[Steam Tutorial] How to Backup and Restore Steam Game Files

Steam (), Valve's digital-game-distribution platform, is the uncontested leader in game delivery, familiar to every PC gamer; it also incorporates community features such as voice chat, friend lists, and groups. Steam delights millions.

As a Steam gamer, you spend most of your time playing games, so your game files are very important. If your computer crashes often and causes you to lose important files, or your system becomes corrupted, or your hard drive experiences physical damage, it's a good idea to back up your Steam game files regularly. This will make it easier for you to transfer the data to a new hard drive when you're replacing an old one.

You can use the built-in backup tool in Steam, or a file backup program, to back up and restore your Steam game files.

The steps to back up and restore game files using Steam's backup feature are as follows: 1. Open the Steam client and log in to your account. 2. Click on "Library" in the bottom left corner to view your list of games. 3. Right-click the game you want to back up, then select "Manage" > "Backup and Restore Game Files." 4. In the "Steam Backup Wizard" window that appears, you'll see the games available for backup. Check the box next to the game you want to back up, then click "Next." 5. Choose a backup location. You can select an external hard drive, USB drive, or any other convenient spot. Make sure there's enough space on the chosen location to store the game files. Click "Browse" to specify the location, then click "Next." 6. Confirm your choices, including the game to be backed up and the target location, then click "Start Backup." Wait for the backup process to finish. This may take some time, depending on the size of the game. 7. Once the backup is complete, you can close the wizard. Now you have a backup of the game that can be restored when needed. 8. To restore the backup, follow the same steps to access "Backup and Restore Game Files," but this time, in the wizard, choose "Restore This Backup." Navigate to the location of your backup file, select the appropriate backup, and click "Start Restore." 9. Wait for the restoration process to complete, and the game files will be replaced with the backed-up versions. Please note that restoring an old backup might not work properly if the game has been updated or there's a new version through Steam, as they might be incompatible with the current game build. Backups are generally used to protect against accidental data loss or to transfer games between different computers.

Steam is a mature gaming distribution platform with many features. One of these is an integrated game backup utility that lets you back up and restore your game files. Here's how to use it to back up your game files.

1. Click the “Steam” icon in the top-left corner of the screen.

Click Steam to launch the game backup and restore process.

Step 2: Select “Backup currently installed programs” and click “Next.”

Click “Backup Program.”

Step 3: Choose the game you want to back up and tap “Next.”

Select the game you want to backup

Step four: Set targets.

5. Rename the file and click “Next.”

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Step 6: Wait, and then click “Done.”

Click “Finish”.

How to Restore Your Steam Library or Configurations Using Backup If you want to revert your Steam games or configurations to a previous backup state, follow these steps. Make sure the Steam client is installed on your computer before proceeding. 1. First, open your Steam client. 2. In the top-left corner menu, click on "Library." 3. On the left side of the Library interface, locate and click on "Tools." This will display all installed Steam tools, including the Steam Backup utility. 4. Search for or scroll down to find "Steam Backup Utility" and right-click on it. Then, select "Run." 5. After launching, you'll see a window listing available backup files. These were typically created when you manually made a backup. 6. Choose the backup file you wish to restore and click "Next." 7. Select the location where you want to restore the game or configuration files. It's usually your Steam games installation folder. If you're unsure, the default path is usually `C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps` or your custom Steam install location. 8. Click "Start Restore" to begin the process. This may take some time depending on the size of the backup file and your computer's performance. 9. Once the restoration is complete, close the Steam Backup Utility and restart the Steam client. 10. Your game should now be restored to its backed-up state. If the game doesn't start automatically, you can find it in your Library and click the "Play" button to launch it. Please note that restoring a backup may overwrite any changes you've made to the game or configuration files since the backup was created. Be aware of potential risks before proceeding.

Now that you've backed up your Steam game files, you can restore them in the event that your save files become corrupted or lost by following these steps.

Step 1: Click the "Steam" button in the top-left corner of the screen.

Then click on Steam to begin the backup and restore process:

Step 2: Tap Restore from Backup, then tap Next.

Click “Restore previous backup.”

Step 3: Select the game file you wish to recover, then click “Next.”

Select the backup file made before:

Step 4: Click on “Start Scan” to begin the recovery process, and wait patiently.

Click “Next” to begin the recovery.

# How to Backup and Restore Steam Games with Backup Software on PC

It's a good idea to regularly save your progress in games you play often, just in case your files become corrupted or lost. Backing up your Steam games makes it easier to recover from lost files if you have a good habit of saving.

Not planning ahead? A file-level backup app can help, and we recommend tools Todo Backup Home.

Even users unfamiliar with third-party backup programs will find Todo Backup's interface intuitive. It allows you to easily back up your Steam games, which are typically located in the C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common folder. Let's get started with Todo Backup.

1. Tap "Select what to back up" to start the backup process.

Step 2: You have four backup types to choose from: files, disks, operating system, and email.

Step 3: On the left, you'll see a list of local files and network folders. Expand the folders to choose which files to back up.

