How to Fix Steam Cloud Out of Date Error: 8 Ways

The “Steam Cloud Out of Date” error occurs when Steam is unable to synchronize your game data with its cloud servers. You might also encounter the error message in a few different variations, such as:

• Unable to Sync
• Steam was unable to sync your files for (game) with the Steam Cloud
• Steam Cloud Error

In most cases, the error is caused by conflicts with local game files. This often occurs if you have Steam signed in on two different devices — one with Cloud Synchronization turned on and the other with it turned off. As a result, the local saved data doesn’t match the data saved in the Steam Cloud.

For instance, if you play Stardew Valley on your PC with Cloud Synchronization disabled, your progress is saved locally. Later, if you switch to another computer where the Steam Cloud saved data is from an earlier session, Steam detects the mismatch. This triggers a warning that you might lose data if you launch the game with the outdated save.

How to Fix Steam Cloud Out of Date

While the most common cause is conflicts with local game files, it’s not the only one. Issues with Steam servers, a poor or unstable internet connection, and corrupted files are also reasons to consider. With that said, let’s explore all the possible fixes that can help you resolve the Steam Cloud out of date error.

1. Check Steam Servers

There’s no point in spending your time trying to solve a problem that has nothing to do with you. Therefore, the first thing you should check is whether Steam is experiencing any server-related issues. Whether the Steam servers are down due to maintenance reasons or outage issues, cloud sync won’t work properly and can cause this error.

To check the Steam servers, you can head to either Downdetector or SteamDB to see if there are any problems reported. Additionally, keep an eye on the official Steam X account for any tweets and updates regarding the issue. If the error turns out to be a Steam server problem, simply wait for them to fix it and try again once they announce that the problem is resolved.

2. Make Sure You Have a Good Internet Connection

Most of the time, a slow or unstable internet connection prevents Steam Cloud from synchronizing data properly. Therefore, before moving on, we suggest ruling out any internet-related issues. To check how good your internet connection is, you can try a simple Internet speed test. You can visit websites like Fast.com or Ookla to get an idea of your upload, download, and overall Internet speed.

A download speed of at least 5 Mbps and an upload speed of at least 1 Mbps are recommended for smooth syncing of game data. However, speed isn’t the only factor; frequent connection drops and high latency can also affect the syncing process. Once you have ensured your connection is stable, you can move on to the next steps.

READ MORE: How to Increase Internet Speed in Windows 10/11? ➜

3. Close Steam on Other Devices

As discussed above, the error usually appears when you use a single Steam account on multiple devices with different cloud sync settings. To avoid this, make sure that you are signed out of your Steam account and that the Steam client is closed on all other devices except the one where you are encountering the error. If this resolves the issue, it suggests that your cloud sync settings were indeed out of sync.

4. Enable Steam Cloud Synchronization

Steam Cloud Synchronization ensures that your progress is consistently saved to the cloud, enabling seamless synchronization across multiple devices. This guarantees that your progress remains consistent regardless of the device you are using. If the setting is disabled on a device, it can cause Steam to prompt the Steam Cloud Out of Date error.

To enable Steam Cloud Synchronization, follow these steps:

1. Open the Steam client and click on Steam in the top-left corner.
   

   

2. This will open a small menu where you’ll need to click on the Settings option.
   

   

3. Once Steam Settings opens, navigate to the Cloud tab in the left sidebar.
   Head over to Storage
4. Finally, toggle on the button next to “Enable Steam Cloud“. Restart Steam and see if the error message still appears.
   

   

5. Retry Syncing for Individual Games

The next step is to determine if the issue is specific to one game. To check this, simply launch a different game from the one experiencing the error. If the other games work fine, it’s likely that you’re encountering syncing issues with that specific game only.

Here’s how to retry syncing for individual games:

1. Open Steam, head to the Library Tab, and select the game you are facing the error with.
   

   

2. Right next to the Play button, you should see a Cloud Status option along with the current status of your game’s data. Click on the Out of sync option.
   

   

3. This should open a prompt stating that Steam was unable to sync your game’s data. Simply click on the “Retry Sync” button.
   

   

4. Lastly, wait for the process to complete, and the Cloud Status should update to Up to date now.
   

   

6. Verify the Integrity of Game Files

If you try playing the game again and the error still appears, the next step is to verify the integrity of game files. Due to interrupted downloads, software conflicts, or malware attacks, your game files can become corrupted. This can lead to different issues, including the Steam Cloud Out of Date error.

Fortunately, thanks to Steam’s built-in option, you can quickly verify file integrity by comparing the files on your system to those on their servers. If it detects missing or corrupted files, it automatically installs or replaces them with updated versions.

Here’s a quick rundown on how to verify the integrity of game files:

1. Open Steam and head to the Library tab.
   

   

2. Select the game that’s giving you the error. Right-click on the game and select Properties from the menu.
   

   

3. Next, navigate to the Installed Files tab in the left sidebar.
   

   

4. Click on the “Verify integrity of game files” to begin the process. Once it finishes, you will see a successful validation message, indicating that the game files are in good condition.
   Click on Verify integrity of game files

7. Repair the Steam Library Folder

If you encounter any issues during the verification process of the game files, the library folder where Steam stores all downloaded game data is likely corrupted. This can cause Steam to encounter difficulties when syncing your game data, ultimately resulting in the Steam Cloud Sync Out of Date error. To ensure your Library folder is functioning properly, you can repair it by following these steps:

1. Open the Steam client and click on Steam in the top-left corner.
   

   

2. From the drop-down menu, select the Settings option.
   

   

3. Next, head to the Storage tab on the left side.
   

   

4. Click on the three dots next to the storage bar and select Repair Library.
   

   

5. Once the repair process is complete, simply click on the Close button, and that’s it. Restart and relaunch your Steam, and the error message should be resolved.

8. Adjust Windows Firewall Settings

Windows Firewall is a built-in security feature in Microsoft Windows operating systems that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic. It acts as a barrier between your computer and potentially harmful or unauthorized connections from the Internet or local network.

However, Windows Firewall can sometimes perceive Steam’s connection as unauthorized and block its attempt to connect to the cloud, resulting in the Steam Cloud Error. The fix here is to add an exception for Steam, preventing the Firewall from blocking any connections. To do that, follow these steps:

1. Open the Windows Search bar and type in Control Panel.
   

   

2. Search for Windows Defender Firewall and click on the first result.
   Search Windows Defender
3. Next, click on “Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall“.
4. From here, click on the Change Settings button to access all the options.
   

   

5. Select the “Allow another app” option.
   

   

6. This should open a popup window. Click on the Browse button to open your File Explorer.
   

   

7. Now, navigate to where your Steam launcher is installed, select it, and click on the Open button.
   

   

8. Once that’s done, click on the Add button.
   

   

9. Finally, hit the OK button at the bottom to finish the process.
   

   

Sync Your Game Data Across Multiple Devices

It’s not the smartest move to disable features like Steam Cloud Synchronization, which allows you to seamlessly play across multiple devices without worrying about losing progress. However, if you have it turned on and are still facing the Steam Cloud Out of Date error, we hope the above-mentioned troubleshooting steps will help you solve the issue swiftly.