Make a manual copy of the demo’s complete save and profile folders before uninstalling. First finish a clean save, quit normally, and wait for Steam Cloud synchronization. Then identify the demo’s appID and the developer-documented save path, copy the files to an independent destination, verify the copy, and only then remove the demo. Steam Cloud is controlled per game and may omit files, while a demo and its full release can use different appIDs.
Why a roguelike demo save can disappear
Uninstalling removes installed game content, but save data can live in several places: Steam Cloud’s per-user cache, a Windows or macOS user folder, a Linux home directory, or a Proton prefix on Steam Deck. A demo may also use a different appID from the full game. Matching filenames alone do not guarantee that the full release can read the demo’s progress.
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Steam Cloud is not a universal backup. Developers decide which files are synchronized, and some games do not use Cloud for saves at all. Even when a demo has a Cloud badge, settings, profiles, screenshots, or other supporting files may remain local. A manual copy is the only way to control exactly what you retain.
Do this before uninstalling
- Finish a clean save. Complete or abandon the current run in the game’s normal way, then quit through the game’s menu. Do not terminate the process while it is writing. If the game has a separate profile-save command, use it before exiting.
- Wait for Steam to finish syncing. Return to the Steam library and let the Cloud status indicator finish. If the demo was played offline, reconnect before closing Steam so an unsynced exit is not mistaken for the newest copy.
- Check Cloud support for this demo. Look for the Cloud badge on the demo’s Steam store page. In the client, open Library, right-click the demo, choose Properties, and open General. Cloud can be enabled or disabled for an individual game and globally, so check both levels.
- Find the demo’s appID and save path. The appID is shown by the demo’s Steam store page or URL. Record it separately from the full game’s appID. Then use the developer’s FAQ, community forum, or documentation to locate the actual save files.
- Copy, do not move. Copy the complete save folder and nearby profile or configuration files to a separate location. Keep the originals untouched until the copy has been tested.
- Verify the copy. Check that files have non-zero sizes, expected modification times, and can be opened from the second location. Steam’s backup guidance recommends testing the backup media rather than assuming that a completed copy is usable.
- Uninstall only after verification. If you want to keep installation files, preserve the relevant Steam library data as well as the save backup.
Take a screenshot or written note of the original paths and the date of the copy. That small record prevents confusion later if the demo, full release, or a Proton installation creates several similarly named folders.
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Steam Cloud: useful, but not sufficient
Cloud synchronization is convenient for moving a save between computers, but it follows the files and rules chosen by the developer. A Cloud-enabled demo can still leave its real save outside the synchronized list. Cloud also does not automatically make demo progress available to the full game.
- A Cloud badge means the game supports Steam Cloud; it does not promise that every file is synchronized.
- Cloud can be disabled per game or in Steam’s global settings.
- Offline play, an interrupted exit, or two devices writing different versions can create a Cloud conflict.
- Steam’s Cloud-managed area is normally under
userdata[SteamID][appID], but local saves may be elsewhere.
Use Cloud as an additional copy, not as a substitute for the manual backup. If the demo has no Cloud support, the manual procedure is essential.
Cloud-only versus a manual copy
Cloud-only recovery is convenient and usually requires no searching, but it depends on the developer’s file list, your account, and a successful synchronization. A manual copy takes a few minutes and gives you an offline, inspectable version that can include local profiles and settings Cloud ignores. The safest approach is to let Cloud finish, then make the manual copy while the original files are still present.
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Steam assigns each product an application ID. A demo and a full game commonly have different IDs, so searching only by the installation folder name can lead you to the wrong place. Open the demo’s store page and note the numeric ID in its Steam URL or product details. Repeat the check for the full game if you intend to transfer progress later.
When Auto-Cloud is used, the ID appears in the path beneath your Steam account’s userdata directory. That folder is a useful starting point, not proof that all of the demo’s data is there. The developer may synchronize only selected files, while local settings and profiles remain in a user-data directory.
Do not substitute your SteamID for the appID: the path has both numbers, with the account identifier first and the product identifier second. If several appID folders are present, compare their timestamps with the last demo session and confirm the ID from the store page before copying anything.
Where Steam demo saves are stored
Use the developer’s stated filename and path whenever available. The following locations are documented common roots; a particular roguelike can use a different subfolder or filename.
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| Platform | Steam Cloud cache | Common local save roots |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | C:Program Files (x86)Steamuserdata[SteamID][appID] by default |
%APPDATA%, %LOCALAPPDATA%, %USERPROFILE%Saved Games, Documents, or the game folder |
| macOS | ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/userdata/[SteamID]/[appID]/ |
~/Library/Application Support/ or ~/Documents/ |
| Linux and SteamOS | ~/.local/share/Steam/userdata/[SteamID]/[appID]/ |
Native games may use XDG or home-directory paths. Proton games may use a Windows-style path inside steamapps/compatdata/[appID]/pfx/. |
Some games keep a profile, unlock database, and active run in separate directories. If the developer lists several locations, copy every listed folder instead of selecting only the file with a familiar extension. Avoid changing permissions or line endings when moving files between systems.
