How to Solve the Steam Deck Cloud Sync Error and Save Your Game Data

The Steam Deck is a handheld gaming device from Valve that lets you play thousands of games from Steam’s library on the go.

How to Solve the Steam Deck Cloud Sync Error in 7 Easy Steps

The Steam Deck is a handheld gaming device from Valve that lets you play thousands of games from Steam’s library on the go. One of the features that makes the Steam Deck convenient is the cloud sync, which allows you to save your game data on the Steam servers and access it from any device. However, sometimes you might encounter the Steam Deck Cloud Sync Error, which prevents your game data from syncing and can make you lose your progress or settings. In this article, we will explain why this error happens and how you can fix it easily.

What causes the Steam Deck Cloud Sync Error?

The Steam Deck Cloud Sync Error can have various causes, such as:

• Poor internet connectivity: If your internet connection is slow, unstable, or interrupted, the sync process might not start or finish successfully.
• Outdated software: If your SteamOS or your games are not updated to the latest version, there might be compatibility issues that prevent the sync from working properly.
• Disabled cloud sync: If you have disabled the cloud sync feature on your Steam Deck console or for individual games, the sync will not happen automatically or at all.
• Corrupted game files: If your game files are corrupted or missing, the sync might fail or cause conflicts with the cloud data.
• Platform mismatches: If you are playing the same game on different platforms, such as your Steam Deck and your PC, there might be differences in the game versions or save formats that cause the sync error.
• Server issues: If the Steam servers are down or undergoing maintenance, the sync service might be unavailable or disrupted.

How to solve the Steam Deck Cloud Sync Error?

Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to fix the Steam Deck Cloud Sync Error and resume your gaming experience. Here are some of the solutions you can try:

• Check if the Steam servers are down or undergoing maintenance. You can use sites like Steam Stat or Down Detector to see if there are any issues with the service. If there are, you might have to wait until they are resolved before trying to sync again.
• Restart your Steam Deck console and your router or modem. This can help resolve any network problems or glitches that might interfere with the sync process.
• Ensure that SteamOS and the games are updated to the latest version. Outdated software can cause compatibility issues and prevent the sync from working properly. You can check for updates by going to Settings > System > Updates on your Steam Deck console. You can also right-click on each game and select Properties > Updates to see if there are any available updates for them.
• Check and enable cloud sync on your Steam Deck console and for individual games. You can do this by going to Settings > System > Steam > Cloud Sync and toggling the switch on. For each game, you can right-click on it, select Properties, and check the box next to Enable Steam Cloud synchronization.
• To sync manually, choose the game that is giving you problems, and click on Out of sync in the Cloud Status section. Click on the Retry Sync button in the prompt that pops up. Wait for the process to complete, and Cloud Status should now read Up to date.
• Verify the integrity of game files by right-clicking on the game, selecting Properties, and going to Local Files > Verify Integrity of Game Files. This can help fix any corrupted or missing files that might cause the sync error.
• Delete or rename the user data folder in your Steam directory. This folder contains your local save files and settings, and sometimes it can get corrupted or conflict with the cloud data. By deleting or renaming it, you can force Steam to download a fresh copy of your cloud data. However, this will also delete any local progress that is not backed up on the cloud, so make sure you have a backup before doing this.

How to check for updates on SteamOS and games on the Steam Deck console?

To make sure that your SteamOS and games on the Steam Deck console are up to date, you can do the following:

• Open the Steam menu by pressing the Steam button below the left touchpad.
• Go to Settings using the left thumb stick and press A.
• Go to System and tap the Check For Updates button.
• If there is an update available, tap Apply to download and install it.
• After the update is done, tap Restart to reboot your console.

To update individual games on your Steam Deck console, you can do this:

• Right-click on the game you want to update and select Properties.
• Go to the Updates tab and see if there are any updates for the game.
• If there are, click on Download Now or let Steam download them automatically for you.

How to delete or rename the userdata folder in the Steam directory?

To delete or rename the userdata folder in the Steam directory, you can do the following:

• Open the File Explorer and go to the folder where Steam is installed. The default location is C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam on Windows or ~/.local/share/Steam on Linux.
• Find the folder called userdata and right-click on it. You can either delete it or rename it to something else, such as userdata_old.
• Restart Steam and launch the game you want to play. Steam will create a new userdata folder and download your cloud data.

How to adjust the game compatibility features for platform mismatches?

To adjust the game compatibility features for platform mismatches, you can do the following:

• Right-click on the game you want to adjust and select Properties.
• Go to the Compatibility tab and see if there are any options that can help you run the game better on different platforms.
• For example, you can force a specific platform (Windows/Linux) by selecting it from the dropdown menu under Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool.
• You can also enable or disable Proton, which is a compatibility layer that allows you to run Windows games on Linux, by checking or unchecking the box next to Enable Steam Play for all other titles.
• You can also use a specific version of Proton by selecting it from the dropdown menu under Use this tool instead of the game’s default option.

Conclusion

The Steam Deck Cloud Sync Error is a common issue that many users face when trying to synchronize their game data with the Steam servers. It can be caused by various factors, such as poor internet connectivity, outdated software, disabled cloud sync, corrupted game files, platform mismatches, or server issues.

However, it can also be fixed easily by following some simple steps, such as checking for updates, enabling cloud sync, syncing manually, verifying game files, deleting userdata folder, or adjusting game compatibility features. By doing so, you can ensure that your game data is always backed up on the cloud and accessible from any device.

References

• How to update a Steam Deck -Tom’s Guide
• How To Update Steam Deck - Game Rant
• How To Locate or Move Your User Data Location - Steam Community
• How to clear, remove, or delete your Steam PC save data - Jackbox Games