Why can't I save in Baldur's Gate 3?

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Saving in Baldur's Gate 3 can be prevented by certain files and Anti-Virus software.

Baldur's Gate 3
(Image credit: Larian)

Can't save in Baldur's Gate 3? A few recent bugs and hotfix issues have meant that some players have struggled to preserve their progress. The developer warned us just days before its official launch that we would need to delete our Early Access saves before downloading it, but your antivirus software might be the real culprit. If you've checked the most recent patch notes and still have no clue why your game won't save, you've come to the right place. First off, check out how to find your Baldur's Gate 3 save location if you've not yet cleared them, since this might be the root of your issue.

Saving issues in Baldur's Gate 3 can crop up for myriad issues. Most of the time it's a quick fix, but here are some step-by-step instructions to help you work out what's causing your BG3 saves to fail.

Antivirus software denying permission to the game is possibly the main culprit, which we will get into below. Aside from your firewall blocking it, there are a few things that could be preventing your BG3 saves from doing their job, and we're here to help fix it. From clearing your cache to making some adjustments to your antivirus software rules, here's how to remedy the broken saves issue and ensure your progress gets preserved.

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What to do if you can't save in Baldur's Gate 3

Add LariLauncher.exe to your antivirus system's trusted apps. You might not be able to save due to rejecting app permissions when you first loaded into the game, or if your antivirus is particularly aggressive, it might have blocked it automatically. This is the recommended workaround from Larian Studios itself (via Larian.com). 

Not being able to save in Baldur's Gate 3 is a frustrating yet common issue experienced by many since the game's PC launch. If LariLauncher is trusted by your PC and you're still having trouble with autosaves or with creating a manual save file, try the following:

  • If you haven't already, delete your old saved game files manually by navigating to Users > [your user folder] > AppData > Local > Larian Studios > Baldur's Gate 3 and deleting the BG3 folder
  • Verify the game files in Steam via the Properties > Browse Local Files window
  • Try launching the game directly from its .exe file or shortcut, and if it works, quit and turn off cloud saves on Steam

If all else fails, turn off cloud saves, delete the game, and reinstall BG3 entirely. Make sure no trace of its game files are still on your computer before redownloading, or you'll run into the same issue. Oh, and make sure you grant access to the game so that your firewall doesn't block it.

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Jasmine Gould-Wilson
Jasmine Gould-Wilson
Senior Staff Writer, GamesRadar+

Jasmine is a Senior Staff Writer at GamesRadar+. Raised in Hong Kong and having graduated with an English Literature degree from Queen Mary, University of London, she started her games journalism career as a freelancer with TheGamer and Tech Radar Gaming before joining GamesRadar+ full-time in 2023. As part of the Features team, her duties include attending game previews and key international conferences such as Gamescom and Digital Dragons in between regular interviews, opinion pieces, and the occasional news or guides stint. In her spare time, you'll likely find Jasmine thinking/talking about Resident Evil, purchasing another book she's unlikely to read, or complaining about the weather.