Steam Cloud failing to sync your Baldur’s Gate 3 saves is a real headache. Your progress gets trapped on one computer while another device shows saves from days ago. Or worse, no saves at all.
This happens more than it should. Steam Cloud is supposed to move your saves between computers automatically, but something breaks. Maybe it’s a setting. Could be file damage. Sometimes Steam just gets confused about which version of your saves is the right one.
Here’s what actually causes these sync failures and how to fix them. Most problems have straightforward solutions you can handle yourself in a few minutes. We’ll start with what’s really happening when Steam Cloud stops working, then walk through the fixes that get results.
What’s Really Happening When Steam Cloud Fails
Steam Cloud works by uploading your save files to Steam’s servers every time you close a game. Next time you start that game on any PC where you’re logged in, Steam downloads those saves. Simple enough. For BG3, this means your character, choices, party setup, everything should follow you everywhere.
But things go wrong. Steam might not notice your saves changed. It uploads them fine but then can’t download them on your other machine. You see an error message, or you don’t. Steam fails quietly sometimes. Just stops moving files around, and you only figure it out when you launch BG3 somewhere else and your saves aren’t there.
BG3 save files are pretty big. They hold your entire playthrough. Every conversation choice, every item you picked up, your whole party setup. When these files don’t sync, you’re stuck playing on one PC only. If those local files get corrupted or accidentally deleted, you lose everything.
The worst part is how sneaky these failures are. You play for hours on your desktop. Everything feels fine. Then you open BG3 on your laptop and find saves from Tuesday. It’s Friday. Steam just decided those newer files weren’t worth uploading, and now you’ve lost days of progress. Understanding why this happens is half the battle.
BG3 Steam Cloud Not Syncing: Common Causes
A few specific things cause most Steam Cloud sync problems with BG3. Here’s what usually goes wrong and why it matters.
1. Steam Cloud Disabled in Settings
Cloud sync might be turned off. Maybe you disabled it months ago to save internet bandwidth. Maybe a Steam update reset your settings. Could be anything.
There are two places this setting lives. Steam has one master switch that controls cloud saves for all your games. Then each game has its own toggle in the properties menu. Turn off either one, and your BG3 saves never leave your computer.
Checking both is quick. Takes maybe 30 seconds. But if this is your problem, fixing it solves everything instantly.
2. Corrupted Local Save Files
Save files get damaged sometimes. Happens when BG3 crashes right in the middle of saving. Or your PC loses power at exactly the wrong moment. The file ends up broken.
Steam Cloud sees these corrupted files and refuses to upload them. Smart move, actually. Better than overwriting good cloud saves with broken local ones. From where you’re sitting though, it just looks like syncing stopped. Your latest saves sit there, broken and unsynced, while older cloud saves are the only ones you can use.
3. Conflicting File Versions
Play BG3 on your desktop. Close it. Fire up your laptop before Steam finishes uploading. Now you’ve got two different versions of your saves sitting on two different machines.
Steam doesn’t know which one is correct. So it does nothing. Just freezes up rather than risk deleting the wrong version. You might see an error about cloud conflicts. Or Steam might just stop syncing silently.
File conflicts are Steam’s worst nightmare. The whole system is built around keeping your saves safe. Conflicting versions break that safety.
4. Insufficient Cloud Storage Space
Steam gives you limited cloud space for all your games combined. BG3 saves eat through this space fast. Multiple characters, different playthroughs, each save is several megabytes. Add in other games with cloud saves and you hit the limit faster than you’d think.
Once you’re out of space, Steam can’t upload anything new. Old saves stay in the cloud. New ones get stuck on your hard drive. Steam usually warns you about storage issues, but it’s easy to miss.
5. Outdated Steam Client or Game Version
Old Steam versions have bugs. Including sync bugs. Steam updates regularly to fix these problems, but you need to actually install those updates. Same with BG3. Larian pushes updates constantly, and sometimes these change how save files work.
When your Steam client is outdated, it might try uploading files using old methods that don’t work anymore. Or your game creates saves in a format Steam doesn’t handle right.
