the update, read the patch notes and inspect the affected menus; do not erase all configuration as a routine precaution.
A backup preserves your previous choices, but it does not guarantee that every environment-dependent value, screenshot, appearance, inventory arrangement, or system option can be restored. The safest process is to record your setup, save both server categories, keep a separate local copy when available, and restore only the data you actually need.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
![Final Fantasy XIV Online: 60 Day Time Card [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51bYMOf2hEL._SL160_.jpg)
|
Final Fantasy XIV Online: 60 Day Time Card [Online Game Code] | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Final Fantasy XIV Online, Complete Edition - PlayStation 4 | $99.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Final Fantasy XIV Online | $45.60 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood - PlayStation 4 | $16.25 | Buy on Amazon |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
What to do before the update
Use this order if you want a dependable rollback point:
- Record the platform, input device, display arrangement, and characters you use.
- Back up client settings from Character Selection.
- Back up character settings separately for every relevant character.
- On Windows or Mac, export a local copy with the launcher’s Backup Tool.
- Check the backup date and, if useful, enable the in-game reminder.
- After patching, compare the patch notes with your saved configuration before changing anything.
The client and character uploads are separate operations. Uploading one does not save the other, so a complete pre-update safety net requires both. Perform the uploads while the intended account and world are selected, and wait for each confirmation rather than closing the client immediately.
#1 Best Overall
- Adventure awaits you beyond the horizon in FINAL FANTASY XIV.
- This product is a digital 60-Day Game Time Card for FINAL FANTASY XIV Online. It serves as a payment option that allows players to add 60 days of game time to their FFXIV account at the Standard subscription rate, subject to account limits. Both the game and game time are required to play.
- This product can be redeemed on service accounts registered with the Windows, Mac, PlayStation, or Steam versions of FINAL FANTASY XIV Online. However, it cannot be redeemed on service accounts that have only the XBOX or Nintendo Switch 2 versions registered.
Why a “reset” should be selective
Major patches can revise configuration behavior, rename options, or deliberately change a default. That is different from every setting being wiped. Patch 7.3, for example, changed the Character and Object Quantity setting to Automatic for all players. That documented change does not establish that every update resets every player’s settings.
Do not delete configuration folders or use a wholesale reset simply because a patch is arriving. Preserve a known-good backup first, then inspect the specific option named in the notes. If the new behavior is intentional, you can keep it; if it conflicts with your setup, restore or adjust only the affected setting. A selective change is easier to verify and is less likely to undo a hotbar, keybind, accessibility choice, or display adjustment that the patch did not touch.
Record the environment that can affect your settings
Before opening a backup dialog, note the conditions under which you play:
- Platform: Windows, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch 2, as applicable to your setup.
- Input method: keyboard and mouse, controller, or another input device.
- Display arrangement: monitor or television, resolution, windowed or full-screen use, and any multi-display arrangement.
- The characters whose HUDs, hotbars, keybinds, macros, and other personal data matter.
Some system values depend on the current play environment and are not exportable. Recording them gives you a reference when you move between devices or review a setting that did not come back with a backup. Include the practical details you would otherwise have to rediscover: which screen is primary, whether you use a controller or keyboard, and any accessibility or sound choices that are important to your play session.
Back up client settings from Character Selection
Client settings apply to the game installation and shared account-level experience rather than to one character’s individual layout.
- Return to the Character Selection screen.
- Open the client-settings backup window with its gear icon.
- Choose Upload.
- Wait for the upload to finish before leaving the screen.
This server backup includes display, sound, input-device, accessibility, theme, shared macro, and miscellaneous client settings. Shared macros belong in this category, not in the individual character upload. If you use several characters, you do not need to repeat the client upload for each one, but you do need to perform the character upload for each character whose personal configuration you want to preserve.
Back up each character separately
Character data has its own backup control. Repeat the operation for every character you may need to recover.
Recommended Free Tools
- At Character Selection, select the character you want to protect.
- Open that character’s backup window.
- Choose Upload and wait for confirmation.
- Repeat for the next character.
The character backup covers Character Configuration, HUD layout, hotbars and cross hotbars, gear sets, keybinds, log filters and text colors, character-specific macros, social data, and miscellaneous character data.
