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How To Reset Steam Games (Erase Game Data) - Tutorial

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If you're looking to reset your Steam game data, there's one crucial step you can't overlook—disabling Steam Cloud saves. Take note, however, that this action doesn't work for every game. For instance, online multiplayer games like PUBG, Eternal Return, and Fortnite utilize "Game As A Service" cloud servers, making them impervious to this method. On the other hand, if you're playing offline single-player titles, here's how you can temporarily disable the Steam Cloud option: Open Steam: Launch your Steam app and sign in to your account.; Navigate to Settings: Click on the "Steam" menu in the upper-left corner of your screen.

Temporarily Deactivate Steam Cloud for Offline Games

If you're looking to reset your Steam game data, there's one crucial step you can't overlook—disabling Steam Cloud saves. Take note, however, that this action doesn't work for every game. For instance, online multiplayer games like PUBG, Eternal Return, and Fortnite utilize "Game As A Service" cloud servers, making them impervious to this method. On the other hand, if you're playing offline single-player titles, here's how you can temporarily disable the Steam Cloud option: Open Steam: Launch your Steam app and sign in to your account.; Navigate to Settings: Click on the "Steam" menu in the upper-left corner of your screen.

steam settings
steam settings

Access Cloud Settings: Go to the "Cloud" tab within the launcher settings.; Deact…

Access Cloud Settings: Go to the "Cloud" tab within the launcher settings.; Deactivate Steam Cloud: Uncheck the box for the "Steam Cloud Option." By following these steps, you'll pave the way for successfully resetting your offline game data.

disable steam cloud
disable steam cloud

Erase Local Game Saves

After disabling Steam Cloud, the next step in resetting your game data is deleting the local save files. It's a straightforward process but may vary slightly depending on the specific game you're dealing with. Head to Steam Library: Close your Steam settings and open your Steam library.; Access Game Properties: Right-click on the game whose data you wish to reset, then select "Properties."; Find Installed Files: In the left-hand menu, click on "Installed Files," followed by "Browse." This action will take you to the local folder where the game data is stored on your computer. You'll typically find a folder named "Saves" or a similar variant like "Save.ini."

game properties
game properties

Delete Save Files: Open this folder and remove all files within to erase your loc…

Delete Save Files: Open this folder and remove all files within to erase your local save data. By doing this, you clear the game's progress stored on your PC, making it easier to start afresh or troubleshoot issues.

delete steam file
delete steam file

Alternative Method: Remove Game Data via Steam ID

If the previous methods don't resolve your issue, you can take a more advanced route to reset your Steam game data by using the game's unique Steam ID. Locate Steam ID: Open your web browser and visit the game's Steam page. In the URL, you'll find the game's specific Steam ID number. Copy this number.

steam game number
steam game number

Navigate to User Data Folder: Open your File Explorer and follow this path: Your…

Navigate to User Data Folder: Open your File Explorer and follow this path: Your Drive -> Program Files -> Steam -> userdata -> Your User ID Folder.; Locate Game Folder: Inside the 'userdata' directory, find a folder corresponding to your copied Steam ID number.; Delete Game Files: Open this folder and erase all the files within. By doing this, you can reset even the most stubborn games and enjoy a clean slate for your gaming adventures.

delete content of folder
delete content of folder

Video walkthrough

If it does not work

  • What are Steam Cloud Saves and why should I disable them?. Steam Cloud Saves are your game progress files that are stored on Steam's cloud servers. Disabling them ensures you can successfully reset your game without the data being re-synced from the cloud.
  • Can I reset online multiplayer games like PUBG or Fortnite?. No, games that operate on a "Game As A Service" model store their game progression data on their own servers. Hence, local reset methods will not work for these types of games.
  • What is a game's Steam ID and how do I find it?. A game's Steam ID is a unique number associated with every game on Steam. You can find this ID in the URL of the game's Steam page.
  • Is resetting Steam game data reversible?. Resetting game data deletes saved files and progress. While some games may allow you to recover data from their servers, most single-player games will not. Proceed with caution.
  • Where is the 'userdata' folder located in my Steam directory?. The 'userdata' folder is generally located at Your Drive -> Program Files -> Steam -> userdata -> Your User ID Folder.