Steam Cloud Won’t Sync | Quick Fixes Guide

What “Out Of Sync” Or “Unable To Sync” Really Means

Those tags usually appear when the files on your PC don’t match what’s on Valve’s servers, when Cloud is off for the app or the whole client, or when Steam can’t complete an upload. You might see a conflict window, a yellow Cloud badge, or a note beside the Play button. Steam’s own docs confirm that games store settings and saves in Remote Storage and that the client compares timestamps and file lists before it pushes updates.

Steam Cloud Sync Not Working: Fast Checklist

Run through these high-impact checks first. They solve most cases without drama.

Symptom	Quick Fix	Where
“Out of sync” beside Play	Double-click the Cloud status to retry; quit and relaunch the client	Library page of the game
Sync error on launch	Choose the right side in the conflict window (local vs. cloud) after backing up	Conflict dialog at launch
No Cloud activity at all	Turn on global Cloud; turn on per-game Cloud	Steam > Settings > Cloud; Game > Properties > General
One PC uploads, another never pulls	Close the game cleanly on the first PC; fully exit Steam; reopen on the second	Both PCs
Endless “Can’t reach servers” pop-ups	Check service status; try again after maintenance	Status site / evening maintenance window
Large saves won’t move	Trim old saves or lower file size; some titles limit Cloud capacity	In-game save manager or save folders
One title never syncs	Verify files; repair Library folder	Game > Properties > Installed Files

Step-By-Step Fixes That Actually Work

1) Confirm Cloud Is Enabled In Two Places

First, open Steam > Settings > Cloud and toggle “Enable Steam Cloud synchronization for applications that support it.” Next, in your Library, right-click the game > Properties > General and switch on the Cloud option specific to that app. Many users fix the problem right here, since the per-app switch overrides the global setting.

2) Retry The Upload Cleanly

Close the game, then fully exit Steam from the upper-left menu. Reopen Steam, visit the game’s Library page, and look to the right of the Play button. If you see “Out of sync,” double-click it to force a re-upload. Launch the game only after the Cloud badge shows “Up to date.”

3) Handle The Conflict Window Safely

The conflict dialog appears when Steam can’t decide which files are newer. Pick the set that contains the progress you want to keep. If you’ve made changes on this PC after the last good upload, choose the local copy; if another PC has newer progress, pick the cloud copy. When in doubt, back up the local save folder before you click anything, then choose. You can always restore the backup and try again.

4) Verify Game Files And Repair The Library

Corruption or partial downloads can block Cloud activity. In Library, right-click the game > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity. If issues persist, open Steam > Settings > Downloads > Steam Library Folders, click the three dots on the affected drive, and run Repair Folder. Then restart the client and try the upload again.

5) Check Steam’s Service Status And Routine Maintenance

When Cloud requests fail across multiple titles at the same time, it can be a platform issue. Routine maintenance often lands on Tuesdays (Pacific time), and brief interruptions are normal. If uploads keep failing while services look degraded, pause and try later. Don’t mash “Launch anyway” if you still need an upload to preserve fresh progress.

6) Trim Oversized Save Sets

Some games set tight Cloud limits per app. Massive save directories, crash dumps, or screenshots inside the save path can push you over a cap and block the upload. Delete throwaway saves inside the game menu first. If a title lacks that feature, back up the local “remote” folder, remove bloat, then relaunch to trigger a smaller sync. Keep your best saves; archive everything else outside Steam’s userdata tree.

7) Fix Firewall Or Network Blocks

If your PC can’t reach Remote Storage endpoints, uploads stall. Test on a different network, switch from VPN to a direct connection, and make sure your firewall isn’t filtering the client. Whitelist the Steam executable and its web helper if your security suite is strict.

How To Resolve A Cloud Conflict Without Losing Progress

Before you click inside the conflict window, make a quick copy of your local save folder to the desktop. Then:

1. Read the timestamps shown in the dialog. Pick the set with the latest play session you trust.
2. Finish the launch, load your latest in-game save, and save once more to write a fresh state.
3. Fully exit the game to trigger an upload. Wait for “Up to date.”

If you picked wrong, close the game, restore your backup into the “remote” folder, and relaunch. The client should prompt again, letting you choose the other side.

