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.
Prepare the source PC
On the source system, identify the actual Elden Ring save root: Windows: %APPDATA%EldenRing<user-id> | Linux / Steam Play: Steam Play: <SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/1245620/pfx/. The expected file/folder pattern is ER0000.sl2
ER0000.sl2.bak. Close the game, let the active launcher finish writing and synchronizing, then make a complete offline copy rather than transferring a file that may still be open.
Preserve storefront and profile identity
Documented storefronts: 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. A transfer between two PCs is simplest when both systems use the same storefront/account/profile context. If the destination uses a different store or container, treat that as a migration problem rather than an ordinary restore.
Move the complete save boundary
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. Put the copied data on the destination only after confirming the destination save path. If the game creates a new empty save first, keep that new folder as another backup so you can compare structures and revert.
Handle cloud sync deliberately
Steam Cloud is documented. Decide whether the local transferred copy or cloud copy should be authoritative before launching the game. If possible, preserve both. After the transferred save loads correctly, make a fresh in-game save and let the launcher synchronize normally.
Check compatibility before blaming the transfer
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. Compatibility note: Save files can contain multiple characters and account-specific data. Do not treat an individual character as a standalone file. If the destination does not see the transferred progress, 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. Verify game edition/version, store, profile IDs, redirected folders, and mod/DLC dependencies before editing the save itself.
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.