Steam is an excellent online platform where y'all can buy nigh of the games that come out on PC. It's convenient and affordable - which is a combo that apace made it very pop. However, information technology isn't perfect, and you may log in ane 24-hour interval only to observe that some of your saves, or even whole games, are missing. In that scenario, you'll want to know how to recover deleted game files. This article will comprehend various methods and help yous get back to playing in no time.

Jump to:

  • Recover Permanently Deleted Steam Files & Game Data
  • More than Methods to Recover Deleted Steam Files

Why Is my Game Information Missing?

It'south 1 thing to restore your files, but most of us would also similar to know why this happened so that we can prevent it in the futurity. Many things can cause information loss, such every bit…

  • 💀 Blue Screen of Death. There are few things more infuriating than the infamous BSoD that appears seemingly out of nowhere and correct in the eye of an of import lucifer. For the uninitiated, BSoD appears when Windows hits a disquisitional mistake and is commonly a sign of outdated drivers or various hardware problems.
  • ⚠️Failed Update. Sometimes, an updated version of Steam may contain a bug that tin can delete your game files.
  • ❓ Corrupted Files. A new update may cause your game to continue crashing, making some of its files unreadable.
  • 👀 Steam is Unable to Observe your Game. If a title in your Library suddenly appears gray, information technology'south possible that it'due south however on your drive, but Steam doesn't recognize it.

And these scenarios are simply the tip of the iceberg. In any case, we accept methods that will efficiently tackle each of them.

6 Ways to Recover Deleted Steam Files

Option #one: Restore Saves From Recycle Bin

If you've accidentally deleted your saves/game folder, you'll first want to go to the Recycle Bin. If you didn't use Shift + Delete, you'll likely detect your files at that place. When yous find the information that you wish to retrieve, correct-click on information technology and select Restore. This volition motility it back to its original location.

restore steam app from recycle bin

Option #2: Verify Integrity of Game Files via Steam

This method might piece of work if you notwithstanding see your games in the Library, but their names are grayed out. Information technology is a quick process that will check if any of the files are missing.

  1. Open Steam and go to the Library.
  2. Find your problematic game, right-click on it, and select Backdrop.open steam app properties
  3. In the Local Files tab, select Verify integrity of game files.Verify integrity of game files

Choice #3: Manually Add together Game Folder

It's besides possible that none of the files are missing, but Steam simply can't locate your game. This can easily be solved in iii steps.

  1. Open up Steam.
  2. Visit Steam > Settings > Download > Steam Library Folder.open steam library folders via settings
  3. Click on Add Library Folder. Browse to the location where your game is installed and hit Select. At present, your game should again announced in the library.add new steam library folder

Choice #iv: Use Data Recovery Software

disk drill logoIf the higher up solutions didn't piece of work, information technology'south time to employ a premium app to recover deleted Steam files. One that I'd recommend using is Deejay Drill, as it'south user-friendly, supports 500+ file formats, and has a loftier recovery charge per unit. It is a paid product, but yous can test it out for free and recall 500 MB of game files.

This is how to recover deleted game or Steam files with Disk Drill in v steps.

  1. Visit Cleverfiles. Download a free version of Disk Drill and install it.install disk drill recovery software
  2. Open Disk Drill. Make certain to select the drive on which your game was installed. In that location are various scan options to choose from, only for best results, y'all'll want to select All Recovery Methods. Since it consists of all 4 scanning modes, it has the best run a risk to recover deleted game data.open disk drill and start scan
  3. Outset the Scan. When you are set, click on Search for lost data. This is a very thorough scan, and so it might accept a while. After it's completed, select Review Found Items.review found items disk drill
  4. Locate Game Data. Disk Drill probably found hundreds of GB of data, which may exist overwhelming at outset. Luckily, yous can use the search bar in the acme right corner to filter the results pretty quickly. Just typing in Steam or the proper noun of your game will shorten the list considerably.use search for find steam in results disk drill If you are looking for lost saves, yous might want to filter by file extension. However, keep in listen that some games don't take a single save file, simply a directory containing diverse formats, such as .dat, .mca, .json, .sav, and .mgz. In this instance, you can use Disk Drill'south preview function to make sure that you lot have the right file before recovering information technology. To exercise this, select View > Preview Panel.use preview panel
  5. Restore Deleted Game Files. Select the boxes next to the files that yous wish to call up and choose Recover. Pick the destination where you wish to save them. Click OK and the recovery will be initiated.restore game data files

Note: For security purposes, Disk Drill doesn't let y'all restore files on the disk that you previously used.

Choice #5: Use Steam Fill-in Characteristic

This option works if in that location are nonetheless some game files on your bulldoze and you accept previously created a backup.

  1. Visit Steam > Backup and Restore Games.go to backup and restore games
  2. Select Restore a Previous Backup. Here, you can also create a new one, which we will talk almost in a flake.Select Restore a Previous Backup
  3. Find the Game That you Desire to Recover. Click Scan and find your title in the Steam backups folder. Hit Side by side.restore steam app from backup
  4. Reinstall Your Game.reinstall game from backup

If you lot don't accept a fill-in, here's how to create one and salvage yourself some future troubles.

  1. Go to Steam > Fill-in and Restore Games.
  2. Cull Fill-in Currently Installed Programs.
  3. Select the Games That yous Want to Backup.create steam backup
  4. Start the Backup. Just hit Next on the next few windows to initiate the process. If not specified otherwise, your files will be saved at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\backups.finish backup steam games

Note: This method doesn't save config files, Steam Cloud saves, and custom content.

Selection #half-dozen: Resync via Steam Cloud

Lastly, nosotros have a way to recover deleted game saves for titles that use Steam Cloud to store your data. This option only works in scenarios where your game hasn't close down successfully, like if you've experienced BSOD or an unexpected power outage. To restore your saves you lot will need to …

  1. Visit Your Steam Cloud.
  2. Locate Your Game and Click on Show Files . This volition requite you the path to the binder where all of your saves for the particular game are stored.Locate Your Game and Click on Show Files
  3. Exit the Steam and Delete the Save Folder. This prevents the app from automatically uploading previous save signal back to the cloud, which would overwrite your progress. We also recommend that you create a re-create of your save folder, only in case something goes wrong.delete game saves
  4. Relaunch the Steam. The app will now re-sync the information so that you lot get your about recent save.Relaunch the Steam
  5. Start the Game. If everything went smoothly, your latest save will be restored.

FAQ

Determination

Equally expected, many methods will help you recover deleted game files and saves. To prevent this from happening in the future, we recommend that you fill-in important games on a separate drive.