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Fix a corrupted game save

Updated
22 Oct 2026

This page covers what to try when a game says your save is corrupt or won't load. Copy the whole save folder somewhere safe first, before you try anything else.

First response

When: The game says your save is corrupt or won't load

  1. Close the game. Copy the whole save folder somewhere safe before you touch anything.

  2. Look in the save folder for .bak, .old, backup or autosave files, and try loading those copies. The names differ from game to game, and we have no single official source for them.

  3. If the game uses Steam Cloud, check Steam\logs\cloud_log.txt for sync problems.

Source

Rule out Controlled folder access

When: Saves silently fail to write, or revert, especially in Documents

  1. Open Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings > Manage controlled folder access.

  2. If it's On and your save folder is under Documents, Pictures and so on, check Protection History for a block on the game's .exe.

  3. Add the game's .exe under "Allow an app through Controlled folder access", then restart the game.

Source

Verify game files

When: The game crashes or content is missing (this does not repair a save)

  1. In your Steam Library, right-click the game > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files.

  2. Wait for it to finish. Ignore the message that some files failed to verify; they're local config files.

Source

Restore an older copy

When: Your main save is damaged

  1. Use Steam Cloud, File History, OneDrive version history or your own backups to bring back an earlier copy of the save folder.

Source

What to know

  • "Verify integrity of game files" in Steam checks the installed game files. The files that fail are local configuration files that shouldn't be replaced, and you can ignore that message. In other words, verifying doesn't repair or restore your own save or config files. Source
  • Steam says not to run verification while you're defragmenting or running a virus scan, or for several games at once. Source
  • Controlled folder access blocks untrusted apps from changing or deleting files in protected folders, and shows a notification when it does. It's off by default, and Windows Security only offers On or Off. Source
  • By default Controlled folder access protects your Documents, Pictures, Music, Videos and Favorites (and the Public versions). Folders redirected, for example by OneDrive, are protected at the new location. You can't change the default list. Source
  • To allow a blocked game: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings > Manage controlled folder access > Allow an app through Controlled folder access > Add an allowed app. Pick it from Recently blocked apps or Browse all apps, and select the .exe. Microsoft says only add an app that was blocked and that you trust. The change takes effect when the app starts, so restart the game. Source
  • To turn Controlled folder access off: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Manage settings > Manage controlled folder access, then switch it Off. The allowed-apps and protected-folders options only appear while it's on. Source
  • Steam Support lists antivirus software as something that can interfere with Steam's disk and network operations. It suggests excluding the Steam userdata folder and your game install folders from live monitoring. Source
  • If Steam fails to sync and you click Play anyway, you can end up with a conflict and lose progress. Source
  • OneDrive's folder backup can't move files that are open, and cloud-only files stop you from moving them back. Source
  • File History, OneDrive version history and Windows File Recovery can give you an older copy of a corrupted save. See the recover-deleted-saves page. Source

Mistakes that make it worse

  • Verifying game files does not replace local config files, so it won't fix a corrupted save. Source
  • Controlled folder access only matters when it's on, and an app you allow takes effect only after it restarts. Source
  • Allowing an app lets it change files in the protected folders, so only add apps you trust. Source
  • Offline mode or a failed Steam sync can cause a conflict and lost progress. Source

Tools people use

  • Ludusavi: Keeps versioned backups so you can roll back a corrupted save. Third-party tool: use at your own risk and back up first.

Third-party tools are not ours. Back up first and use them at your own risk.

What we couldn't confirm

  • Crashes or power loss while saving, a full disk, and mod or version mismatches are widely reported causes of corrupt saves. We didn't find an official source that lists them, so treat them as common causes, not confirmed facts.
  • Backup file names like .bak differ from game to game. We found no official generic list.
  • Microsoft says a notification and a "Protected memory access blocked" entry should appear when Controlled folder access blocks something. We didn't test whether games always show it in Protection History.

Game-specific pages