Buzz
Elden Ring is an expansive game where players can spend countless hours exploring its vast world, battling foes, and advancing through the narrative, often without considering the safety of their save files. While Steam offers cloud backups, these aren't foolproof. Save file corruption is a real issue, and some players have experienced the frustration of losing their progress. To safeguard your game, manually backing up your save files is a wise precaution.
No complex setup is required—just use Mort65's “Simple Timed Backup” mod. This tool allows you to schedule regular backups of your Elden Ring save file, ensuring you always have a local copy on your PC in case of Steam issues. Beyond protecting against corruption, this mod can act as a pseudo-save state. Unhappy with recent gameplay? Simply revert to your latest backup.
Remember to use mods exclusively in offline mode. Although this mod doesn't enable cheating, FromSoft enforces strict anti-mod policies for online play. To avoid a ban, keep mods out of your online gaming sessions.
Setting up the mod is straightforward, though it involves a few mildly tedious steps. Visit Mort65's Nexus Mods page to access the mod. To download it, you’ll need to create an account by clicking REGISTER in the top-right corner. Be aware: After setting your username and password, the site may suggest payment is required, but it’s not. Simply close the prompt by clicking the X and return to the mod page.
Next, select the “Manual” download option. A notification will appear, informing you that the mod requires “AutoHotkey” to function. If you already have this app, you’re set. Otherwise, download it from AutoHotkey’s official site. Once installed, proceed to download the mod.
After downloading, locate and open the “Simple Timed Backup” file. Set your preferred backup interval—default is 10 minutes, but you can adjust it to suit your needs. You can also modify the number of backups stored before older ones are overwritten. The default is 10, but you can increase this or select “Unlimited” to keep all backups. Once configured, click “Activate” to start the mod.
For manual backups, this mod is equally effective. It’s perfect for creating save states before challenging battles. Simply select “Back up...” to create an immediate backup, ensuring you can restore your progress if needed.
To restore a backup, return to the Elden Ring title screen. Open the Simple Timed Backup app, choose “Restore,” and select the desired backup file. Typically, the most recent file will be the one you need.
This article was revised on Monday, April 4, to include a caution about using mods in online play.