It does not save screenshots, character appearance data, item-sort settings, or inventory location. If a character’s appearance or the order of items in your bags matters, document those separately; they are not recovered by downloading this backup. Taking a written note or screenshots of those excluded details is a separate record, not a substitute for the character upload.
Choose the right backup route
The best method depends on what you are protecting. Use the server client backup when you need display, sound, input, accessibility, theme, shared macros, or other installation-level choices. Use the server character backup when the important data is a particular character’s HUD, hotbars, gear sets, keybinds, logs, social data, or individual macros. For a complete pre-update record, make both.
Use the launcher export as a second, offline copy when you play on Windows or Mac. It is especially useful if the computer itself could fail, because the exported file can be retained away from the machine. It is not a replacement for the server client backup: the launcher file does not include system configuration, screenshots, or character appearance data, and it cannot be used as a console-transfer method.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsRank #2
- A new adventure awaits in Norvrandt
- New jobs, including gun breaker and dancer
- New playable races: Viera and Hrothgar
- Level cap increase from 70 to 80
- New cities to explore: The Crystarium and Eulmore
If you are copying a layout to another character on the same service account and device, Import Character Settings is more precise than applying an entire backup. It lets you choose categories such as HUD, hotbars, gear sets, Character Configuration, and individual macros. If you are exchanging a setup temporarily, Configuration Sharing can create a code, but it can overwrite the recipient’s current data and should not be treated as your regular recovery copy.
Create a local PC export when you use Windows or Mac
The launcher provides an offline copy in addition to the server uploads. This route is available on Windows and Mac and is useful if the local device fails or you want a file you can retain independently.
- Open the launcher and select Config.
- Under Backup Tool, select Back Up.
- Choose the destination folder.
- Confirm that the folder contains
FFXIVconfig.fea.
Keep the file on storage separate from the computer, such as an external drive or USB flash drive, if you are protecting against a device failure. The game’s server backup does not require you to buy storage; the separate drive is only for keeping your own local copy. The official Square Enix blog post Configure This Out, published October 25, 2018, also describes copying the PC data folder to external storage. A small USB drive is therefore an optional convenience, not a requirement for using the in-game server backup.
The launcher export includes character configurations, HUDs, hotbars and cross hotbars, gear sets, macros, log filters, and log text colors. It does not export system configuration, screenshots, or character appearances, and it is not a console-transfer method. Label the folder with the date and platform so an older file is not mistaken for the latest export.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallOutdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchTurn on the backup reminder if you routinely forget
You can have the game alert you when a backup is overdue:
- Open System.
- Choose System Configuration.
- Open Other Settings.
- Find System Configuration Backup.
- Enable Notify after a set time has elapsed since the last backup.
Patch 7.1 documents that the reminder appears when no backup has been created in over 90 days. The reminder is off by default, so enabling it is a deliberate choice rather than an automatic safeguard. The notification does not remove the need to upload both categories: it is simply a prompt that a backup date may be getting old.
Know what each backup route contains
| Route | Useful coverage | Limits and cautions |
|---|---|---|
| Launcher export on Windows or Mac | Character configurations, HUD, hotbars and cross hotbars, gear sets, macros, log filters, and log text colors | Does not export system configuration, screenshots, or character appearances; cannot transfer settings to a console |
| Server client-settings backup | Display, sound, input device, accessibility, shared macros, theme, and miscellaneous client settings | Some environment-specific system values are not exportable |
| Server character-settings backup | Character Configuration, HUD, hotbars, gear sets, keybinds, logs, individual macros, social data, and miscellaneous data | Does not save screenshots, appearance data, item-sort settings, or inventory location; shared macros are in client settings |
| Import Character Settings | Selected HUD, hotbars, gear sets, Character Configuration, and individual macros between characters on the same service account and device | Appearance data is not copied |
| Configuration Sharing | Selected HUD, hotbars, macros, character configuration, partial system configuration, and miscellaneous data through a code | Temporary sharing; one set can be uploaded per character at a time; applying it overwrites the recipient’s current configuration |
This comparison also clarifies cost and hardware requirements. Server uploads and downloads use the game’s own backup controls and do not require purchased storage. A local export requires a Windows or Mac installation and a destination folder; external storage is optional. Import Character Settings requires the same service account and device, while the server method is the official route described for moving settings between supported platforms.