Windows
In File Explorer, paste each documented path into the address bar. Environment variables such as %APPDATA% and %LOCALAPPDATA% resolve to your current Windows account. If the developer specifies a folder under Documents or Saved Games, check there even when an appID folder also exists.
Copy the whole game-specific folder rather than a single file when possible. Roguelikes may keep unlocks, settings, and profile metadata beside the active run; excluding those files can produce a partial restoration.
macOS
In Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder… and enter the documented path. The Library folder in your home directory is hidden during normal browsing, so entering the path directly is more reliable. Check both the Steam userdata cache and the developer’s local path.
Quit the game before browsing or copying. If Finder shows multiple similarly named folders, use the one whose modification time matches your last session and preserve the enclosing folder hierarchy in the backup.
Linux and Steam Deck
For a native Linux build, inspect the developer’s XDG or home-directory location. For a Windows build running through Proton, the save can be inside the prefix associated with the demo’s appID under steamapps/compatdata/[appID]/pfx/. The exact subfolder is game-dependent; use the developer’s documented Windows path within that prefix rather than guessing.
On Steam Deck, switch to Desktop Mode, open the file manager, and copy the identified folders to an external drive or another independent location. Do not edit or delete files while the game or Steam is running. A Proton prefix belongs to a particular appID, so copying from a different prefix can restore the wrong game’s data even when the filenames match.
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How to make a reliable manual backup
1. Create a dated backup folder
Use a name that identifies the product and date, such as RoguelikeDemo-save-backup-2026-10-19. If you found both a Cloud cache and a local folder, create clearly labeled subfolders for each rather than merging them. Keeping separate copies makes a later Cloud conflict easier to resolve.
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Copy the complete save directory, plus nearby profile, unlock, and configuration files identified by the developer. Use the file manager’s copy and paste commands; do not drag the only copy to a new location. A USB flash drive, external SSD, another local disk, or encrypted cloud storage can serve as the destination, provided it is readable independently of the installation you are about to remove.
Copy the folder itself, not just its visible contents, so nested directories and hidden files retain their structure. If the operating system asks whether to include hidden items, accept that option for the game’s documented save directory.
3. Preserve metadata and the original
Do not rename individual save files, alter extensions, or open and resave them in another application. Leave the original folder in place until restoration has been tested. If the files are hidden, enable hidden-file viewing rather than moving them blindly.
4. Verify the backup
- Open the destination and confirm that the expected folders and files are present.
- Check that save files have non-zero sizes and plausible modification dates.
- Read the backup from the second location after safely disconnecting and reconnecting the drive, if applicable.
- Keep the backup untouched while you uninstall and reinstall.
A copy operation completing without an error is not the same as a tested backup. If a drive reports an error or a file is zero bytes, copy again from the untouched original before uninstalling.
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| Destination | Independence from the old installation | Portability and verification |
|---|---|---|
| Another local disk | Independent from the Steam library only when it is a separate physical disk; a second folder on the same disk is not protection against that disk failing. | Fast to access and easy to inspect on the same computer. |
| USB flash drive or external SSD | Separate from the computer being uninstalled. | Portable and straightforward to reconnect and test. |
| Encrypted cloud storage | Separate from the local machine. | Accessible from another device after upload; verify that the files can be downloaded and read. |
Steam does not require a particular brand, capacity, or speed. The important properties are a separate, readable destination and a verified copy. A second folder on the same physical disk protects against an accidental uninstall but not against disk failure.
Uninstall without losing the files you still need
After the manual copy is verified, uninstall the demo from Steam. Uninstalling removes installed content, so do not assume that a local save stored inside the game directory will survive. On Windows, preserve the relevant steamapps data if you need installation files later. On macOS, Steam documents that SteamApps contains game downloads and local save files when retaining game data.
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Do not delete the backup folder as part of a general cleanup. Keep it until the restored game has loaded the expected profile and run state. If you are freeing space on a Steam Deck, remove only the installed game or prefix after confirming that the external backup is readable.
Restore a demo save after reinstalling
- Install the same demo or the intended full game. Confirm the product and appID before copying anything.
- Launch once, then exit. This lets the game create its expected directories. Quit the game and Steam before replacing files.
- Check Cloud status before copying. If Steam presents a conflict, compare the displayed modification times. Choose the copy that represents the progress you want; an offline or unsynchronized exit can otherwise overwrite the desired version.
