PoE2 Has No Save Files — But These 3 Local Paths Still Need Backing Up (2026)

Searching for a PoE2 save file gets you a strange answer: there isn’t one. Path of Exile 2 is always-online — your characters, stash, and items live on Grinding Gear Games’ servers, not your hard drive. Reinstall Windows, swap PCs, delete your Documents folder — your progress stays untouched. But that server-side safety net doesn’t cover everything. Two local files can cause real problems if lost, and the January 2025 data breach proved that your GGG account credentials are what you actually need to protect. Here’s the full picture.

You might also find save file location helpful here.

Quick Start Checklist

No save file exists — characters and stash are stored on GGG servers
Backup target: %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Path of Exile 2\ (captures config + filters)
Config file: poe2_production_Config.ini — never edit while the game is running
Loot filters: OnlineFilters\ subfolder — wrong folder = game ignores them
Log file: in the game install directory, not Documents — diagnostic only, no backup needed
Account security: change GGG password to something unique, enable Steam Guard if on Steam
Post-breach action: if you haven’t changed your GGG password since January 2025, do it now

Why PoE2 Has No Save File

Path of Exile 2 requires a constant internet connection. Every character level, passive tree allocation, item, and currency stack is synced to GGG’s servers in real time. The game has no pause, no local save-and-quit — when you log out, your state persists on their end. This means you can’t lose progress to a hard drive failure, OS reinstall, or accidental file deletion. It also means there’s nothing to back up for your characters specifically. They’re as permanent as your account.

For a deeper look at how PoE2’s systems work together, see our complete Path of Exile 2 guide. The short version for this article: your real save file is your GGG login — which is exactly why account security matters.

The 3 Local Paths That Actually Matter

PoE2 does write three things to your local machine. Two warrant occasional backups; one is diagnostic only.

PoE2 local file types reference: config file, loot filter folder and log file with storage location and backup priority — PoE2 local file summary: the config and filter files need periodic backups; the log file is diagnostic only and lives in the install directory, not Documents

1. poe2_production_Config.ini — Your Settings File

Windows path: %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Path of Exile 2\poe2_production_Config.ini

This file stores everything you’ve configured in the Options menu: resolution, graphics preset, UI scale, control bindings, sound levels. Lose it and you’re rebuilding your settings from scratch after every reinstall. More immediately: GGG patches have occasionally corrupted this file, which is why backing it up before patch day takes 30 seconds and saves an hour of reconfiguration.

The mechanism matters. PoE2 reads the config file on launch and writes to it on exit. Editing, moving, or deleting the file while the game is running breaks that write cycle and causes corruption. If you want to reset all settings to default, close the game first, then delete or rename poe2_production_Config.ini — a fresh default is generated on next launch [3].

Once you’ve restored or rebuilt your config, our PoE2 PC settings guide covers the optimal values for performance and visual clarity.

2. OnlineFilters\ — Your Loot Filters

Windows path: %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Path of Exile 2\OnlineFilters\

Loot filters are plain text files with a .filter extension. Place them in the OnlineFilters subfolder and the game detects them automatically — select your filter in Options → Game → Item Filter. A tuned NeverSink or Filterblade setup can represent hours of customisation. These are not synced to GGG’s servers. If this folder is wiped, every filter is gone [2].

The most common install error: dropping filter files into the Path of Exile 2 root folder instead of the OnlineFilters subfolder. The game won’t detect them in the wrong location. If you’re unsure about the exact path on your system, the Options → Game menu includes a folder icon that opens the correct filter directory directly — use that to confirm rather than navigating manually.

3. Client.txt — The Log File (Diagnostic Only)

Path: [Steam drive]\Steam\steamapps\common\Path of Exile 2\logs\Client.txt

This lives in the game install directory, not Documents. It’s a rolling log of system events and chat data — nothing you need to back up. Its practical uses: GGG support requests this file when diagnosing crashes or connection issues, and third-party trade overlay tools parse it to detect incoming trade whispers [4].