Review settings after the patch
Read the notes before diagnosing a reset
Start with the update’s official patch notes. Look for entries that mention System Configuration, Character Configuration, HUD, hotbars, input, display, sound, accessibility, or a changed default. A setting that now behaves differently may have been intentionally changed rather than lost.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Inspect both configuration menus
Open System Configuration and Character Configuration, then check the options named in the notes. Pay particular attention to newly added controls and options whose labels or automatic modes have changed. Compare the current value with your pre-update notes before restoring anything. Check one character first, then confirm whether the same issue appears on other characters; client-level changes and character-level changes do not have the same scope.
Keep deliberate changes or restore a specific choice
If the patch’s new default works for you, leave it in place. If it breaks your preferred HUD, input behavior, display setup, or accessibility arrangement, change that option directly or restore the relevant backup category. Avoid treating an intentional global adjustment as evidence that all of your data was reset. Make a new backup after you finish post-patch changes so the corrected state becomes your next rollback point.
Restore a local launcher backup
Use the local file only after confirming that it is the correct date and belongs to the intended installation.
Rank #3
- Increased level cap from 50 to 60
- Dark Knight: Tank - Wields a two-handed greatsword and the power of darkness to deal damage to their foes
- Astrologian: Healer - Tap the power of the stars to cast potent healing magicks, while drawing energies from constellation-based divining cards to support your party
- Machinist: DPS - Deal damage from afar using a combination of firearms enhanced with various attachments, and mechanical turrets deployed on the battlefield
- Included in this expansion pack is a new race called The Au Ra, a new City-State - Ishgard, new Primals Bismarck and Ravana, and Flying Mounts
- Open the launcher and select Config.
- Under Backup Tool, choose Restore.
- Browse to the folder containing
FFXIVconfig.fea. - Confirm the restore and restart or revisit the affected configuration screens as requested by the client.
A restore can replace current local data. If you have made useful changes since the file was created, make a fresh backup first so those changes are not lost. Remember that the file does not contain system configuration, screenshots, or appearance data. Restoring it will not recreate an inventory order or a character’s visual appearance, so do not keep repeating the restore while looking for information that was never included.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Download server backups and move settings safely
Use server backups for supported platform moves
The server method is the official route described for moving settings between supported platforms. At Character Selection, open the appropriate client or character backup window and choose the download or restore action offered for that backup. Confirm the target platform, character, and backup date before applying it. Environment-specific system values that cannot be exported still need to be configured manually.
Import selected settings to another character
Import Character Settings is suited to copying selected configuration between characters on the same service account and device. Choose the source data and the categories you want, such as HUD, hotbars, gear sets, Character Configuration, or individual macros. Appearance data is excluded, so the receiving character will not acquire the source character’s look. Make a backup of the receiving character before importing if its current arrangement is valuable; that gives you a way back if the copied categories are not what you expected.
Use Configuration Sharing only for temporary, deliberate transfers
Configuration Sharing creates a code for selected HUD, hotbar, macro, character-configuration, partial system-configuration, and miscellaneous data. It is not the routine backup mechanism: the upload is temporary, only one set can be uploaded per character at a time, and applying the shared set overwrites the recipient’s current configuration. Use the regular client and character backup tools for recovery and platform migration. Before applying a code, decide which recipient categories may be replaced and preserve the recipient’s current state.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common failure modes and the fix
Only one category was uploaded
If your HUD returned but display or sound choices did not, you may have restored character data without client data, or the reverse. Upload and restore both categories separately when both matter.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →The backup is older than the last major changes
Check the saved date before applying it. If the file predates a new hotbar arrangement or keybind set, preserve the current state first, then decide whether the older version is still preferable.
A setting did not come back after a cross-platform move
Some system values are tied to the play environment and are not exportable. Re-enter those values on the destination device instead of assuming the backup failed.
The recipient’s setup was unexpectedly replaced
Configuration Sharing applies its selected data over the recipient’s current configuration. Make a backup of the recipient before importing or applying shared data, and use category selection carefully.
An appearance or inventory arrangement is missing
Character appearance, screenshots, item-sort settings, and inventory location are outside the character backup coverage. Recreate or document those items separately.
