How to Recover Lost Game Data for PC

Whether you're a hardcore gamer or someone who sometimes plays on PC, laptop, PS4, or Steam, we all treasure our saved game and profile information. Nothing is worse than losing progress after putting in countless hours of hard effort to complete levels or ranks.

Losing game data can be a nightmare for any gamer. Hours of progress and hard work can disappear in an instant due to various reasons. Whether it's accidental deletion, system crashes, or software errors, the frustration of losing game data is universal.

In this guide, we'll explore the common causes of lost game data and provide effective solutions to recover them on your PC or through the Steam platform.

Possible causes of lost game data on PC/Steam

Various sources of game data loss have been found. So, before diving into the solutions, it's essential to understand why game data loss occurs. Several factors can contribute to this frustrating situation:

▍Accidental Deletion
Sometimes, players unintentionally delete game files while cleaning up their system or making space for new games.

▍System Crashes
Power outages, hardware failures, or software glitches can lead to unexpected system shutdowns or meltdowns, resulting in data loss.

▍Corrupted Files
If game files become corrupted due to malware, improper shutdowns, or other reasons, it can render the game unplayable or lose progress.

▍Steam Client Issues
Steam client updates or conflicts with other software can occasionally cause game data to become inaccessible or lost.

▍Unfinished installation
An incomplete installation of a patch or DLC for a game might result in serious issues that destroy stored data required for future gaming.

6 methods to recover lost game data from PC/Steam

After we know why sometimes game data may be lost without your permission, let’s see some available solutions for this problem.

Solution 1: Recover lost game data with data recovery software (most recommended)

To be honest, when any data loss issue happens, the best option to urgently save your lost data is to use a professional data recovery tool. Unlike other computer problems, data loss requires users to stop extra operations on the devices to avoid overwriting lost data. So, any tentative operations may cause permanent data loss. In this case, data recovery software can be the best solution.

If you're searching for such a good data recovery tool, with its intuitive interface and powerful features, AOMEI FastRecovery has become a go-to solution for gamers and IT professionals alike. This tool carried out in this app can scan 200+ types of data,  whether you're using a traditional HDD, SSD, or external storage device, and supports a wide range of storage mediums.

Users can deep scan the selected location which allows the program to thoroughly search for any missed or hidden files and image preview capability before restoring files.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI FastRecovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool start to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first for finding your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovering ends.

Solution 2: Recover lost game data from Recycle Bin

If you've accidentally deleted game files through the Steam client, you may be able to recover them from the Recycle Bin on Windows. Here's how:

Step 1. Double-click on the Recycle Bin icon located on your desktop to open it.

Step 2.  Search for the deleted game files within the Recycle Bin. You can use the search bar or manually browse through the contents.

Step 3. Once you've located the deleted game files, right-click on them and select the "Restore" option. This will restore the files to their original location on your PC.

Step 4. After restoring the deleted game files, verify their integrity by launching the respective game through the Steam client. If the files have been successfully restored, you should be able to access your saved progress and resume playing without any issues.

Solution 3: Recover lost game data from the game library

Steam's game library feature allows users to manage and organize their game collection. If you've lost game data for a specific title, you can try to recover it from the game library:

Step 1. Launch the Steam client on your PC and navigate to the "Library" tab.

Step 2. Scroll through your list of games and locate the title for which you've lost game data.

Step 3. Right-click on the game title, and select "Properties," On the Properties window, click "LOCAL FILES" and select "VERIFY INTEGRITY OF GAME FILES...".

Step 4. Some games offer the option to roll back to previous versions or restore from backups. Check the game's settings or preferences menu to see if this feature is available.

Step 5. If all else fails, consider reaching out to Steam support for assistance. They may be able to provide additional guidance or solutions for recovering lost game data.

Solution 4: Recover lost game data from Backups

Backing up your game data regularly is essential to prevent loss in case of unforeseen circumstances. If you have backups available, you can easily restore lost game data using the following steps:

Step 1. Go to "Steam > Backup and Restore Games".

Step 2. Choose "Restore a Previous Backup".

Step 3. Click "Browse" and find your title in the Steam backups folder. Hit "Next".

Step 4. Once the backup restoration process is complete, launch the respective game and verify that your saved progress has been restored successfully.

Solution 5: Restore lost game data from PC with File History

Windows File History is a built-in feature that allows users to back up and restore files over time. If you've enabled File History on your PC, you can use it to restore lost game data:

Step 1. Navigate to the Control Panel on your PC and search for "File History." Open the File History settings.

Step 2. Click on the "Restore personal files" option to initiate the recovery process.

Step 3. Select the backup source where your game data was previously backed up. This could be an external drive or a network location.

Step 4. Browse through the available backups and locate the game data you want to restore. Select the files and click "Restore" to begin the restoration process.

Step 5. After the restoration process is complete, launch the respective game and ensure that your saved progress has been successfully restored.

Solution 6: Restore lost game data from the PC with System Restore

Windows System Restore is a feature that allows users to revert their PC's state to a previous point in time. If you've recently experienced game data loss, you can try using System Restore to recover it:

Step 1. Type "System Restore" in the Windows search bar and open the System Restore utility.

Step 2. Choose a restore point from a date and time before you experienced the game data loss. Follow the on-screen instructions to proceed with the restoration process.

Step 3. Confirm your restore point selection and initiate the System Restore process. Your PC will restart during this process, so ensure that you've saved any unsaved work before proceeding.

Step 4. Once the System Restore process is complete and your PC has restarted, launch the respective game and verify that your saved progress has been restored successfully.

Conclusion

Losing game data can be a frustrating experience, but with the right tools and techniques, it's possible to recover lost game data successfully. Whether you're using data recovery software like AOMEI FastRecovery, leveraging built-in Windows features, or exploring Steam's backup and recovery options, there are multiple solutions available to help you retrieve lost game data and resume your gaming experience without any interruptions. 

FAQs about recover lost game data

Can I recover game data if I accidentally formatted my hard drive?
Yes, data recovery software like EaseUS Data Recovery Wizard or Stellar Data Recovery can often retrieve files even after formatting.

Is it possible to recover game data if my PC experiences a crash?
Absolutely! System Restore or data recovery software can often recover lost game data resulting from system crashes.

How long does the data recovery process typically take?
The duration of the data recovery process varies depending on factors such as the size of the drive and the extent of data loss. However, it can range from a few minutes to several hours.

Can I recover game data from an external hard drive?
Yes, data recovery software can scan and retrieve lost game data from external hard drives, provided they are accessible by your PC.