- Restore to the exact developer path. Copy the backed-up files into the corresponding folder, preserving the directory structure. Keep the backup itself unchanged.
- Start the game and test it. Load the profile and check unlocks, settings, and the expected run state.
If the restored data is missing, quit without making new progress. Re-check the demo’s appID, the developer’s filename and path, and whether the save came from a Proton prefix or a local user directory. Only after those checks should you try another backup copy or the Cloud version.
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When a conflict dialog appears, do not choose solely by the newest-looking filename. Compare Steam’s displayed modification times and your dated manual copy. Once the desired version is selected, allow synchronization to finish before launching on another device.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Moving progress from a demo to the full game
Demo-to-full transfer works only when the developer configured a compatible arrangement. Steamworks supports shared Cloud storage between two appIDs, and a developer can also make both products read a compatible local path. The demo and full game having similarly named files is not enough.
When transfer is supported
- The developer explicitly documents demo-to-full save transfer or shared Cloud storage.
- The two products’ appIDs are configured to use the same Cloud files or a compatible save path.
- The save format used by the full game is compatible with the demo’s version.
When transfer is not supported
If the developer does not document shared storage, treat the demo and full release as separate games. Keep the manual demo backup, install the full game, and do not overwrite its newly created files unless the developer provides restoration instructions. A successful copy operation cannot make an incompatible save readable.
Keep both appIDs in your notes. If the full game creates a new profile on first launch, preserve that new folder before experimenting with any documented transfer so you can return to a clean state.
Troubleshooting common failure modes
The appID folder is empty or has no obvious save
The demo may not use Cloud for saves, or it may synchronize only a small configuration file. Search the developer’s documented local roots: Windows application-data folders, Saved Games, or Documents; macOS application support or documents; and Linux or Proton paths. Do not infer the save location from the installation directory alone.
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Steam reports a Cloud conflict
Stop and compare the modification times shown by Steam. Select the version containing the desired progress, then allow synchronization to complete. If the choices are unclear, keep Steam offline, preserve both versions in separate folders, and inspect the manual backup before deciding.
The game starts but shows no unlocks
Exit without creating new progress. Confirm that you restored the complete profile or save folder, not only an active-run file. Check that the appID and platform path match the installation. Proton users should verify that the files were copied into the prefix for the correct appID.
The backup exists but cannot be read
Check that the files have non-zero sizes and that the destination drive can be read from another session or device. If a copy was interrupted, make a fresh copy from the untouched original. Steam’s own backup guidance recommends testing backup media after creation.
Practical checklist
- Finish a normal save and quit the demo.
- Wait for Steam Cloud synchronization, if enabled.
- Check Cloud support in the store page and the demo’s Properties > General panel.
- Record the demo appID and, if relevant, the full game’s different appID.
- Locate every save, profile, and configuration folder named by the developer.
- Copy the complete folders to a separate, readable destination.
- Verify file sizes, dates, folder contents, and access to the backup.
- Uninstall only after verification.
- Restore with Steam and the game closed, and resolve Cloud conflicts by timestamps.
- Launch and confirm the profile, unlocks, settings, and run state before deleting the backup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my roguelike demo progress survive if I uninstall it?
Only if the developer synchronized the needed files or you made a manual copy. Uninstalling can remove local saves, including saves stored inside the game directory, so verify an independent backup first.
Where are Steam demo saves stored on Windows, Mac, or Steam Deck?
Cloud files normally use the demo’s appID under Steam’s userdata folder. Local files may be in Windows AppData, Saved Games, or Documents; macOS Application Support or Documents; Linux XDG/home paths; or a Proton prefix on Steam Deck. Follow the developer’s documented path for that demo.
Can I move a demo save to the full game?
Only when the developer configured shared Cloud storage or compatible save paths between the two appIDs and the save format is compatible. Matching filenames alone do not provide a supported transfer.
Is Steam Cloud enough, or should I copy the files myself?
Use both when possible. Cloud is convenient but developer-controlled and may omit local profiles or settings. A verified manual copy gives you an offline recovery option.
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What should I do when Steam shows a Cloud conflict?
Do not guess. Compare the displayed modification times, keep both versions if uncertain, and choose the copy that contains the desired progress. Then let synchronization finish before launching elsewhere.
How long should I keep the backup?
Keep it until the reinstalled demo or full game loads the expected profile, unlocks, settings, and run state. Do not delete it immediately after copying files back.
The Bottom Line
Quit cleanly, wait for Cloud synchronization, identify the demo’s appID and developer-documented paths, then copy and verify the complete save and profile folders to an independent destination. Uninstall only afterward, resolve any Cloud conflict by timestamps, and test the restored game before deleting the backup.
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