What to Prioritise Based on How You Play

Player type	Priority action	Backup frequency
New player	Set a unique GGG password — your account is your save file	Not needed yet (nothing customised locally)
Casual player	One manual Documents folder backup; strong password	Once per patch cycle
Active / league player	Back up config + filters before each major patch; enable Steam Guard	Before every patch + after major filter edits
Hardcore / SSF	Versioned filter backups; change GGG password to unique, 20+ chars	Before every patch; dated filter versions

Account Security: Your GGG Login Is the Real Save File

Since everything meaningful is stored server-side, account access is the real vulnerability — not local files. This stopped being theoretical in January 2025, when GGG confirmed a data breach affecting both PoE and PoE2 accounts. Exposed data included account names, email addresses, and hashed passwords. Payment data was not compromised — GGG doesn’t store credit card details directly [5]. GGG responded with mandatory password resets, a phased 2FA rollout, and ongoing account monitoring. Native GGG two-factor authentication was still reaching accounts in phases as of early 2026.

Unique password. If your GGG password is shared with any other site, change it now. Go to the official Path of Exile website → My Account → Manage Account → Change Password. A password manager generates and stores a strong unique password with no friction on your end [6].

Steam Guard (Steam players). While GGG’s native 2FA finishes its rollout, Steam Guard on the mobile app provides login notifications with IP address and location data. Enable it in Steam → Account Security → Manage Steam Guard. This meaningfully raises the bar for account takeover without waiting for GGG’s own implementation [6].

Third-party overlay caution. Several account compromises during the breach period were linked to price-check overlays that requested account-level access. Tools that only read Client.txt for trade whispers carry lower risk than those requiring GGG credentials. Check whether a tool needs your login before granting any access [6].

How to Back Up Your PoE2 Files

Scenario: Reinstalling Windows or wiping your drive

Back up the entire %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Path of Exile 2\ folder first. One copy captures both your config file and all loot filters.

Scenario: Switching to a new PC

Characters need no action — they come back when you log in on the new machine. Copy the Documents folder across and your settings and filters are immediately available.

Scenario: Patch day

Copy just poe2_production_Config.ini before the patch downloads. If the update corrupts the file, paste your backup in and you’re reconfigured in under a minute [1].

The manual backup

Close Path of Exile 2 completely
Navigate to %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\
Copy the Path of Exile 2 folder to your backup location (external drive, cloud storage, secondary drive)
Name it with a date: Path of Exile 2 — 2026-04-22

Restore by copying back — close the game first. This single-folder copy captures everything except Client.txt, which you don’t need.

Steam’s built-in backup option (Library → right-click PoE2 → Properties → Installed Files → Backup game files) captures the game installation only, not the Documents folder. For config and loot filters, the manual step above is still required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I copy my PoE2 character to a different account?

No. Characters are account-bound and stored on GGG’s servers. There’s no local file to move, and GGG doesn’t support character transfers between accounts.

What happens if I delete Documents/My Games/Path of Exile 2?

Your characters, stash, and all progress are completely unaffected — they’re on GGG’s servers. You lose your settings and loot filters. PoE2 regenerates a default config on next launch, so the game runs immediately. You’ll need to reconfigure options and reinstall filters [1].

How do I reset PoE2 settings to default?

Close PoE2, navigate to %USERPROFILE%\Documents\My Games\Path of Exile 2\, and delete or rename poe2_production_Config.ini. A clean default config is generated on the next launch [3]. Never do this while the game is open.

Does Steam Cloud back up PoE2 files?

PoE2 account and character data is stored on GGG’s own servers, separate from Steam’s infrastructure. The config file and loot filters are not automatically synced to Steam Cloud. Back them up manually.

My account was compromised — what do I do first?

Change your GGG password immediately on the official Path of Exile website. Enable Steam Guard if you use Steam. Contact GGG support to request an account activity review — they can log suspicious logins and flag unusual trades. If your GGG email was the same as a breached service, update that too.

Sources

Michael R.

I've been playing video games for over 20 years, spanning everything from early PC titles to modern open-world games. I started Switchblade Gaming to publish the kind of accurate, well-researched guides I always wanted to find — built on primary sources, tested in-game, and kept up to date after patches. I currently focus on Minecraft and Pokémon GO.