**Step 4:** Choose where you want to save the backup file, as instructed onscreen.

Under "Backup Options," clicking "Options" allows you to set a backup password, define a backup schedule, and choose whether to initiate a backup upon specific events in the "Backup Strategy." There are numerous customizable settings for you to explore, which can be adjusted according to your individual needs for the backup process.

Backup files can be stored on a local disk, on Easystore cloud storage, or on a network-attached storage (NAS) device.

Step 6. Todo Backup lets you back up your data to a third-party cloud drive or your own corporate cloud storage.

If you want to back up your data to a third-party cloud drive, choose “Local Disk,” then scroll down and add a “Cloud Device,” entering your account information.

You can also use the cloud storage service provided by Tools. Tap Tools Cloud, create an account with your Tools account, and then log in to your account.

To start the backup, select Backup Now. When it's done, the backup will appear as a card on the left sidebar. Right-click it to manage the backup job in detail.

How to easily restore Steam game files: 1. First, open the Steam client on your computer. 2. In the top-left corner of the menu bar, click on "Library." 3. In the list of games, find the game you want to restore, right-click on it, and select "Properties." 4. In the pop-up window, choose the "Local Files" tab. 5. Click on "Verify integrity of game files." Steam will automatically check for and repair any missing or corrupted files. 6. Wait for the verification process to complete. This may take some time, depending on your internet speed and the size of the game files. 7. After the verification is finished, if any issues were found and fixed, restart Steam and then launch the game again to see if the problem has been resolved. Please note that this process will not restore deleted game files; it only checks and repairs existing ones. If you have completely removed the game, you will need to reinstall it.

If you've set up daily, weekly, or monthly game saves, you can restore the most recent data when you need to recover your game. Here's how:

Click “Browse to Recover”

Step 2. Navigate to your backup location and select the backup file you want to restore. (Backup files created by AOMEI Todo Backup are .pbd files.)

Step 3: Choose a recovery location. You can recover the data to a specific location or the original one.

4. Click on "Start Recovery" to begin the process immediately.

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As an avid PC gamer, Steam offers many great games that come with large file sizes. It's best to back these up on a high-capacity storage device. If you have an external hard drive, you can easily transfer your “Steam games” folder between computers.

With Todo Backup, you can easily back up files (including game files), disks, systems, and emails to various devices like HDD, SSD, RAID, NAS, and USB with just one click.

Frequently Asked Questions About Steam Game File Backups and Restores 1. What are Steam Game Files Backups? - Steam Game Files Backups are a feature provided by Steam that allows users to save game installation files and save data to a secure location in case of accidental loss or the need to reinstall on another computer. 2. How do I create a Steam game backup? - Open Steam, right-click the game in your library, select "Manage" > "Create Desktop Shortcut." Run the game's shortcut, then choose "Backup Game Files" from the game launcher. Follow the prompts to select the backup destination and which game files to include. 3. Where are backup files saved? - By default, backup files are saved in the "Backup" folder within the Steam installation directory. You can also choose a custom location for the backup files. 4. Can I restore a backup on another computer? - Yes, copy the backup files to the same Steam installation directory on the new computer. Then, using Steam's "Game Files" menu, select "Restore Game Files Backup," find, and import your backup. 5. Will restoring a backup affect my game progress? - If the backup contains save data, restoring it should preserve your progress. However, note that if the game has cloud saving, it might prioritize cloud saves over the backup. 6. Are there size limits for backup files? - There are no specific size limits, but backing up large games may require significant hard drive space. Ensure you have enough room for the backup. 7. Can I back up all Steam games? - Almost all Steam games can be backed up, but a few may not due to DRM (Digital Rights Management) or other technical limitations. 8. What if I encounter issues during backup or restore? - If you experience problems, try updating Steam to the latest version or contact Steam Support for assistance. 9. Should I regularly back up game files? - It depends on your needs. If you frequently change computers or worry about data loss, regular backups are advisable. If the game has cloud saving, you might not need to back up as often. 10. Can I back up non-Steam games? - No, Steam's game backup feature is only for games purchased and installed through Steam. Non-Steam games would need manual backups or use of alternative tools.

Backing up and restoring your Steam games is straightforward. If you have any more questions, check out the FAQ.

How do I copy Steam game files?

Your Steam games are located in the C:/Program Files (x86)/Steam/steamapps/common folder. You can copy the files of any game you want to play from this location.

Can you transfer game files from one computer to another?

Yes, you can use backup software like Todo Backup to transfer your game files easily to another computer.

1. Launch Todo Backup and click "Create Backup." 2. Select "Files," then choose your game files. 3. Choose your external storage device (like a USB drive) or cloud storage, then click "Backup Now." 4. The image of your game files is now saved on your external storage or in the cloud, ready to be transferred to another computer.

Can Steam games be saved on a USB drive?

Of course, you can use backup software, such as Todo Backup, to quickly back up your Steam games to a USB drive.

1. Launch Todo Backup and click "Create Backup". 2. Select the "Files" option, then choose your game files. 3. Select the target USB device and click "Backup Now".