What Is Steam Cloud and How to Keep Your Saves Safe

Steam Cloud is a Steam feature that stores your game saves and some settings on Steam's servers. When you play a supported game on another computer, or reinstall Windows, your progress is waiting for you. It works quietly in the background, which is why many players only notice it when something goes wrong. Knowing how it works helps you avoid losing hours of progress.

How Steam Cloud works

• The game decides what is saved. Each game that supports Steam Cloud chooses which files go to the cloud: usually saves, sometimes settings too.
• Steam syncs when you start and quit a game. On launch it checks the cloud for newer files; on exit it uploads your latest ones.
• Storage is per game, set by the game's developer, and you don't pay for it.

Not every game supports it. On the game's store page, look for Steam Cloud among the features.

Turning Steam Cloud on

There are two switches:

1. For all games: open Steam's settings, go to the Cloud section, and make sure Steam Cloud is enabled.
2. For one game: in your library, right-click the game, open Properties, and in the General section check the option to keep the game's saves in the Steam Cloud.

Both need to be on for a game to sync. If one is off, that game's saves stay only on your computer.

Checking the sync status

In your library, the game's page shows the cloud status: whether it is up to date or syncing. Before you uninstall a game or move to another computer, start the game once and quit normally, so Steam uploads your latest save.

What to do with a sync conflict

Sometimes Steam finds that the files on your computer and the files in the cloud are both newer in some way, for example if you played offline on two computers. Steam then shows a conflict window and asks which to keep:

• Look at the dates and times shown for each version.
• Keep the one with the progress you want. The other is overwritten.
• If unsure, back up first: copy the game's save folder somewhere safe before choosing.

Never click through this window without reading it; it is the one moment where you can lose progress.

Games that don't use Steam Cloud

• Games without Steam Cloud support keep saves only on your computer.
• Games with their own launcher or account may store saves in their own cloud instead. Check the game's own settings.
• Mods and screenshots are usually not part of a game's cloud saves.

For these games, back up the save folder yourself before reinstalling or changing computers.

Moving to a new computer

A short checklist so nothing is lost:

1. On the old computer, start each game you care about and quit it normally, so its latest save is uploaded.
2. Check the cloud status in your library for those games.
3. Back up the save folders of games that don't use Steam Cloud.
4. On the new computer, sign in to Steam, install the game and start it. Steam downloads the cloud saves before the game opens.
5. If a conflict window appears, read the dates carefully before choosing.

Following these steps takes a few minutes and saves the frustration of starting a long game from the beginning.

Good habits

1. Quit games normally instead of closing them from Task Manager, so Steam can upload.
2. Wait for sync to finish before shutting down after a session.
3. Back up important saves for games without cloud support.
4. Keep your Steam account secure with Steam Guard, since your cloud saves are tied to it.

Frequent questions

What is Steam Cloud?

A Steam feature that stores the saves of supported games on Steam's servers, so they follow your account.

How do I enable Steam Cloud?

Turn it on in Steam's Cloud settings, and in the game's Properties under General.

Does Steam Cloud save every game?

No. Only games that support it, and only the files the game chooses.

What happens in a sync conflict?

Steam asks which version to keep. Check the dates, and back up the save folder if unsure.

Steam wallet codes on Mas4Games

Steam Cloud is free with your account. If you want to add funds, Mas4Games sells Steam wallet codes in US dollars that add to your Steam Wallet. A code can only be used where Steam accepts it for your account's region, so check before buying. The code is shown on your order's page and sent by e-mail, and the help center has live support.