Backups and File Verification

Every fix guide on this site assumes you’ve done what’s on this page. It takes ten minutes the first time and seconds thereafter.

Part 1: Back up your saves

Games keep saves in a handful of predictable places. Check them in this order:

1. Documents\My Games\<game name> is the classic location (Bethesda and many others)
2. %LOCALAPPDATA% and %APPDATA%: paste either into the File Explorer address bar and look for the game or publisher name
3. <game install folder>: some older games keep saves next to the game itself
4. Steam userdata: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<your ID>\<game app ID> for games that use Steam Cloud

The backup itself is deliberately low-tech. Copy the save folder somewhere outside the game’s directories (another drive or a cloud folder) and date the copy. Before any patch, rollback, or fix from this site, make a fresh one. Our Save Backup Toolkit looks up the paths for you and generates a script that does all of this in one run.

Cloud saves are sync, not backup. Steam Cloud and its equivalents happily sync a corrupted save over a good one. They protect against a dead drive, not a bad patch. Keep your own copy.

While you’re there, grab the game’s configuration files too (usually .ini files in the same areas). Hours of settings tweaking live in those.

Part 2: Verify game files

Verification makes the launcher compare every installed file against the correct version and re-download anything damaged or missing. It fixes a remarkable share of post-patch problems, and it’s always the first thing to try before deeper surgery:

• Steam: right-click the game, then Properties, Installed Files, Verify integrity of game files
• GOG Galaxy: select the game, then the settings icon, then Manage installation, Verify / Repair
• Epic Games Launcher: library, then “…” on the game, then Manage, Verify Files
• Battle.net: select the game, then the gear icon, then Scan and Repair
• EA app: game tile, then “…”, then Repair
• Rockstar Games Launcher: Settings, select the game, then Verify integrity

Three things worth knowing:

1. Verification doesn’t touch saves or most settings. Those live outside the verified install. It will remove or overwrite mod files installed into the game folder, which is sometimes exactly what you want and sometimes a disaster. Modded? Read Mods Broke After an Update first.
2. “1 file failed to validate and will be reacquired” on every verify is normal for some games. Certain files are rewritten at launch and always mismatch.
3. If verification finds problems repeatedly, the cause is usually below the game: a failing drive, overzealous antivirus quarantining game files, or unstable overclocks corrupting downloads.

With a dated save backup and a clean verify, you’re in the state every guide on this site starts from.