Member Avatar for GrimJack

It blocks every attempt to modify any file anywhere. I give Steam and all its subsidiary .exes permission and then it says that there is no permission to modify 'Documents'. I just bought the darned machine to game with and it is freaking driving me nuts. Any suggestions on where to go to fix this?

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by happygeek

Dani AI

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Windows Defender blocking game saves is a common symptom of two different protections fighting with game/Steam access. notes that toggling "Check apps and files" cleared the immediate problem, while offered the blunt-but-effective option of disabling Defender entirely. Both approaches can restore saves, but there are safer, more targeted fixes that preserve protection.

Likely causes to consider: SmartScreen ("Check apps and files") can block untrusted executables; Ransomware protection / Controlled folder access can prevent any app from modifying Documents, Pictures, etc.; folder-permission issues or cloud-sync (OneDrive) redirection can also stop writes. Event logs from Windows Defender usually identify which process was blocked, which makes diagnosis straightforward.

Troubleshooting checklist (safe order):

  • Temporarily run Steam and the affected game elevated (Run as administrator) to test whether the problem is a simple permission mismatch.
  • Check Controlled folder access (ransomware protection). Rather than disabling it system-wide, add Steam and the game executables to the allowed apps list (steam.exe, steamservice.exe, plus the specific game .exe).
  • If "Check apps and files" (SmartScreen) is set to block, switch to Warn for testing; if that fixes it, prefer whitelisting or approving the specific executable instead of leaving SmartScreen off.
  • Inspect folder permissions on the save folder (Properties -> Security): confirm the active user account has Modify permission and that ownership is correct. If Documents are redirected to OneDrive, check for sync conflicts or paused syncing.
  • If a third-party AV is installed, check its folder-protection/ransomware settings—many do the same blocking and require separate whitelists.
  • Use Event Viewer (Windows Defender/Operational logs) to find the exact blocked process name; whitelist that executable rather than turning off protections.

A targeted whitelist or permission fix preserves security while restoring game saves. Disabling Defender entirely is a last resort because it removes multiple layers of protection that can be adjusted more precisely.

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Member Avatar for happygeek

Turn Defender off, and use something else, would be my suggestion to be honest. There are plenty of other free security solutions that do as good a job, and mostly a better job, than Defender so why bother jumping through hoops with it? Avast, Avira or even Kaspersky Free for example...

Member Avatar for GrimJack

Actually, I did not google because I used it as an excuse to come back for a visit. So, now I googled it and it is fixed - ''check aps and files'' off.

Member Avatar for happygeek

Excellent! Glad you are sorted now, but hang around for a bit anyway :-)

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