Windows Controlled Folder Access often blocks games from writing to the Documents directory. Open the and type Windows Security .
Often, the cloud save is in conflict with local files. Disabling it forces the game to use local data, which can break the deadlock. Open and go to your Library .
If you find yourself in the unfortunate scenario where deleting profile.dat fixes the main menu, but your campaign saves are still entirely broken or missing, you don't need to replay the whole game from scratch. The Tomb Raider community maintains extensive archives of 100% complete and partial save files.
Locate the or Sync tab and ensure that your Documents folder is excluded from automatic cloud syncing. shadow of the tomb raider failed to load profile
Elias followed the instructions like a ritual. He navigated the labyrinth of his file folders, his hands shaking. He found the SOTTR folder, looking at the tiny strings of data that held his journey. He deleted the corrupted file, feeling a pang of guilt, as if he were erasing a memory. He renamed the backup, held his breath, and launched the game.
Some security software flags profile.dat as a false positive.
Navigate to your Library, click the three dots (...) underneath the game tile, open Manage , and toggle off Cloud Saves . Step 3: Delete the Corrupted Profile File Windows Controlled Folder Access often blocks games from
| Platform | Specific Fixes & Common Errors | | :--- | :--- | | | Disable Cloud Sync first, then delete profile.dat . After a successful launch, you can re-enable sync, but when prompted, choose "Upload to Cloud" (using your local clean files) to avoid repopulating the corrupted profile. | | Epic Games | Navigate to C:\Users\[User]\Documents\Shadow of the Tomb Raider\ . Delete the profile. Epic usually syncs saves automatically; you may need to disable the cloud backup in the Epic Launcher settings before starting. | | Xbox Consoles | The error is rarer on Series X/S and One, but it usually requires deleting the local saved data only (not everywhere). Go to My Games & Apps → Shadow of the Tomb Raider → Manage game → Saved data → Delete everywhere . A hard console reset (hold power for 10 seconds) is also highly recommended. | | Linux (Steam Proton) | Save files are located in ~/.local/share/feral-interactive/Shadow of the Tomb Raider/SaveData . Delete the profile.dat there. Ensure you are not switching between Proton and Linux Native runtimes, as save files are not compatible between versions. | | Windows 11 (Specific Bug) | Several users found that a pure reinstallation did not fix the profile error; the only solution was to downgrade the operating system to Windows 10 to resolve persistent profile loading and save-game failures. |
If you’ve tried everything and your profile is truly corrupted, you have two last-resort recovery options.
Right-click this folder, select , and paste it safely onto your Desktop. Step 2: Disable Cloud Synchronization Disabling it forces the game to use local
Wait for Steam to scan and re-download any missing or broken data. Open the Epic Games Launcher and go to your Library .
Shadow of the Tomb Raider — “Failed to load profile”
The "Failed to load profile" error usually indicates that the game cannot read or write to your save file directory. The most common causes include: