Hey fellow Tarnished! Having your Elden Ring save file corrupted can feel like a punch in the gut, especially after pouring countless hours into exploring the Lands Between, conquering bosses, and building your character. It's a frustrating experience, but don't lose hope! This guide will walk you through several methods to fix corrupted save files and potentially recover your precious progress in Elden Ring. Let's dive in and get you back on your journey to become Elden Lord.

Understanding Save File Corruption in Elden Ring

Before we jump into the fixes, it's helpful to understand why save file corruption happens in the first place. Several factors can contribute to this issue, and knowing them might help you prevent it in the future.

• Sudden Power Outages: A sudden loss of power while the game is saving can interrupt the process and lead to a corrupted save file. Always make sure your PC or console is connected to a stable power source, and consider using a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) for extra protection, especially if you live in an area prone to power outages.
• Game Crashes: If Elden Ring crashes frequently, it can also corrupt your save files. Game crashes can be caused by various issues, such as driver problems, hardware conflicts, or game bugs. Keeping your drivers up to date and ensuring your system meets the game's requirements can help reduce crashes.
• Storage Issues: Problems with your hard drive or SSD can also lead to save file corruption. This could be due to bad sectors, file system errors, or other storage-related issues. Regularly check your storage device for errors and ensure it's in good health.
• Modding (PC): While mods can enhance your Elden Ring experience, they can also cause save file corruption, especially if they are incompatible with the game or each other. Be cautious when installing mods and always back up your save files before modding.
• Cloud Save Conflicts: Conflicts between local and cloud saves can sometimes lead to corruption. This can happen if there are discrepancies between the two versions, especially after switching between different devices or platforms.

Understanding these potential causes can help you take preventative measures and minimize the risk of save file corruption in the future. Now, let's move on to the solutions.

Method 1: Restore from Backup Saves (PC)

One of the first things you should try is restoring from a backup save. Elden Ring on PC often creates backup saves automatically, which can be a lifesaver in case of corruption. Here’s how to do it:

1. Locate the Save File Directory: First, you need to find where Elden Ring stores its save files. The default location is usually in your AppData folder. Open File Explorer and navigate to: C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Roaming\EldenRing Replace "YourUsername" with your actual Windows username. If you can't see the AppData folder, make sure hidden items are visible in File Explorer (View > Show > Hidden items).
2. Identify Backup Saves: Inside the EldenRing folder, you'll see a folder with a long number – this is your Steam ID. Open that folder, and you should find your save files. Look for files named something like ER0000.sl2 (your main save) and potentially some backup files with similar names but different numbers or extensions.
3. Restore a Backup: If you see any backup files, try restoring them. Here's how:
   • Make a Copy: Before doing anything, make a copy of your current (corrupted) ER0000.sl2 file and store it somewhere safe. This is just in case something goes wrong during the restoration process.
   • Rename the Backup: Rename one of the backup files to ER0000.sl2. Choose the most recent backup file if you have multiple options. Be sure to delete or move the corrupted save out of the folder. Make sure you only have the backup save file in the folder with the correct name ER0000.sl2.
   • Launch Elden Ring: Start Elden Ring and see if the game loads your restored save. If it works, great! You've recovered your progress. If not, try a different backup file or move on to the next method.

Important Considerations:

• Timestamp: Pay attention to the timestamps of the backup files. Choose the one that's closest to your last known good save. This will minimize the amount of progress you lose.
• Cloud Saves: Disable cloud saves temporarily while restoring from a local backup to prevent conflicts. You can re-enable them later once you've confirmed that the restored save is working correctly.
• Multiple Backups: If you have multiple backup files, try restoring them one by one until you find one that works. Start with the most recent and work your way back. After you have tested the backup save and it works correctly, you can enable cloud saves again and start playing.

Method 2: Verify Game File Integrity (Steam)

Sometimes, save file corruption can be caused by corrupted or missing game files. Steam has a built-in tool to verify the integrity of your game files and replace any that are missing or corrupted. Here's how to use it:

1. Open Steam: Launch the Steam client and log in to your account.
2. Go to Library: Click on the "Library" tab to view your list of games.
3. Right-Click Elden Ring: Find Elden Ring in your library, right-click on it, and select "Properties."
4. Go to Local Files: In the Properties window, click on the "Local Files" tab.
5. Verify Integrity: Click the "Verify integrity of game files..." button. Steam will now scan your Elden Ring installation and identify any missing or corrupted files.
6. Wait for the Process to Complete: The verification process may take some time, depending on the size of the game and the speed of your storage device. Be patient and let it finish.
7. Launch Elden Ring: Once the verification is complete, Steam will automatically download and replace any corrupted or missing files. After that, launch Elden Ring and see if the issue is resolved.

