Steam is popular among PC gamers because it allows them to organize all of their games in one app for convenience. The service also backs up your game’s files to the cloud, allowing you to play these titles on any computer. However, the cloud does not have infinite storage space and will eventually run out.
To resolve this issue, delete your Steam Cloud saves. After that, you can add new games. Continue reading to learn how the process works.
Delete All Cloud Saves on Steam
Before we get into the methods, let’s go over Steam’s cloud backup system. Learning about it will help you understand why you should delete cloud saves. You will also learn how to enable backups.
What Exactly Is Steam Cloud?
The Steam Cloud service allows Steam users to save game files to the company’s servers. Anyone who has Steam Cloud can download their games to another computer and continue where they left off the last time they logged in. You can, for example, play Portal 2 on your main gaming PC and continue the same save file on a travel laptop if you want.
To be able to play the same save, you must enable Steam Cloud synchronization. Here’s how to do so. You must check each title you own to see if it supports Steam Cloud.
- Start Steam on your PC.
- Locate the game you want to save to Steam Cloud.
- Right-click on the game.
- Click on “Properties.”
- Choose “General.”
- Scroll down to the bottom of the window and check the box next to “Enable Steam Cloud Synchronization” for the game.
When you enable this option, you can play the game on multiple computers and still progress. Because storage space is limited, it is best to only back up your favorite titles to Steam Cloud.
Savings by Deleting Steam Cloud
Steam will automatically backup files to the servers once you enable Steam Cloud synchronization. If you don’t regularly clear your storage, you’ll end up with a lot of unwanted files and backups taking up space. You might not be able to save new games to the server if you don’t have enough space.
The complicated steps that follow will also completely delete any saved files. Before you begin, make a backup of your games on a hard drive or another storage location. You can always restore them later on your PC.
Here’s how to delete all of your cloud backups and clear out the storage space:
Check to see if Steam Cloud Synchronization is enabled.
- Start Steam.
- Navigate to the settings.
- Select “Cloud.”
- Verify that “Enable Steam Cloud Synchronizations for Applications That Support It” is checked.
- Navigate to your Steam Library.
- Select a game by right-clicking it.
- Click on “Properties.”
- Select “General.”
- Verify that Steam Cloud synchronization is turned on.
If the answer is yes, your games are indeed cloud-backed up. After that, you can wipe it clean.
Remove the AppID Folders
- First, navigate to the Steam directory on your computer.
- Navigate to “userdata.”
- Locate the folder that corresponds to your Steam ID.
- Locate the AppIDs of the games you want to uninstall.
- Remove any game folders that have been backed up to Steam Cloud.
- Restart your computer.
- Run Steam and play the games in the deleted folders.
- Verify that the AppID folders have been restored.
- If yes, you can proceed.
Activate the Steam Cloud Conflict Dialog
- Launch Task Manager.
- Stop any Steam-related processes.
- Navigate to the Steam folder and open “userdata.”
- Navigate to the folder that corresponds to your Steam ID, followed by the folder that corresponds to the game you want to delete.
- Right-click and select “remote.”
- Click the “Open PowerShell Window Here” button.
- Remove the first and last quotation marks from “clc -path “C:Program Files (x86)SteamuserdataSteamIDAppIDremote*”
- To execute it, press “Enter.”
- Start Steam and play the game.
- You will receive an error message, but do not act on it.
Delete the Cloud Files That Have Been Saved
- Return to the game’s folder.
- Remove the files “remote” and “remotecache.vdf” from the folder.
- Return to the conflict window.
- Click “Upload To Steam Cloud.”
- Steam will sync an empty file to the cloud, effectively deleting all of your files.
- The game will begin right away.
- Go to the Steam Launcher if you no longer want Steam to back up the game to the cloud.
- Select “Settings.”
- Choose “Cloud.”
- Deactivate the Steam Cloud synchronization option.
- Exit the game and Steam.
- Delete the game’s folder once more.
If you have multiple games backed up to the cloud, you will need to repeat the steps. After that, Steam Cloud will be ready for new backups. If you no longer want to use Steam Cloud, uncheck the synchronization box.
Those who want to back up their games to the cloud, on the other hand, must keep it checked. Individual games can be enabled for Steam Cloud synchronization. This prevents other games from taking up valuable server storage space.
Why Would I Want to Get Rid of My Steam Cloud Saves?
Other than freeing up space on Steam Cloud, deleting cloud saves is necessary for a variety of reasons. Here are some common examples:
- Damaged game files
Game files can become corrupted at times. If Steam saves these files to the Cloud, you will be unable to play the game. The only solution is to delete the Cloud saves. - Loss of progress
If there are file conflicts, it’s likely that the most recent computer on which you played the game failed to sync to the Cloud. You have the option of deleting older files on the Cloud and uploading the most recent progress. This action may not be available in older games or if you do not have access to an older machine.
Other than freeing up space on Steam Cloud, deleting cloud saves is necessary for a variety of reasons. Here are some common examples:
- Damaged game files
Game files can become corrupted at times. If Steam saves these files to the Cloud, you will be unable to play the game. The only solution is to delete the Cloud saves. - Loss of progress
If there are file conflicts, it’s likely that the most recent computer on which you played the game failed to sync to the Cloud. You have the option of deleting older files on the Cloud and uploading the most recent progress. This action may not be available in older games or if you do not have access to an older machine.
Other than freeing up space on Steam Cloud, deleting cloud saves is necessary for a variety of reasons. Here are some common examples:
- Damaged game files
Game files can become corrupted at times. If Steam saves these files to the Cloud, you will be unable to play the game. The only solution is to delete the Cloud saves. - Loss of progress
If there are file conflicts, it’s likely that the most recent computer on which you played the game failed to sync to the Cloud. You have the option of deleting older files on the Cloud and uploading the most recent progress. This action may not be available in older games or if you do not have access to an older machine.
Additional Frequently Asked Questions
If you don’t want to use Steam Cloud synchronization, you can turn it off permanently. To do so, follow these steps:
Start Steam.
Navigate to the settings menu in the upper-left corner.
Select “Cloud” from the menu on the left side of the screen.
Uncheck the “Enable Steam Cloud Synchronization for Applications That Support It” checkbox.
If you check this box, Steam will no longer back up your files to the cloud.
Valve’s servers hold your cloud saves. You can access these files by logging into Steam using your preferred browser. What happens next is as follows:
Navigate to your account.
Choose “View Steam Cloud.”
You’ll see all of the games that have files in the cloud here.
To view the files for each title, click “Show Files.”
It’s time to clean up.
Deleting your Steam Cloud saves not only removes unwanted files and unnecessary saves, but it also helps you avoid corrupted files. You can upload new games and play them on any computer once your Steam Cloud is empty. Of course, you must first download them.
How many games do you have in your Steam Cloud library? Do you frequently delete your saved files? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.