Where Steam Stores Cloud-Managed Saves

Most titles that use Remote Storage keep synced files under the Steam “userdata” path inside a per-app “remote” directory. The app ID identifies each game. Keep this handy when you need to back up or clean out bloat.

Typical Paths You’ll Check

• Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<SteamID>\<AppID>\remote
• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/userdata/<SteamID>/<AppID>/remote
• Linux: ~/.local/share/Steam/userdata/<SteamID>/<AppID>/remote

Some games store config bits elsewhere (Documents or the game folder). Those aren’t always part of Cloud unless the developer opted in. When the Library page for a game shows a Cloud icon, the title is Cloud-aware, but the exact files still depend on the developer’s setup.

Fixing Sync On A Second PC Or Steam Deck

Here’s a safe flow when moving between devices:

1. On device A, save in-game and exit to the title screen, then quit to desktop. Wait for the Library badge to switch to “Up to date.”
2. On device B, start the client and let it sit for a minute. Launch the game. If a conflict pops up, pick the newer side.
3. Play a minute on device B, save once, then exit cleanly to trigger a fresh upload back to the servers.

If device B never receives updates while others do, the per-game Cloud switch on that device may be off, or the machine clock is skewed. Correct the clock, re-enable Cloud for the title, and try again.

Common Causes And How To Spot Them

Cloud Disabled For The App

Per-title Cloud toggles override the global switch. If the game shows no Cloud line under its name in the Library, open Properties > General and look for the Cloud option. Toggle it on and restart the client.

Service-Side Hiccups

Uploads from multiple titles fail together, or the status site shows red flags. Wait a bit and try later. Don’t delete saves under pressure; patience here saves headaches.

Oversized Saves Or Too Many Files

Huge campaign files, mods that dump logs into the save path, or hundreds of rolling saves can hit a cap. Slim the set, archive locally, and the next upload should complete.

Corrupted Local Data

Bad files block both play and Cloud. Verification in the Installed Files tab replaces broken data and often clears the backlog on the next exit.

Advanced: Manually Back Up And Nudge A Fresh Sync

If a game keeps failing to upload, you can back up the “remote” folder and try a gentle nudge:

1. Exit the game and the client.
2. Copy the entire …\userdata\<SteamID>\<AppID>\remote folder somewhere safe.
3. Open Steam and launch the game, then return to the menu and save once to write a small change.
4. Exit and watch the Library badge. If it flips to “Up to date,” you’re set.

If it still refuses, restore your backup, trim any non-save junk inside “remote,” and repeat the launch-save-exit cycle.

When To Leave Cloud Off For One Session

If you fear overwriting a treasured run, disable the per-game Cloud toggle temporarily and work from a manual backup. After confirming your local save is healthy, re-enable the toggle, launch once, save once, and exit to push a clean copy. This avoids a bad overwrite while you sort things out.

Handy Reference: Paths And Notes

Platform	Cloud Save Folder	Notes
Windows	C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<SteamID>\<AppID>\remote	Back up this folder before resolving conflicts
macOS	~/Library/Application Support/Steam/userdata/<SteamID>/<AppID>/remote	Use Finder’s Go to Folder to jump there
Linux	~/.local/share/Steam/userdata/<SteamID>/<AppID>/remote	Hidden path; show dotfiles in your file manager

Good Habits That Prevent Sync Headaches

• Keep only a small set of rolling saves per title; archive old runs outside the userdata tree.
• Let the client sit a few seconds after quitting a game so uploads finish before you shut down.
• Avoid force-killing games during save screens.
• When moving to a second PC, do one short save-and-exit on the first machine before you switch.

Trusted References For Deeper Detail

You can read Valve’s official overview of how Cloud works and where developers define limits. The Steamworks tech page lists file size thresholds, and the consumer-facing FAQ explains the toggle locations. Both help when you need to understand why a title behaves a certain way. For live platform conditions, check a status dashboard during Tuesday windows. To peek at which of your games store data online, sign in to the Remote Storage page in your browser.

Bottom Line Fix Flow

Turn on the two Cloud toggles, close the game cleanly, force a retry from the Library badge, pick the right side in any conflict window, then verify files if uploads still won’t start. If large save sets are involved, prune bloat, save once, and exit to trigger a clean push. When the platform is in maintenance, wait it out and try again later. With those moves, save data almost always lands where it should.