Why This Works:

Verifying game file integrity ensures that all the necessary files for Elden Ring to run properly are present and uncorrupted. This can fix issues caused by damaged or missing files, which can sometimes lead to save file corruption. If this method resolves the issue, you should be able to load your save file without any problems.

Method 3: Recover from Steam Cloud Saves

If you have Steam Cloud Saves enabled for Elden Ring (which is the default), you might be able to recover your save file from the cloud. Here's how:

1. Disable Steam Cloud Saves (Temporarily): Before attempting to recover from the cloud, it's a good idea to temporarily disable Steam Cloud Saves for Elden Ring. This will prevent any conflicts between your local and cloud saves.
   • Right-click on Elden Ring in your Steam library.
   • Select "Properties."
   • Go to the "General" tab.
   • Uncheck the "Keep game saves in the Steam Cloud for Elden Ring" box.
2. Delete Local Save Files: Next, delete your local Elden Ring save files. This will force Steam to download the cloud save when you launch the game.
   • Navigate to the save file directory (as described in Method 1).
   • Delete the ER0000.sl2 file and any backup files.
3. Launch Elden Ring: Start Elden Ring. Steam should detect that there are no local save files and automatically download your save from the cloud.
4. Enable Steam Cloud Saves (Again): After you've confirmed that the cloud save has been successfully restored, you can re-enable Steam Cloud Saves for Elden Ring.

Important Notes:

• Internet Connection: You'll need a stable internet connection to download your save file from the cloud.
• Cloud Save Conflicts: If you encounter any issues, such as the game not downloading your cloud save or the save being corrupted, try restarting Steam or your computer and repeating the process.
• Progress Loss: Keep in mind that the cloud save might not be the most up-to-date version of your save file. You might lose some progress, but it's better than losing everything.

Method 4: Check Your Hard Drive for Errors

As mentioned earlier, problems with your hard drive or SSD can lead to save file corruption. It's a good idea to check your storage device for errors and ensure it's in good health. Here's how to do it on Windows:

1. Open File Explorer: Open File Explorer and right-click on the drive where Elden Ring is installed (usually the C: drive).
2. Go to Properties: Select "Properties" from the context menu.
3. Go to Tools Tab: In the Properties window, click on the "Tools" tab.
4. Error Checking: Under the "Error checking" section, click the "Check" button.
5. Scan Drive: Windows will now scan your drive for errors. You may be prompted to schedule a disk check on the next restart. If so, click "Schedule disk check" and restart your computer.

Why This Matters:

Checking your hard drive for errors can identify and fix issues that might be causing save file corruption. If the scan finds any errors, it will attempt to repair them. After the repair process is complete, try launching Elden Ring and see if the issue is resolved.

Method 5: Reinstall Elden Ring

If none of the above methods work, your last resort might be to reinstall Elden Ring. This will completely remove the game from your system and then reinstall it, which can fix any underlying issues that might be causing the save file corruption.

1. Uninstall Elden Ring:
   • Open Steam.
   • Go to your Library.
   • Right-click on Elden Ring.
   • Select "Manage" > "Uninstall."
2. Delete Game Files (Optional): After uninstalling the game, you might want to manually delete any remaining game files in the installation directory. This will ensure a clean reinstall.
3. Reinstall Elden Ring:
   • In Steam, go to your Library.
   • Find Elden Ring in your list of games.
   • Click "Install" and follow the on-screen instructions.
4. Launch Elden Ring: After the reinstallation is complete, launch Elden Ring and see if the issue is resolved. You may need to start a new game if your save file is completely unrecoverable.

A Word of Caution:

Reinstalling Elden Ring can be time-consuming, especially if you have a slow internet connection. Only resort to this method if you've exhausted all other options. Reinstalling will delete local files, so make sure your cloud save is enabled to potentially recover some progress.

Preventing Future Save File Corruption

While fixing a corrupted save file is important, preventing it from happening again is even better. Here are some tips to help you protect your Elden Ring progress:

• Regular Backups: Back up your save files regularly, either manually or using a backup tool. This will give you a recent save to restore in case of corruption.
• Stable Power Supply: Ensure your PC or console is connected to a stable power source. Use a UPS if necessary.
• Keep Drivers Updated: Keep your graphics drivers and other system drivers up to date.
• Avoid Modding (If Unsure): Be cautious when installing mods, and always back up your save files before modding.
• Monitor Storage Health: Regularly check your hard drive or SSD for errors.
• Proper Shutdown: Always close the game properly and shut down your system correctly. Avoid abruptly turning off your PC or console while the game is running.

Conclusion

Dealing with a corrupted save file in Elden Ring can be a real headache, but with the methods outlined in this guide, you have a good chance of recovering your progress and getting back to exploring the Lands Between. Remember to take preventative measures to avoid future corruption, and always back up your save files regularly. Good luck, Tarnished, and may the Grace guide thee!