Resetting your progress in Forza Horizon 5 on Windows 11 might seem like a bit of a hassle, but honestly, it’s pretty straightforward once you’ve had a go a couple of times. The tricky part is diving into the folders and making sure you’re deleting the right files. Basically, you’re wiping the game’s slate clean so when you fire it up again, it forgets all your cars, wins, and custom setups. Just a heads up — this deletes all your current data, so if you’re keen to keep a bit of progress, back it up first.
Resetting Forza Horizon 5 Progress on PC Windows 11
This lot of steps will ditch your saved game data, giving you a fresh start. The reason it works is because the game’s progress is stored in specific files on your hard drive. Delete them, and you tell the game to start from scratch. It’s a bit like hitting the reset button, but you’ll need to do a bit of folder navigation.
Method 1: Manually deleting save files
Step 1: Open File Explorer
Hit the folder icon on your taskbar or press Windows + E. That opens up File Explorer, your gateway to all your files and folders.
Some setups can be a bit tricky, especially if you use custom views or libraries. Just make sure you’re in the right directory.
Step 2: Find the save game folder
Go to C:\Users\[Your Username]\Documents\My Games\Forza Horizon 5. That’s where most of your game saves live, at least on a default install. If you pointed it elsewhere, just find where the game’s saving your progress.
Note: Sometimes the folder’s hidden if you’ve got hidden files turned on, so check your folder options if it’s not showing straight away.
Step 3: Delete the files
Select everything inside that folder and delete it. Sometimes, files can be read-only or locked, and you might get a prompt to confirm or override permissions. If that happens, just say yes.
Make sure you’re only deleting the Forza files — no other important stuff — or you might cause a mess.
Step 4: Switch off cloud saves in Xbox/iCloud
This step’s again super important — if you don’t, the game might just re-download your old progress from the cloud. Head over to the Xbox app, find your game, then disable cloud saves for Forza Horizon 5. Sometimes, it’s under Settings > General > Cloud Saved Games. On some setups, you can turn this off within the game itself, but on PC, the app’s the main place.
Heads up: Cloud saves are often enabled by default, so if you don’t switch them off, your game might pull back old progress after you quit and restart.
Step 5: Fire up the game again
Start Forza Horizon 5 fresh — you should see the intro screens and setup prompts as if it’s your first time. No saved progress, no autosaves restoring old stuff.
Some machines might need a quick restart of the PC or the game to clear everything properly. It’s a bit odd, but that’s Windows for ya.
Method 2: Using Command Line or Scripts
If you’re a bit handy with the tech side—because why not—you can use command prompts to delete save files or clear caches. Open PowerShell as an admin, then run a command like:
Remove-Item -Path "C:\Users\[Your Username]\Documents\My Games\Forza Horizon 5\*" -Force
This way’s quicker if you’re comfy with CLI and want to automate the reset, especially if you’re doing it for a few games. Just swap out the path accordingly. But double-check what you’re deleting—mistakes can happen fast with command lines.
Pro tip: Sometimes, the game stores local cache elsewhere — in %localappdata% or similar. If deleting the save files doesn’t do the trick, you might need to clear those too.
Tips for Resetting Forza Horizon 5 Progress on PC Windows 11
- Backup your saves: Seriously, if there’s stuff you don’t want to lose forever, copy those files somewhere safe before smashing them.
- Check cloud settings: After disabling cloud saves, restart the game and make sure it’s not sneaking backups in the background — sometimes it’s cunning.
- Keep the game updated: Make sure you’re on the latest version; older versions can get a bit funny after a reset.
- Sign in with the right account: Sometimes your progress’s tied to your Xbox account. Be sure you’re logged in with the same one if you want a fresh start.
- Reset your in-game settings: After wiping your progress, you might want to jump into the settings and reset preferences — defaults usually load after a reset.
FAQs
How do I find the save files for Forza Horizon 5?
Generally, they’re in C:\Users\[Your Username]\Documents\My Games\Forza Horizon 5. If not, they might be somewhere custom or hidden, so check your Folder Options.
Can I get my save files back after deleting?
If you didn’t back them up or turn off cloud sync, probably not. The files will be gone, and unless cloud restores them, they’re kaput—so think twice before deleting.
Why turn off cloud saves before deleting?
Because Windows and Xbox cloud syncing can be sneaky — they might restore your progress unless you switch them off. Better to be safe than sorry.
Will resetting wipe my custom game settings?
Most likely, yes. Resetting usually resets everything to defaults, so you’ll need to readjust controls, graphics, and prefs afterwards.
Can I reset my progress from an Xbox console instead?
Absolutely, but that’s a different process involving account settings and cloud options on the Xbox itself. It’s a bit more involved, but doable if you’ve got the console handy.
In a Nutshell
- Open File Explorer
- Head to C:\Users\[Your Username]\Documents\My Games\Forza Horizon 5
- Delete everything inside
- Turn off cloud saves in the Xbox app
- Fire up the game again and start fresh
Hopefully this helps power through a reset without too much fuss. Sometimes, starting over’s the best way to rediscover the joy of the game. All the best on the roads!