If you've ever faced the nightmare of losing your Civilization VI progress, fear not, for there is light at the end of the tunnel. When an unforeseen crash or error leaves you with the belief that all your hard work is lost, know that there are effective methods to retrieve your Civilization VI saved game data. In this article, we'll delve into two tactics employed by seasoned gamers to get back on track and reclaim their vanished digital empire. So, if you're eager to resurrect your seemingly lost world, continue reading!
Civilization VI is a turn-based strategy game developed by Firaxis Games, released in October 2016. It marks the sixth installment in the esteemed Civilization video game series, which has sold over 35 million copies globally since its inception in 1991.
Civilization VI enables players to refine their understanding of global history while constructing their own empires to conquer the world. The game emphasizes the well-known strengths of the Civilization series, including city and empire development, research and technological progress, warfare, diplomacy, and more. Players have the option to collaborate to expand their territories or engage in cutthroat competition in an unparalleled Civilization adventure. Enhanced graphics and intricate details for each civilization offer gamers an immersive strategic experience that traverses through the annals of history.
However, some gamers have reported losing their Civilization game saves. Here's a complaint from the Steam community:
"Sid Meier's Civilization VI - Today, I played for 3 hours and before closing, I hit ESC and selected quick save. Additionally, my settings are configured to auto-save after each turn and retain ten auto-saves. Afterwards, I began a new game to test some aspects but didn't manually save it. However, now my main game saves seem to be vanished. There are no autosaves (except for the first turn of my test game) and no quick save. What could be happening? Does the game automatically delete all saves when you start a new one?"
It's unfortunate when players experience an unexpected loss of their Civilization VI game save after investing considerable time and effort. But worry not, where there's a will, there's a way. You can rely on several methods to recover your Civilization VI game saves in Windows 11/10/8/7. Continue reading to learn how to restore Civilization VI game data.
Civilization VI is renowned for its excellent auto-save feature, which enables it to create local save files for the game. Players can typically locate the Civilization VI save file in the following directory:
C:\Users\
You'll know if you've joined the game with the correct assignment. If not, you must delete and recreate the PBC game.
If you're unable to locate your Civilization VI game save from the autosave feature, consider seeking assistance from data recovery software. The Data Recovery Wizard is notable for its user-friendliness and efficiency.
Download this data recovery software on your PC/laptop and follow the steps below to retrieve lost Civilization VI game saves.
Step 1. Choose a drive and start scanning
Open the Data Recovery Wizard tool and hover over the partition where you lost your data. This could be an internal hard drive, external disk, USB, or SD card. Next, click on "Scan".
Step 2. Check and Preview Scanned Files
Utilize the file format filter located in the left or upper-right corner to refine your search results until you locate the necessary files. If desired, you can click the "Preview" button or double-click a file to preview its contents.
Step 3. Recover lost data to a secure location This step involves retrieving the lost data and saving it to a safe and secure place. Here's a breakdown of the process: 1. **Select the recovered files**: After the scanning process is complete, the recovery software will display a list of all the files it has found. Carefully review the list and select the files you wish to recover. 2. **Create a backup location**: Before recovering the files, ensure you have an external storage device or a separate folder on your computer designated as a backup location. This helps prevent potential data overwrite if the original location is not yet safe to use. 3. **Start the recovery process**: Once you've chosen the files and the backup location, initiate the data recovery process. The software will then copy the selected files to the secure location. 4. **Verify the recovered data**: After the recovery is finished, check the contents of the backup location to verify that the files have been successfully restored. Compare them with any available copies or remember their original content to confirm their integrity. 5. **Secure the recovered data**: To protect your recovered data, consider encrypting the backup, setting strong passwords, or using other security measures, especially if the data contains sensitive information. 6. **Restore the data to its original location (optional)**: If the original location where the data was lost is now secure, you can choose to move the recovered files back to their original folders. Otherwise, keep them in the backup location for future reference or transfer them to a more permanent storage solution. Remember, prevention is key when it comes to data loss. Regularly backup your important files to avoid the need for recovery in the first place.
Select the file by clicking the checkbox next to it, and then click "Recover" to restore the lost data to a secure location. It is recommended that you avoid saving the recovered data on the same disk where it was initially lost.
1. Connect the external hard drive to your computer and ensure it is properly recognized. 2. Launch the data recovery software you've downloaded and installed. Examples of reputable data recovery tools include tools Data Recovery Wizard, Recuva, or Disk Drill. 3. In the software, select the external hard drive as the target location for the recovery process. Make sure not to choose your internal hard drive or any other storage device to avoid overwriting any existing files. 4. Click on "Scan" or "Start Scan" to initiate the scanning process. The software will search for deleted, lost, or damaged files on the external hard drive. 5. Wait for the scan to complete. This may take some time depending on the size of the hard drive and the number of files to be scanned. 6. Once the scan is finished, the software will display a list of recoverable files. You can preview them to ensure they are the correct ones you want to restore. 7. Select the files you wish to recover and mark them for retrieval. You can use the search function if you know the file names or filter by file type to locate specific files quickly. 8. Choose a safe location on your computer's internal hard drive or another storage device to save the recovered files. Avoid saving them back to the external hard drive to prevent potential data overwrite. 9. Click on "Recover" or a similar button to start the file restoration process. The software will extract the selected files and save them to the chosen location. 10. After the recovery is complete, verify the restored files to ensure they are intact and functioning properly. 11. Once you're satisfied with the recovery, you can safely replace the old files on the external hard drive with the newly recovered ones. Make sure to back up the recovered files elsewhere first, just in case. Remember that data recovery is not always guaranteed, and prevention is key. Regularly back up your important files to minimize the risk of losing them.
C:\Users\Username\Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization VI\Saves
Civilization VI is a widely enjoyed game among numerous gamers. If you're seeking methods to recover your lost or erased game data, there are two approaches you can attempt. The first approach involves searching for auto-save files. The second method employs a free data recovery software to scan your computer for saved game files. Bear in mind that neither of these methods may work in every situation, but they're worth attempting if you wish to retrieve your in-game progress.
Do you have any other tips for recovering Civilization VI game save data? Share them with us! If these methods prove helpful, don't forget to share this post on your Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
Continue reading, and you'll find additional assistance for Civilization VI data recovery.
1. Where are the Civ 6 auto-save files located?
The files for vanilla content (excluding text information, icon information, and setup screen information) are located in the files found at:
Setup screen information (which includes its database) is located at:
DLC civilizations and scenarios can be found at:
2. How do I transfer saves in Civilization 6?
You need to connect your 2K account and choose the multi-platform cloud save option in the in-game settings. Simply check the box for multi-platform cloud save in the options, and you're all set!
3. How do I retrieve my game progress?
To recover lost Civilization VI game data without a backup, you would need to use a hard drive recovery software.