Ready to replace your computer and wondering what will become of your game progress? Perhaps you are upgrading from an earlier version of Windows to Windows 10 and would like to return to your game where you left off. You can easily take care of the problem by backing up the save files for your game.

There are some situations that make it desirable to know how to back up games’ save files on a PC, even if you are not replacing your system or updating the platform on it. For example, if you have to uninstall your games for any reason, or if you needed to reverse your Windows 10 PC to a previous restore point. In such cases, a backup of save game files will provide a seamless way to continue your game without going through the hassle of starting a new game.

How to make game backups on Windows 10?

Windows 10 is designed to be easy to use. To this end, there are certain inbuilt features of the platform which savvy users can take advantage of to make their gaming experience easier. On Windows 10, you can easily back up your game files locally, to an external offline source, or to the cloud. The exact process to be taken depends on the kind of game.

Here are some methods to back up saved game files in Windows 10.

  1. Using File Explorer

If you know where your favourite game stores its save files, you can use File Explorer on Windows 10 to create a backup. All you have to do is open File Explorer then navigate to the location and copy the required save folder (or subfolder, depending on the game). The tricky part is knowing exactly where those folders are, as there is no single standard for where PC games store their save files. The most common locations are within the game folder and in My Documents.

Follow these steps to back up your save game files with File Explorer:

  • Open File Explorer. You can either click its icon on the taskbar or search for it using the Windows key on your keyboard.
  • Navigate to your game’s folder, which is likely to be in This PC > Local Disk > Program Files (x86) > Your Game. If you play using Steam or Origin, the path might be different. Consult the relevant guides if in doubt.
  • Examine the subfolders in your game folder. If you see one labelled saves, game saves or user files, it is the one you’re looking for. To back all your saves up, copy the subfolder to a desired location. To back up a specific save, open the subfolder and copy that save. If you’re disposing of the system or performing an upgrade you might want to back up your saves to an external hard drive or flash drive. Otherwise, you may copy them to desktop or some other local path.
  • If no save subfolder is present in the game directory, navigate to My Documents. If you see a subfolder with your game’s name, this is likely where the saves are kept. Open the folder and repeat the relevant steps as described above.
  1. Using Windows 10 File History

File History is a useful utility in Windows 10 designed to make it easy for you to back up important files on your PC. It works by making regularly updated copies of the selected files to an external device which can be connected over USB or wirelessly. With automatic backups through File History, you’re assured of easy access to your game saves whenever you require them.

To use File History to back up your game files, follow these steps.

  • Open Cortana, enter backup in the search bar and select Backup settings. Under the Backup sidebar, toggle on Automatically back up my files if it isn’t already selected.
  • Click on the Add a drive button and choose your connected external data storage device.
  • Under Back-up options, configure the parameters of the backup according to your preference.
  • Select the Add a folder option and navigate to your save game folder to start the backup process.
  1. Using BitReplica Backup Tool

BitReplica is a Windows utility that helps you back up your personal data against any unforeseen events.  All you have to do is install the program and create a backup profile; then you can specify how, when and where to back up your favourite games’ saves folders. With its clean and simple interface, you won’t have to worry about any burdensome steps or mixing up of backups.

To use BitReplica, follow the following steps.

  • Download and install the utility
  • After installation, select the Create Backup dropdown on the top right
  • Select add a source and navigate to the folder where the game saves are. This will create your backup

If you are a fan of remote backups, you can easily choose a cloud storage system in BitReplica and the program will save your backups there.

We have seen some ways to save games’ backups on Windows 10. Each technique brings its own merits and disadvantages. However, irrespective of the method you adopt, it is important to ensure that the save folders or files you are backing up are not corrupted. If something is wrong with them they wouldn’t work after a restore and you would have to start a new game.

We know this can be a source of frustration for Windows 10 users, so we recommend Auslogics Anti-Malware to help you scan your PC for any errors, malware and viruses that can corrupt your save game files. With this nifty utility, you can run a scan just before backing up your games to make sure nothing is amiss. The great thing about Auslogics Anti-Malware is that it can even run alongside your main antivirus and is adept at sniffing out potentially harmful items that are easily missed by your primary protection software.