Simple backup routine to protect modded GTA V progress

Modded GTA V and the Enhanced installations are fragile by design: a single misplaced ASI file or an update can wipe hours of work or leave the game crashing. A reliable backup-and-restore routine protects your single-player progress, speeds up troubleshooting, and lets you test big visual mods without sweating every install.

Start with the basics: know where everything lives. Single-player saves are local at %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA V\Profiles\[profile-id]. GTA Online character data is server-side, so you don’t back that up locally. Steam, Rockstar Games Launcher, Epic Games, and the PC Enhanced Edition each use different install folders; document each install path before you touch anything. Common mods and utilities like Script Hook, OpenIV installs, ASI loaders and FiveM client files can live in the game directory or in separate mod manager folders, so map those locations now.

Make a full folder backup of Documents\Rockstar Games\GTA V by zipping it and storing a dated copy — for example, gta_saves_2026-01-09.zip. That captured save and config snapshot is your first line of defense if a mod corrupts your progress. Next, back up the game installation folder or at least the mod-related subfolders. Keep a clean vanilla copy of the executable and any original resource files in a separate folder so you can revert quickly if a mod or update breaks the game.

Use a mod manager or ASI/LUA managers where feasible; they don’t just organize mods but make uninstalling and testing far less painful. Maintain a plain text mod list with names, versions, install dates and source URLs so you can trace when a change introduced instability. Sync these backups to cloud storage such as OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox, or keep them on an external drive to survive OS reinstalls. Label backups clearly and keep a simple changelog of mod installs and updates; two recent backups (current and previous) are safer than one.

When restoring or troubleshooting, revert to your vanilla executable and temporarily move the Mods folder out of the game directory, then test. If saves appear corrupt, restore the most recent dated zip; if problems persist, try an earlier backup. For large visual packs like ENB, NaturalVision or RTX Remixes, install incrementally and test between steps, keeping the pre-mod backup handy. If you run roleplay servers (FiveM/cfx.re), maintain separate clean installs for single-player and for server clients to avoid cross-contamination.

Avoid distributing leaked or unofficial content and follow legal best practices to steer clear of copyright and DMCA problems. With a simple routine you can test new mods, roll back quickly after issues, and keep your GTA V hours safe.

The takeaway? Back up early, label everything, and treat big mods like surgery: prep, one change at a time, and a clean vanilla copy ready to go. That's how you keep the game playable and your progress intact.