Steam Cloud automatically backs up your game saves to Valve's servers when you enable it

Steam Cloud is a built-in feature that stores your game progress on Valve's servers instead of only on your computer. When you turn it on, Steam uploads your save files whenever you close a game, and downloads them when you start playing on a different device. You do not need to manually upload or read anything — Steam handles the transfer in the background.

Not every game supports Cloud. Older titles and some indie games do not use it. You can check whether a specific game has Cloud support before you enable it, and Steam will tell you if a game does not participate.

The main reason to use Steam Cloud is to play the same save file across multiple computers. If you have a gaming PC at home and a laptop you travel with, Cloud lets you pick up where you left off on either machine. It also protects your saves if your hard drive fails, since a copy lives on Valve's servers.

Key Takeaways

  • Steam Cloud is turned on by default for most games, but you can verify it is active in your Steam settings or in each game's properties.
  • You enable Cloud globally in Steam Settings under Cloud, or you can turn it on or off for individual games.
  • Steam uploads saves when you close a game and downloads them when you launch on another device, with no action required from you.
  • Not all games support Cloud, and some games store saves in locations Steam cannot reach without manual setup.
  • If two devices upload conflicting saves at the same time, Steam keeps the most recent version and stores the older one as a backup.

Enable Cloud in your Steam settings

Open Steam on your computer and select Steam in the top menu bar, then click Settings. On the left side, click Cloud. You will see a checkbox next to "Enable Steam Cloud for applications which support it." Make sure this box is checked.

Below that checkbox, you can see how much space your Cloud saves are using. Steam gives you 1 GB of Cloud storage per game, and most save files are much smaller than that. If you have hundreds of games with Cloud enabled, you might eventually hit a limit, but this is rare for typical players.

Once you check this box, Steam Cloud is active for every game that supports it. You do not need to restart Steam or your computer. The setting takes effect when ready.

Check whether a specific game uses Cloud

Right-click on any game in your Steam library and select Properties. Click the Updates tab. Near the bottom, you will see a line that says "Steam Cloud" with either a checkmark or an X. A checkmark means the game supports Cloud and will back up saves automatically.

If you see an X, that game does not use Steam Cloud. Some games store saves in a location that Steam cannot access without extra setup, and some older games predate Cloud entirely. For games without Cloud support, your saves exist only on the device where you play.

You can also check a game's store page on Steam before you purchase. Scroll down to the "Features" section and look for the Steam Cloud icon. This tells you whether Cloud is available before you buy.

Turn Cloud on or off for individual games

If you want Cloud enabled globally but turned off for one specific game, you can override the setting. Right-click the game in your library, select Properties, and click the Updates tab. Look for "Steam Cloud" and you will see a dropdown menu. Select Enabled or Disabled as you prefer.

You might disable Cloud for a game if you are testing different save files and do not want them to sync across devices, or if you are playing an online multiplayer game where the server stores progress and local saves do not matter. For most single-player games, leaving Cloud enabled is the safer choice.

What happens when you play on a second device

When you launch a game on a different computer, Steam checks whether a newer save exists in the Cloud. If it does, Steam downloads it before the game starts. You will see a brief notification that Cloud is syncing, and then the game loads with your most recent progress.

If you have made progress on both devices since the last sync, Steam keeps the save that is newer by timestamp. The older save is not deleted — Steam stores it as a backup in your Cloud storage. You can manually restore an older save if you need to, though this requires going into Steam's backup folder on your computer.

The sync happens automatically. You do not need to upload saves manually or wait for a progress bar. Steam runs the transfer in the background while you are playing or when you close the game.

Troubleshoot if saves are not syncing

If you close a game and the save does not appear to upload, first check that Cloud is enabled in both your global Steam settings and in that game's properties. Then verify that you are signed into the same Steam account on both devices. Cloud only syncs between devices logged into the same account.

If the game is still not syncing, check your internet connection. Steam cannot upload or read saves if you are offline. Some games also require you to save manually within the game itself before Steam can back up the file — Steam Cloud does not create saves, it only copies saves that the game has already written to your drive.

Restart Steam and try closing and reopening the game. Sometimes a temporary connection issue prevents a sync, and restarting clears it. If saves still are not syncing after that, the game may not support Cloud despite what the store page says, or there may be a permissions issue preventing Steam from accessing the save file location.

Understand Cloud storage limits and backups

Steam gives you 1 GB of Cloud storage per game. Most save files are kilobytes or a few megabytes, so you will not run out of space unless you have thousands of games with very large save files. Games with extensive modding or custom content sometimes have larger saves, but even those rarely exceed 100 MB.

Steam keeps older versions of your saves as backups. If you accidentally overwrite a save or want to go back to an earlier version, you can restore a backup through Steam's settings. Open Settings, click Cloud, and look for a link to manage your Cloud saves. From there you can see the history of saves for each game and restore an older one if needed.

Cloud backups are not a replacement for a full system backup. If your Steam account is compromised or deleted, your Cloud saves go with it. For games where progress matters deeply to you, consider keeping a manual backup on an external drive as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Steam Cloud cost money?

No. Cloud storage is included free with every Steam account. You get 1 GB per game, and there is no subscription or fee to use it.

What if I want to keep different saves on different computers?

Turn off Cloud for that game in its Properties. Your saves will stay local to each device and will not sync. You can also manually delete a Cloud save through Steam settings if you want to start fresh on one device without affecting the other.

Can I restore a save from a week ago?

Yes. Open Steam Settings, click Cloud, and find the option to view your Cloud saves. Steam keeps a history of older versions for each game. You can restore a previous save from that menu, though the exact steps vary slightly depending on your Steam client version.

Will Cloud sync work if I am offline?

No. Steam needs an internet connection to upload and read saves. If you are offline, your game saves normally to your local drive, and the sync happens the next time you connect to the internet and close the game.

What happens if I play the same game on two computers at the same time?

Steam will sync whichever save is uploaded last. If you close the game on your laptop after closing it on your desktop, the laptop save overwrites the desktop save. To avoid confusion, close the game on all devices before switching to a different computer.