Elden Ring concentrates multiple characters in a single profile-level .sl2 container, so the practical backup unit is the whole account folder, not one character slot. The nearby .bak file is useful as a possible recovery point but should itself be backed up before experimentation. Because Steam Cloud can synchronize the same profile, restoration should be deliberate: close the game, preserve current local files, decide which copy is authoritative, then allow cloud sync to resume.
Identify the exact save you intend to edit
The researched Elden Ring PC save location is Windows: %APPDATA%EldenRing<user-id> | Linux / Steam Play: Steam Play: <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/1245620/pfx/. Known file/folder pattern: ER0000.sl2
ER0000.sl2.bak. Storefront context: Steam. The account-ID subfolder is part of the save context. Avoid mixing files between Steam identities without a tool explicitly designed for that purpose. Do not edit a similarly named file from a different profile, edition, or cloud cache.
Make an untouched backup first
Copy ER0000.sl2 and its .bak companion with the game closed. For maximum safety, copy the entire account-ID folder to a dated backup outside AppData. Keep that copy outside the live save directory and do not overwrite it with later experiments. Cloud context: Steam Cloud is documented. If a launcher can synchronize the save, prevent it from silently replacing either the original or edited copy while testing.
Understand the format boundary
The Steam PC profile uses an account-ID folder and the main ER0000.sl2 container. The .bak companion can provide an additional recovery point, but it should be copied before trying to restore it. File-extension context: .sl2, .bak Compatibility note: Save files can contain multiple characters and account-specific data. Do not treat an individual character as a standalone file. These facts help identify the save but do not automatically reveal every field, checksum, encryption rule, or version-specific structure inside it.
Use only a Tool whose claim matches the file
Generic viewers and diff tools can inspect bytes without claiming game-specific semantics. A game-specific editor should be used only when its Tool page explicitly lists Elden Ring, a matching supported version/container, and a Verified operational runtime. A planned URL or Game Hub is not evidence that an editor exists.
Test the edited copy safely
Write to a new output file when the Tool supports it, keep the original backup, restore the edited copy into the correct profile/storefront location, and launch the game only after the file operation finishes. If the game rejects it, If a manual restore is immediately replaced, pause and inspect Steam Cloud synchronization instead of repeatedly overwriting the live folder. Preserve both local and cloud versions until you know which one is newer. Return to the untouched backup before trying another change.
Verification context: Windows/Steam Play path and Steam Cloud support were reviewed against current PCGamingWiki coverage. Filename notes reflect the standard Steam PC profile layout.