A Steam Cloud “Out of sync” status usually means Steam didn’t finish uploading or downloading a game’s saves. It can happen when another PC or Steam Deck shuts down or goes to sleep before it uploads. The quick fix: back up your local saves, close Steam on every other device, then click the cloud status next to Play and choose Retry Sync.
If that doesn’t clear it, work through the steps below in order. They start with the safe ones and end with resetting the sync for a single game. Each step changes one thing, so you’ll know which one fixed it.
What causes Steam Cloud to go out of sync?
A Steam Cloud sync error is a warning that Steam can’t confirm your local saves match the copy on Valve’s servers. Steam pauses here so it doesn’t overwrite your newer progress. If Steam shows Out of Sync, Unable to sync, a cloud conflict window, or your newest save is missing on another Windows PC, treat the warning as a save-protection message first.
- Another device never finished uploading. Steam will update the cloud saves after you quit the game. If a laptop or Steam Deck gets shut off hard or put to sleep mid-game, the upload never happens. You may then see “Changes from another device have not yet been uploaded.”
- Steam Cloud is switched off. Even when the game supports Steam Cloud, sync can be disabled globally in Steam or separately for one game.
- A network block. Steam’s support page says an unable to sync error can be temporary, but it can also point to a network problem. Firewalls, antivirus apps, VPNs and some router setups can cause it.
- A stuck Steam client. Sometimes Steam has been running for a long time and stops responding to sync requests. A full restart clears it.
- Damaged or oversized save files. Cloud sync issues can also occur due to corrupted game files while updating or uploading. Some games also go over their cloud storage limit when you keep a lot of saves.
- A Steam outage. Sometimes the problem is on Valve’s end and nothing on your PC is wrong.
How to fix Steam Cloud out of sync, step by step
Before you start, copy your game’s save folder somewhere safe, like a USB drive or a separate folder. Some fixes below make Steam pick one copy of your saves over the other, and a backup means you can’t lose progress.
- Close Steam on your other devices. Turn on the other PC or Steam Deck, open Steam, wait for the game’s cloud status to say it’s up to date, then exit Steam on that device the proper way.
- Retry the sync. In your Library, select the game. If Steam shows Out of Sync beside Play, click the cloud status and use Retry Sync before launching the game. Wait for the status to change to Up to date.
- Restart Steam completely. Click Steam > Exit (on Windows, end any leftover Steam processes in Task Manager), then reopen Steam and retry. Closing the window only sends Steam to the system tray, so use Exit.
- Check your internet connection. Turn off any VPN. If you’re on Wi-Fi or a network switch, try a wired connection straight to your router. If you use a third-party antivirus or firewall, check if it has blocked Steam and allow it, then retry the sync.
- Turn on Steam Cloud globally. Open Steam, choose Steam, then open Settings and Cloud. Turn on Enable Steam Cloud Sync for applications that support it.
- Turn on Steam Cloud for the game. Right-click the game > Properties > General. Steam’s help page calls it the Cloud Synchronization setting. If that switch isn’t there, the game probably doesn’t use Steam Cloud.
- Verify the game files. Right-click the game > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files. When it’s done, restart Steam and retry the sync.
- Clear the download cache. Go to Steam > Settings > Downloads > Clear Download Cache. Steam will ask you to sign in again afterward.
- Repair the library folder. Go to Steam > Settings > Storage, open the menu (three dots) next to your drive, and choose Repair Library.
- Reset the game’s cloud sync. Turn off the per-game cloud switch, exit Steam, and reopen it. Launch the game, make a new save, and close the game. Then turn the switch back on and retry the sync.
Steps 1 and 2 deal with saves stuck between two devices. Steps 7 through 10 are for errors that keep coming back on just one machine.
Symptoms, causes and fixes at a glance
| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| “Out of sync” next to Play | An upload or download got missed | Click the status > Retry Sync |
| “Changes from another device have not yet been uploaded” | The other PC or Deck went to sleep or shut off before uploading | Open Steam on that device, let it sync, then exit Steam |
| “Unable to sync” warning when you launch | Network block or stuck client | Restart Steam, allow it through your firewall, try a wired connection |
| Cloud conflict window with two saves | Local and cloud saves both changed | Compare the dates and keep the newer one (back it up first) |
| Error on every Steam Cloud game | Steam-wide network problem or outage | Check your connection and whether Steam is down |
| Error on one game only | Damaged files or the game’s cloud storage is full | Verify files, delete old saves in the game, reset that game’s sync |
What is a cloud conflict in Steam, and which save should you keep?
A Steam cloud conflict happens when the saves on your device and the saves in Steam Cloud have both changed since the last sync. Steam can’t tell which one you want, so it asks you to choose. The window shows when each copy was last changed. The one with the later date and time is usually the save with your most recent progress.
Think about where you last played before you pick. If you played most recently on this PC and its upload failed, keep the local files. If you played most recently on a Steam Deck that synced properly, keep the cloud files. The choice you don’t pick gets overwritten, so back up the local save folder first. Many games keep saves in your Documents folder or AppData. Others keep them in Steam’s userdata folder.
Why does Steam Cloud say out of date when you played on another device?
Steam Cloud says out of date when Steam on your other device never uploaded your latest session. It can happen when a Steam Deck is put to sleep in the middle of a game. To fix it, wake the other device, let it connect to the internet, then quit the game and Steam there normally. One more trick: open the game on the deck and select “stream from PC”, close the game on both PC and Deck, then open the game on PC choosing the play on PC option.
Is Steam Cloud having issues right now?
To check whether Steam Cloud is down for everyone, open the game on a second device or a different network. If the error shows up for every game and every device, the problem is probably on Valve’s end. Look for news on Steam’s official social channels or a third-party outage tracker. If Steam is down, wait and retry later. Don’t reinstall anything, and don’t choose a side in a conflict window while the servers are having trouble.
When to contact Steam Support
Contact Steam Support through the Help menu in the Steam client if the error comes back on every device after all 10 steps. Keep your save backup safe: Steam’s help page says Support can explain how Steam Cloud works but can’t recover lost saves or resolve cloud conflicts. If the log keeps showing repeated sync failures for that one game, keep the backup and the log for support. If a game shows “Up to date” but still loses progress, the problem may be with the game itself. Check that game’s community hub or contact its developer.
FAQ
– What is cloud sync on Steam?
Steam Cloud sync is a free feature that stores supported games’ save files on Valve’s servers. You can then pick up your progress on another PC, a Mac or a Steam Deck. Steam downloads the newest saves when you launch a game and uploads them when you quit. Each game’s developer decides whether to support it.
– How do I force Steam Cloud to sync?
To force a Steam Cloud sync, select the game in your Library, click the cloud status next to Play, and choose Retry Sync. If that option doesn’t appear, launch the game, quit it normally, and Steam will try to upload again. For stubborn cases, turn the game’s cloud switch off and back on, with a Steam restart in between.
– Should I turn off Steam Cloud?
Turning off Steam Cloud stops the error, but your saves then live only on that one device. That makes sense only if you play on one machine and back up your saves yourself. As a short-term fix, you can turn it off for one game, play, then turn it back on to upload the new save.
– Does the fix work for specific games like Rust, Battlefield 6 or Rocket League?
Yes, the same Steam steps apply to any game that uses Steam Cloud, including Rust, Battlefield 6 and Rocket League. Some online games keep progress on their own servers or a publisher account, though. If a game’s progress isn’t stored in Steam Cloud, check the game’s own support channels.