The wrong platform or character was selected
A valid backup can still be the wrong backup for the task. Confirm the platform, service account, character name, and upload date before downloading. If several characters are involved, restore the intended character’s data rather than assuming a client upload will rebuild every personal layout.
A local file was overwritten
Keep dated folders or copies when exporting. Before restoring an older FFXIVconfig.fea, create a fresh export of the current state. That extra step protects recent improvements while you test the older configuration.
Rank #4
- Customer must have Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn to play Stormblood
- Increased level cap up to level 70
- New Jobs – Red Mage and Samurai
- New Beast Tribe and Primal
- New Alliance Raid
How to review a character methodically
After the update, use a short audit instead of changing everything at once. First verify the HUD and hotbars, because those are immediately visible. Next test keybinds, cross-hotbars, gear sets, and macros on the intended character. Then inspect log filters, text colors, social data, and any miscellaneous character settings you rely on. Finally check display, sound, input-device, accessibility, theme, and shared macros in the client-level menu.
When a problem is limited to one character, start with the character backup or Import Character Settings. When the same problem appears everywhere on the installation, start with client settings or the named System Configuration option. This scope check prevents replacing a complete character layout to fix a single display preference.
A compact pre-update and post-update checklist
Before maintenance
- Identify the platform, input device, display arrangement, and characters.
- Upload client settings from the gear-icon client backup window.
- Upload character settings for each character you want to protect.
- On Windows or Mac, create and verify a local
FFXIVconfig.feafile. - Store the local copy separately if device loss is a concern.
- Enable the 90-day backup reminder if it fits your routine.
- Write down excluded details such as appearance, screenshots, item sorting, and inventory location if they matter.
After the update
- Read the patch notes for configuration changes.
- Inspect System Configuration and Character Configuration.
- Keep intentional changes or adjust only the affected options.
- Confirm the character and backup date before downloading or restoring.
- Back up the current state before applying an older file or an overwrite-capable share.
- Make a new backup after your post-patch adjustments are complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I back up my FFXIV settings before a patch?
At Character Selection, upload the client settings from the gear-icon client backup window and upload character settings separately for every character you want to protect. On Windows or Mac, also use the launcher’s Config > Backup Tool > Back Up command to create a local FFXIVconfig.fea file.
Do FFXIV updates reset settings?
Not necessarily. Patch notes can document a deliberate change, such as Patch 7.3 setting Character and Object Quantity to Automatic for all players, but that does not prove that every update wipes configuration. Check the notes and the affected menus before resetting anything.
How do I restore my character settings?
Confirm the character and backup date, then use the character backup window at Character Selection and choose its download or restore action. For a local Windows or Mac copy, use the launcher’s Config > Backup Tool > Restore command and select the folder containing FFXIVconfig.fea.
How do I transfer my HUD and hotbars to another character?
Use Import Character Settings on the same service account and device, selecting HUD, hotbars, gear sets, Character Configuration, or individual macros as needed. Appearance data is not copied. Back up the receiving character first because imported data can replace its current categories.
What is the difference between client and character backups?
Client backups cover display, sound, input device, accessibility, theme, shared macros, and miscellaneous client data. Character backups cover Character Configuration, HUD, hotbars, gear sets, keybinds, logs, individual macros, social data, and other character data. They are separate uploads.
Can I move FFXIV settings from PC to console?
The official server backup method is the route described for moving settings between supported platforms. The Windows/Mac launcher export is not a console-transfer method, and some environment-specific system values are not exportable and must be set manually.
Does the backup save my character appearance or inventory order?
No. Character appearance, screenshots, item-sort settings, and inventory location are excluded from the character backup. Record those details separately if you need to recreate them.
Is Configuration Sharing a normal backup?
No. It is intended for deliberate sharing of selected HUD, hotbar, macro, character-configuration, partial system-configuration, and miscellaneous data. The upload is temporary, one set can be uploaded per character at a time, and applying it overwrites the recipient’s current configuration.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →The Bottom Line
Before a major FFXIV update, upload both backup categories, export FFXIVconfig.fea on Windows or Mac if you want an independent local copy, and record the settings that cannot be exported. After maintenance, use the patch notes to identify intentional changes, inspect both configuration menus, and restore only the affected category. Confirm the platform, character, and backup date before every overwrite-capable restore or share.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
