There may be times when you want to share the save data of a game you're playing on Steam with friends, transfer it to another PC, or keep it as a backup.
However, save data for Steam is stored in different locations for each game, which can be a bit confusing for beginners.
This article will explain in detail how to find Steam save data, how to send it, and the differences from Steam Cloud.
Not all Steam save data is stored in the same location.
The storage locations vary by game, and they mainly use the following places:
For games that support Steam Cloud, it may also be saved in the "userdata" folder. Valve officially states that the userdata folder is used for saving Steam Cloud-related data. Additionally, some games may save data in the Documents or AppData folders.
Since the save location varies by game, let's first find the save data.
For example, many games use the following folders:
%APPDATA%\GameName %LOCALAPPDATA%\GameName Documents\My Games\GameName Steam\userdata\SteamID\AppID\ remote
The storage location may vary depending on the developer's specifications.
Steam has a feature called "Steam Cloud."
For games that support Steam Cloud, the save data is automatically synced to Steam's servers.
When you log into the same Steam account on another PC, the save data will automatically be downloaded, so usually, there's no need to send it manually.
However, you will need to send it manually in the following cases:
First, open the save data folder for the target game.
Since save data is often composed of multiple files, it is recommended to compress the folder into ZIP format.
Email or social media may have file size restrictions.
Therefore, using a file sharing service makes it easy to send save data.
For example, with UploadF, you can easily upload by dragging and dropping, and just send the download URL to the recipient to share it.
Password setting is also available, making it convenient for sharing personal save data.
Unpack the received ZIP file and place it in the game's save folder.
Depending on the game, it may overwrite existing save data, so it's advisable to back it up in advance.
For games that support Steam Cloud, it may be possible to download the data stored on Steam's cloud.
You can check the save data of the target game from the Steam Cloud management page provided by Valve and download it individually.
This method is convenient in case your PC fails or if you want to create a backup.
When sending save data, please pay attention to the following points:
If Steam Cloud and local data differ, you may see a prompt for overwriting during synchronization. If you choose the wrong one, progress may be lost, so be careful.
Yes, it is possible. However, some games may include account information or achievement data.
If you are using the same Steam account, typically, Steam Cloud syncs automatically.
Storage locations vary by game. Check Steam userdata, Documents, and AppData in order.
Steam save data has different storage locations depending on the game, but once you find it, you can easily send it just by zipping it up and sharing.
For transfers to another PC, sharing with friends, or for backup purposes, using a file sharing service will make the process smoother.
With UploadF, you can use it for free and share save data with just drag and drop. Consider using it for sending Steam save data or creating backups.