Red Dead Redemption 2 uses a Rockstar profile directory rather than a simple shared folder of anonymous saves. The profile identity is therefore part of the backup context. For a dependable archive, close the game and launcher, copy the complete profile directory, and label the copy with the Rockstar account and date. If you later restore manually, watch for cloud synchronization that can replace the local files with a different remote revision.
Which storefront context matters
Documented Red Dead Redemption 2 PC launchers/storefronts: Rockstar Games Launcher, Steam, Epic Games Launcher. Steam/Epic launches still involve Rockstar account/profile services. Back up the Rockstar profile corresponding to the account used by the game. The active storefront/account should be identified before any restore because cloud and local storage may not use the same path or container across editions.
Documented cloud behavior
Rockstar launcher synchronization can affect local Story Mode files. Let synchronization settle before capturing or restoring a backup. Cloud synchronization is useful for continuity, but it can also turn a restore into a conflict-resolution event. Let synchronization settle before making a manual backup, and keep an offline copy outside any folder monitored by the launcher or operating-system sync service.
Local save roots still matter
The researched local save boundary is Windows: %USERPROFILE%DocumentsRockstar GamesRed Dead Redemption 2Profiles<user-id> | Linux / Steam Play: Steam Play: <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/1174180/pfx/; the known file or folder pattern is SRDR3* Story Mode save records. A cloud-enabled game still has concrete local data involved in ordinary play, and that local context is what you need when identifying which copy was modified most recently.
Avoid accidental overwrite loops
Copy the entire Red Dead Redemption 2 profile folder with the game and launcher closed. When restoring, close the game and launcher, preserve both the current local copy and the backup you want to test, then place the intended data in the matching profile/storefront location. Do not repeatedly open the game between different copies without noting which side the cloud client selected.
Compatibility and conflict checks
Do not assume files from a different Rockstar profile are portable merely because the game recognizes the filename pattern. If progress disappears or rolls back, If restored saves disappear, compare the active Rockstar account/profile and cloud timestamps. Preserve both the manual backup and current synchronized copy until recovery is complete. Resolve identity/path/cloud questions first. A cloud conflict is not proof that the save itself is corrupt, and a successful upload is not proof that files from another storefront are compatible.
Verification context: Windows and Steam Play save locations were reviewed against current PCGamingWiki coverage for Red Dead Redemption 2. The Game Hub makes no game-specific editing claim.