Protect your NBA 2K progress with simple PC backups

Losing a MyCAREER or MyTEAM file to corruption or a cloud-sync quirk can cost dozens of hours and a pile of VC. A straightforward backup routine for Windows Steam and PC players protects MyPLAYERs, custom rosters, and MyNBA saves so you don’t have to rebuild progress after an accidental overwrite, hard-drive failure, or launcher hiccup.

Start by locating your save folders. Steam default saves live in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\userdata\<your_steam_id>\3657780\remote, though you can also check the game’s local save path in the launcher. Epic or other launchers commonly store saves under %LOCALAPPDATA% or inside the launcher folder; if you’re unsure, use File Explorer to search for recent folders containing files named like career.sav. Before touching files, fully exit NBA 2K and the launcher and use Task Manager to confirm no background 2K or launcher processes remain. Files that are in use can’t be copied cleanly.

Create a dated backup folder on another drive or partition—an example path is D:\2KBackups\NBA2K26\2026-01-14\. Copy the entire save folder, preserving the original folder structure; don’t cherry-pick single files. For storage efficiency and simplicity, optionally compress the backup into a .zip or .7z archive so you have one file per snapshot. Upload the archive to a cloud provider such as Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox, or copy it to an external HDD or SSD. An off-site copy protects you if the primary drive fails.

When you need to restore, fully exit NBA 2K and the launcher, then replace the target save folder on your PC with the backed-up folder or extract the archive into the original location. Launch the game and verify your save loads correctly. If you use Steam Cloud or another cloud sync, temporarily disable cloud sync before restoring a local backup to prevent the cloud copy from overwriting the restored files. After confirming the save, re-enable sync and allow the cloud to update.

Keep versioning simple: maintain at least three backups (most recent, weekly, monthly) and name them with dates. Make backups before major patches, migrating hardware, or trying risky mods. For multiple accounts or profiles, track which save maps to which account by keeping separate folders or a small text manifest. Avoid editing save files unless you deeply understand the format—bad edits often corrupt saves.

The takeaway? Treat backups like VC insurance: keep dated folders, one cloud copy, and a habit of making backups before risky changes. It’s quick to set up and will save you hours of grind and frustration when something goes sideways.