This creates silent failures. Steam thinks it’s syncing. Nothing actually moves. Your saves just sit there.
BG3 Steam Cloud Not Syncing: How to Fix
Fixing Steam Cloud isn’t complicated. These solutions handle the most common problems. Start simple, work your way up.
1. Enable Steam Cloud for BG3
Check if cloud sync is actually on. Open Steam, click “Steam” in the top-left, then “Settings.” Find the “Cloud” tab on the left. Make sure “Enable Steam Cloud synchronization for applications which support it” is checked.
That’s the main switch. Now check BG3 specifically. Right-click Baldur’s Gate 3 in your library, pick “Properties.” Under the “General” tab, look for “Keep game saves in the Steam Cloud for Baldur’s Gate 3.” Check that box.
Restart Steam completely after enabling both. Don’t just close the window. Actually shut it down from the system tray. When you launch it again, wait a minute before opening BG3. Gives Steam time to find your cloud saves and prep for syncing.
2. Clear Steam’s Download Cache
Steam stores temp files in its download cache. Sometimes these files mess with cloud sync. Clearing the cache fixes weird sync issues without touching your games or saves.
Go to Steam settings, find the “Downloads” tab. At the bottom, click “Clear Download Cache.” Confirm when Steam asks. It’ll restart automatically.
Takes one minute. Won’t delete anything important. Just clears out junk that might be breaking cloud operations.
3. Manually Force a Cloud Sync
Sometimes Steam needs a push. Right-click BG3 in your library. Hover over “Manage.” Click “Sync to Steam Cloud.”
Watch for error messages. If sync fails, Steam usually tells you why. Storage full, file conflicts, whatever. Even without errors, give Steam a few minutes. Big save files take time, especially on slower internet.
4. Resolve File Conflicts
When Steam finds conflicting saves, it asks which version to keep. Local files or cloud files. Check the timestamps carefully. Pick the most recent ones.
Choose local files, Steam uploads them and overwrites the cloud. Choose cloud files, Steam downloads them and replaces your local saves. Can’t undo this easily, so choose right.
If you have multiple characters, back up your saves first. Copy your save folder somewhere safe. BG3 saves live in your Windows user folder under AppData\Local\Larian Studios\Baldur’s Gate 3\PlayerProfiles. Makes a safety net in case something goes sideways.
5. Free Up Steam Cloud Storage
Out of cloud space? You need to clear some. Go to Steam settings, find “Cloud” again. You’ll see how much storage you’re using. Click “View Cloud Storage Usage” to see which games take up the most space.
Find games you don’t play anymore. Uncheck their cloud sync. This removes their saves from the cloud but keeps them on your PC. For games you still play, delete old saves manually. Go into each save folder and remove playthroughs you’re done with.
After freeing space, force a sync for BG3 using Fix 3. Steam should have room now. Watch your storage going forward so this doesn’t happen again.
6. Verify Game Files and Update Everything
Make sure Steam and BG3 are updated. Steam usually updates itself, but restart it to force a check. For BG3, right-click it, pick “Properties,” then the “Updates” tab. Enable automatic updates. Let any pending updates install.
After updating, verify your game files. Right-click BG3, choose “Properties,” click “Installed Files.” Select “Verify integrity of game files.” Steam checks everything against its servers and redownloads anything wrong.
Won’t touch your saves. Just fixes corrupted game files that might be messing with cloud sync.
7. Contact Steam Support if Nothing Works
Tried everything and cloud sync still broken? Something unusual is happening. Contact Steam Support. Explain what you’ve tried. Include error messages, screenshots of settings, when the problem started.
Support can check your account for problems you can’t see. Server issues, account bugs, whatever. While you wait, keep backing up your saves manually. Copy them to an external drive or Google Drive. Better than losing hours of progress.
Wrap-Up
Steam Cloud sync problems with BG3 are fixable. Usually comes down to disabled settings, full storage, or conflicting file versions. Work through the fixes step by step. Something will stick.
Keep backing up your saves manually even after you fix the problem. Cloud sync is convenient but not bulletproof. A backup somewhere else gives you protection. Your character deserves it after everything you’ve put them through.