Learn what the Steam userdata folder stores, where to find it, what deletion can erase, and how to reset it safely without risking simulator data.
The Steam userdata folder stores account-specific files for Steam and individual games, including some cloud-synchronised saves, settings, controller configurations and screenshots. Steam can recreate the folder structure, but deleting it is not generally safe: you may lose local data or trigger an unwanted Steam Cloud sync. Back it up first.
Where is the Steam userdata folder?
Steam's userdata folder sits beneath the Steam client installation on Windows and in Steam's application-data directory on Linux and macOS. Moving a game to another Steam library does not normally move userdata with it.
| Platform | Common location |
|---|---|
| Windows | C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\, or <Steam folder>\userdata\ for a custom installation |
| Linux and Steam Deck | ~/.local/share/Steam/userdata/ or a linked path beneath ~/.steam/ |
| Flatpak Steam | ~/.var/app/com.valvesoftware.Steam/.local/share/Steam/userdata/ |
| macOS | ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/userdata/ |
Inside are numbered account folders, followed by numbered application folders:
userdata\<account number>\<AppID>\
An AppID identifies a game or Steam component. Depending on the title, its folder may contain a remote directory, remotecache.vdf, saves, preferences or controller data. Steam screenshots may also appear beneath userdata; use our guide to finding and changing the Steam screenshot location before removing a large screenshot directory.
Is it safe to delete Steam userdata?
Deleting the entire Steam userdata folder is unsafe unless every account's required files have been backed up and you deliberately want a complete reset. Steam will rebuild missing directories, but it cannot recreate unsynchronised saves, local profiles or screenshots.
| What you remove | Likely result | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
Entire userdata folder | Affects every Steam account and every application represented there | Avoid |
| One account-number folder | Affects all userdata belonging to that account | Avoid unless performing a backed-up account reset |
| One AppID folder | May reset one game's saves, settings or Cloud state | Back up and rename it first |
remote or remotecache.vdf | Can disrupt Steam Cloud tracking or provoke a conflict | Do not use as a general cache-clearing fix |
| Known screenshot files | Deletes those local screenshots | Remove through Steam's screenshot tools where possible |
Removing userdata does not uninstall the game itself; installed files normally live under a Steam library's steamapps directory. The common mistake is assuming userdata contains disposable cache files because its folders have unexplained numbers.
Will Steam Cloud restore deleted userdata?
Steam Cloud may restore cloud-managed files, but it is not a guaranteed backup of the userdata folder. Games decide which files are synchronised, and some saves, input profiles, screenshots and configuration files remain local.
If an unwanted or damaged file has already synchronised, Steam may simply download the same bad copy again. A Cloud conflict can also appear after deletion. Keep the copy you know is correct rather than automatically choosing the newest timestamp, because the newest file may be the corrupted one.
How do I reset one game's userdata safely?
The safest method is to back up and rename only the affected AppID folder while Steam is fully closed.
- Finish synchronisation. Close the game and check that Steam does not report a pending upload or Cloud error. Then exit Steam completely, including its notification-area or menu-bar process.
- Make an external backup. Copy the relevant AppID folder somewhere outside the Steam directory. For Microsoft Flight Simulator on Steam, follow our MSFS controller-profile backup procedure before changing numbered userdata folders.
- Confirm the AppID. Match the numbered folder to the game's AppID. The installation's Steam library contains an
appmanifest_<AppID>.acffile whose number can help identify the correct application. - Choose the required Cloud behaviour. Leave Steam Cloud enabled if you want Steam to attempt recovery from its remote copy. If you are testing a clean local configuration, temporarily disable Cloud for that game in its Steam properties so the old state is not immediately downloaded.
- Rename rather than delete. Change the AppID folder name or move it outside userdata. Start Steam and the game, then check saves, controls and settings before removing the backup.
- Restore carefully if needed. Exit Steam again, move the newly generated test folder aside and restore the backup. If Steam presents a Cloud conflict, select the copy containing the data you intend to keep.
If the reset works, retain the backup until you have launched the game several times and confirmed that saves and profiles persist. Restore individual known-good files where possible rather than replacing the whole folder and potentially reintroducing the fault.
What else should flight simulator users back up?
Flight simulators often store crucial files outside Steam userdata, so backing up this folder alone is incomplete. Microsoft Flight Simulator keeps package-location and graphics information in UserCfg.opt; our explanation of where UserCfg.opt lives and what it controls covers the Steam and Microsoft Store differences.
FSX Steam Edition spreads saved flights, configuration files and add-on information across Documents, AppData, ProgramData and the simulator installation. Use our FSX backup checklist for settings, flights and add-ons before deleting Steam data or reinstalling the simulator.
X-Plane and Prepar3D likewise keep many preferences, aircraft and scenery files outside Steam userdata. Deleting userdata may leave those installations intact while still removing Steam-side saves, controller mappings or account-specific settings.