You close a browser game, come back tomorrow, and everything is exactly where you left it. Magic? Not quite. Browser games have several ways to remember what you’ve done, and understanding the difference can save you a nasty surprise if you clear your browser or switch devices. Read on to find out how to avoid mistakes and lose your progress.
Where do browser games save progress?
There isn’t one universal system, instead, it’s dependent on the game and the developer. A browser game might save progress:
- Locally in your browser
- Online through a game account
- On the game’s servers
- Through a mixture of local and online storage
That difference determines whether your progress follows you to another device or disappears when certain browser data is removed.
How local browser saves work
Modern browsers provide ways for websites to store information on your device. For games, that can include things such as settings, unlocked levels, scores, or progress.
One commonly used technology is IndexedDB, which is suitable for locally storing user data and game states. The advantage is simplicity, and the game can remember you without requiring an account. The downside is that the save may exclusively belong to that particular browser and device.
What about account-based saves?
Some games associate your progress with an online account. That can make it easier to continue playing on another device because the important information is stored online rather than only inside one browser.
In essence, when you sign in, the game identifies you, and your progress can be retrieved from the service. Exactly what is synchronised depends on the game, so don’t assume that creating an account always automatically transfers every setting or save.
Local saves vs account saves
| Local browser save | Account/cloud save | |
|---|---|---|
| Requires account | Usually no | Usually yes |
| Stored on device | Yes | Mainly online |
| Easy to switch devices | Usually no | Often |
| Affected by deleting site data | Can be | Usually less likely |
| Works without signing in | Yes | Usually no |
We should note that some games use a combination of both local and account/cloud saves.
Can clearing your cache delete game progress?
Clearing your cache can potentially delete game progress, but there’s an important distinction between cached files and site data. Browsers often give you several types of data to clear.
For example, deleting cookies and site data in Chrome can also delete HTML5 storage, including Web Storage and Indexed Database data. If a game keeps its save locally in one of those systems, deleting the data can therefore remove your progress.
Before clearing everything as part of troubleshooting, check whether the game offers an account or another way to protect your save.
Why did my browser-game progress disappear?
There are several possibilities:
- You may be using a different browser or device.
- You may have cleared site data.
- Private browsing may have prevented the information from being saved normally.
- A browser-cleaning tool may have removed it.
- There could also be a problem with an online account or game server.
Start by checking that you’re using the same browser and signed into the same account you normally use.
Can lost browser-game progress be recovered?
That depends entirely on where it was saved. If your progress was attached to an online account, signing back into that account may restore it. If it existed only as local browser data and that data has been permanently deleted, recovery may not be possible. That’s why it’s worth knowing how a game saves before clearing browser storage.
How to reduce the risk of losing progress
If the game offers an account or sync feature and the progress matters to you, use it. Stick to the same browser and device when relying on a local save, and don’t casually delete site data unless you know what is stored there.
For a quick puzzle you play occasionally, losing a local save might not matter much. For something you’ve been playing for months? Definitely worth checking first.
FAQ:
Many do, but not all games save in the same way. Some keep progress locally while others use an online account or server.
It can if the game’s locally stored progress is included in the site data you remove. Check the browser’s deletion options.
A local save usually won’t automatically transfer. An account-based or server-based save has a much better chance of following you between devices.
Each browser generally keeps its own local website storage. If the game was saving locally, opening it in another browser can look like starting again.
