The "Failed to load profile" error in Shadow of the Tomb Raider is often caused by a corrupt profile.dat
file or synchronization issues between your local computer and the cloud. Quick Fix: Reset the Profile File
Most players resolve this by deleting the local profile file and allowing the game to regenerate it. This usually
delete your actual save progress, though backing up your data first is highly recommended. Steam Community Back up your saves Navigate to:
C:\Users\[YourName]\Documents\Shadow of the Tomb Raider\[LongNumber]
Copy the entire folder and paste it in a safe place, like your Desktop. Disable Cloud Sync : Right-click the game in your Properties > toggle off Steam Cloud Epic Games
: Close the launcher and clear its cache if necessary by deleting folders in %localappdata%/EpicGamesLauncher Delete the corrupted file
In the original folder from Step 1, find and delete the file named profile.dat Launch the Game
Start the game; it should act as if it's the first time you've played. Once at the main menu, check if you can now Re-enable Cloud Sync (Optional)
If the game works, you can turn Cloud Sync back on. Ensure you choose to sync local files to the cloud
if prompted to avoid overwriting your fix with the old corrupted cloud data. Alternative Solutions
This guide details methods to resolve the "Failed to Load Profile" error in Shadow of the Tomb Raider
, a common issue often caused by synchronization bugs between local files and cloud storage. 1. Re-sync Local Profile with Cloud (Steam)
The most effective fix for Steam users involves forcing the client to recognize a new profile while retaining existing save data. shadow of the tomb raider failed to load profile
Backup Save Data: Navigate to %USERPROFILE%\Documents\Shadow of the Tomb Raider\[Your Steam ID]\ and copy all files to a safe backup folder on your desktop.
Delete Local Profile: In the original save folder, delete the profile.dat and steam_autocloud.vdf files.
Disable Steam Cloud: Right-click the game in your Steam Library > Properties > General and toggle off Steam Cloud Synchronization.
Create New Profile: Launch the game. It should treat you as a new player. Start a new game and play until it auto-saves, which generates a fresh, uncorrupted profile.dat.
Restore Save Files: Close the game. Copy your original save*.dat files (but not the old profile.dat) from your desktop backup back into the Documents save folder.
Re-enable Cloud: Turn Steam Cloud back on. When prompted about a sync conflict, choose to Upload Local Files to the Cloud. 2. Epic Games Launcher Cache Fix
For players on the Epic Games Store, the error is often tied to corrupted web cache files within the launcher.
Close the Launcher: Ensure the Epic Games Launcher is completely shut down.
Access AppData: Press Win + R, type %localappdata%, and hit Enter.
Clear Web Cache: Open the EpicGamesLauncher folder > Saved. Delete the webcache and webcache_4147 folders. Restart: Relaunch Epic Games and start the game. 3. Alternative Troubleshooting Steps
If profile manipulation does not work, the issue may be related to system-level permissions or corrupted installation files.
Here’s a concise, well-written text you can use about the “Shadow of the Tomb Raider — Failed to Load Profile” error (suitable for support pages, forum posts, or social media):
Shadow of the Tomb Raider — “Failed to load profile” The "Failed to load profile" error in Shadow
Many players encounter a “Failed to load profile” error when launching Shadow of the Tomb Raider. This message usually means the game cannot access your saved profile data or sign in to the platform service (Steam, Epic, or console account). Common causes include corrupted save files, missing permissions, cloud-sync conflicts, or temporary service outages.
Quick fixes
If the problem persists
Example support message for users to copy-paste “I get a ‘Failed to load profile’ error when starting Shadow of the Tomb Raider. I’ve restarted my PC, verified game files, disabled cloud saves, and run the game as administrator, but it still won’t load. My save folder is at [path]. Can you help identify which files to check or repair?”
Use this text in support articles, forum posts, or troubleshooting guides to help players diagnose and resolve the error.
The "Failed to load profile" error in Shadow of the Tomb Raider
is a common glitch typically caused by a corrupted profile.dat file, which stores your configuration and progression data.
To resolve this issue and regain access to your saves, follow these steps: 1. Back Up and Delete Corrupted Profile
Before making changes, manually back up your data to prevent permanent loss.
Locate the Save Folder: Navigate to C:\Users\[YourName]\Documents\Shadow of the Tomb Raider\[UniqueNumber].
Create a Backup: Copy the entire folder to your desktop or another safe location.
Delete the Corrupted File: In the original folder, find and delete only the profile.dat file. 2. Disable Cloud Synchronization
The error often persists because the platform (Steam or Epic) automatically re-downloads the corrupted file from the cloud. For Steam: Right-click Shadow of the Tomb Raider in your Library. Select Properties > General. Toggle off Steam Cloud. If the problem persists
Launch the Game: Start the game. It should now launch as if for the first time, but your existing save slots should still be visible and accessible. 3. Restore Cloud Sync (Optional)
Once you have confirmed the game loads correctly and you have reached a new save point:
Exit the game and re-enable Steam Cloud in the Properties menu.
When prompted about a "Cloud Sync Conflict," choose to upload your local files to the cloud to replace the corrupted version. Alternative Fixes
If the steps above do not work, consider these additional troubleshooting methods:
Antivirus Exclusions: Add the game's folder and .exe as an exclusion in your antivirus or Windows Defender Ransomware Protection, as these can block the game from reading the profile folder.
Verify Game Files: Use the "Verify integrity of game files" feature in Steam to repair any missing or corrupted installation data.
Run as Administrator: Right-click the game's executable (SOTTR.exe) in the installation folder, select Properties > Compatibility, and check Run this program as an administrator.
Have you checked if your antivirus is currently blocking the game's save folder?
Ensure your Windows operating system is up to date.
Navigate to:
C:\Users\[YourUsername]\Documents\Shadow of the Tomb Raider\
Launch the game – it will create fresh profile files.
If it works, copy your old game.sav file back (not the profile settings).
If your Windows username has spaces or special characters (e.g., John Doe), create a new local Windows admin user with a short name (e.g., Gamer), log in, and launch the game.