The short answer
The existing Windows Steam guide places saves under %APPDATA%\EldenRing, in a numbered account folder containing ER0000.sl2. Close the game and Steam, then copy the whole numbered folder to separate storage. Record its original path and account; a timestamp alone is not enough to identify the correct folder.
Different symptom or still not fixed? Find the next check →Key facts
- Save parent folder
%APPDATA%\EldenRing- Save file
- ER0000.sl2 inside the numbered folder; preserve the whole folder.
- Graphics configuration
%APPDATA%\EldenRing\GraphicsConfig.xml- Steam Cloud
- Synchronization is not a dated, independent backup.
- Time needed
- A small copy may take a few minutes; verify the destination.
Find your symptom
Start with your symptom. Skip steps that do not apply to your setup.
| What you see | What to check | Go to |
|---|---|---|
| The save parent folder is missing | Check the entered path, Windows user and whether the game has created local data. | Step 1 |
| Several numbered folders exist | Identify the matching Steam account; preserve all if uncertain. | Step 1 |
| Preparing for mods, migration or reinstall | Keep an independent copy before changing files. | Step 2 |
| A save rolled back or will not load | Preserve the current files before attempting a known backup. | Step 3 |
Fixes, in order
Continue this issue
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Step 1｜Open the save folder
The Windows environment variable avoids having to type your Windows username.
Time: About a minute · Risk: low
- Exit the game normally, then exit Steam from its tray menu.
- Press Windows + R, enter %APPDATA%\EldenRing and press Enter.
- Inspect the numbered folder and the modification time of ER0000.sl2 against your last session.
Record the full original path, numbered folder and corresponding Steam account. Modification time alone does not identify the account. Preserve all candidate folders if uncertain; do not guess which one to overwrite.
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Step 2｜Copy the entire numbered folder to separate storage
Keep companion files together, rather than selecting only ER0000.sl2.
Time: A few minutes, depending on storage · Risk: low
- Right-click the numbered folder and choose Copy.
- Create a dated parent folder on another drive, USB device or independent cloud-storage destination, for example EldenRing_2026-10-18.
- Paste the numbered folder into that parent without changing its name. Compare the copied files, counts and sizes before relying on the backup.
A copy on the same physical drive can be lost with that drive or a reset. For a cloud-storage destination, confirm upload completion and that you can retrieve the copy.
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Step 3｜Restore a known copy for the same account
Temporarily pause this game’s Cloud synchronization so it does not race the local replacement.
Time: Several minutes plus verification · Risk: medium
- Steam Library → ELDEN RING → Properties → General: temporarily turn off Steam Cloud for this game. Record its original setting.
- Close the game and Steam. Confirm the original path and the same Steam account. Copy the current numbered folder to a separate location first; stop if account/path identity is uncertain.
- Copy the backed-up numbered folder into its original location under %APPDATA%\EldenRing. Launch the game and check the loaded character and progress.
- After verifying the intended save, restore the Steam Cloud setting. Inspect any conflict before allowing synchronization.
This is a same-account restoration. If Cloud presents conflicting versions, preserve both available copies and do not choose by timestamp alone. A manual restore can overwrite newer progress.
Results that did not fix the problem help the next reader too.
Avoid
- Do not copy or replace saves while the game or Steam is still writing them.
- Do not delete the current save before preserving it separately.
- Do not replace local files during Cloud synchronization.
Important cautions
- Keep a separate copy before moving or modifying any save data.
FAQ
Does Steam Cloud remove the need for backups?
No. Synchronization can propagate an unwanted state as well as useful progress. Keep dated independent copies before mods or major changes.
How do I move progress to another PC?
Use the same Steam account and check Cloud synchronization, while retaining a manual copy from the old PC. If restoring manually, let the game establish its local folder, close it and Steam, then identify the matching account folder before replacing anything.
What does %APPDATA% mean?
It refers to the current Windows user’s roaming application-data directory, usually C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Roaming. Windows + R can open it without revealing hidden folders or guessing the username.
Sources
English adaptation of the existing Japanese guide, preserving its step IDs, actions and precautions. Game-specific file paths and community-documented behavior are retained from the original’s September 2026 review; they are not new live-game measurements. Publisher and Windows guidance is distinguished from editorial comparisons. Preserve current data and original settings before a change.
PCGamingWiki: ELDEN RING reference retained from the Japanese guideSteam: ELDEN RING requirements and featuresELDEN RINGJapanese version of this page