Let's face it - Valve Corporation's Steam Deck is one of the innovations that took the gaming community by storm. Yes, offering the allure of PC gaming on the go, the Steam Deck delivers an immersive gaming experience right at your fingertips. However, just like any other device, it is not immune to the occasional technical hiccup. 

Today, one of the issues that some Steam Deck users have encountered is the dreaded "Unable to Sync Cloud" error, which prevents them from accessing their game saves and progress stored in the cloud. Honestly, this can be both frustrating and concerning. 

So, if you're in a similar situation, you're not alone. To help you out, we've created this comprehensive guide to teach you the best methods to fix the Steam cloud sync error that failed without any complications.

What Is Steam Deck Cloud Sync Error and Its Causes?

Steam Deck Cloud sync error is a technical issue that usually prevents the syncing of game saves between the Steam Cloud and Steam Deck, causing players to lose their saved game progress and encounter other errors. 

Causes Of Steam Deck Cloud Sync Not Working

The Steam Deck cloud sync not working error is usually caused by different reasons. In most cases, it is usually due to platform mismatch, Steam server error, or corruption in saved game files.

Possible Ways To Fix Steam Deck Unable To Sync Cloud

Regardless of what might be causing you to experience the Steam Deck cloud sync failed error, there are several solutions that you can use to get rid of the problem within a few clicks. Here, we've discussed the best possible methods you can use to operate seamlessly. 

Fix 1: Restart Steam Deck

Manually restarting Steam Deck is one of the smartest moves you can always take when you experience a Steam Cloud unable to sync Steam Deck error. Yes, it'll help you get rid of glitches that might be compromising your gaming experience.

To achieve this, you just have to do the following;

Step 1: Press the Steam button and select Power.

Step 2: Select Restart from the options. Your Steam Deck should reboot automatically afterward.

Fix 2: Check Steam Server Status

If the above method did not work, worry less. The problem might be from the Steam server. It's advisable you try checking the Steam server status to confirm whether there's a maintenance or downtime issue that’s causing Steam cloud sync to fail.

You can check the Steam server status via DownDetector Steam Status official website. But if there's nothing wrong with the Steam server, just proceed to the next step.

Fix 3: Check Steam Deck Updates

As mentioned earlier, outdated SteamOS could cause Steam Deck unable to sync cloud error. So, with that in mind, it's advisable to manually check for SteamOS updates by following the procedures below;

Step 1: Press the Steam button and navigate to Settings.

Step 2: Press the A button and select System.

Step 3: Under the System Update section, select channel Beta or Preview.

Step 4: Afterward, you'll be required to restart Steam Deck. Just select Restart Now to proceed.

Step 5: Once you complete the above, the new System channel will be applied. Then, repeat Steps 1-3 and select Check for Updates.

Step 6: If there's a new update, select Apply to restart the system. 

Step 7: The new SteamOS update should be installed once the system reboots.

Fix 4: Check For Game Update

If you're still experiencing the Steam Deck cloud sync not working error, there's a high chance that the game you're trying to sync to the cloud us outdated.  It's suggested you update the game to its latest version to be able to enjoy a seamless Steam Deck cloud sync operation.

The steps below will teach you how to get this done;

Step 1: Go to your Steam Library and navigate to the game library page. Then, select Manage.

Step 2: Select Properties > Updates.

Step 3: Select Automatic Updates and reboot the Steam Deck afterward.

Fix 6: Enable Steam Cloud Synchronization Feature

If you've previously disabled the Steam Cloud synchronization feature, you might need to turn it on in this situation. To achieve this, you just have to do the following;

Step 1: Press the Steam button and select the Steam menu at the top-left corner.

Step 2: Select Settings and navigate to the Cloud tab. Then, tick the checkbox next to ‘Enable Steam Cloud Synchronization’.

Step 3: Up next, select Ok to save the changes. Then, restart the Steam Deck to save the changes you made.

Fix 6: Repair the Steam Library Folder

If none of the above methods was able to eliminate the Steam Cloud sync failed error, we recommend you repair the Steam Library folder. The steps below explain how to do this;

Step 1: Press the Steam button and navigate to the Steam menu. Then, select Settings and go to the Downloads tab.

Step 2: Click the Steam Library Folders button and select the game that you wish to sync.

Step 3: Select Repair Folder from the options menu. Then, select Yes to confirm your choice and wait for the repair process to complete. This should take only a few minutes.

Conclusion

The Steam Deck "Unable to Sync Cloud" error can be a frustrating issue when you're trying to seamlessly sync your game progress across devices. But the good news is there are several effective ways to resolve this problem and ensure a smooth gaming experience. The guide above has discussed six reliable fixes you can always count on anytime.