Lost my saved appareance list

Even in my character creation the game just don't propose me to upload a saved data appareance, I realized that when creating a Retainer.

Date & Time: 8/18/2025
Frequency: Always
World name: Seraph
Character name: Nova La'croix
Retainer name: Wan't create one without saved apparence list
Class/Level: 57
In-game time: around 1am GMT
Area and coordinates: Talking to Retainer Vocate
Connection Specs
- Type of internet connection/provider: Orange
- Modem maker/model number: Orange number 5

■ PC Specs

To obtain the system information, open the FFXIV launcher and select Config → System Information → Display.

-=-=-=-=- System Information -=-=-=-=-
Radeon Vega 8, Ryzen 5 gen, 16VRAM
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Thanks

I noticed I could directly recreate a list from sub menu at character selection, but I lost all the saves yet and I'm not happy recreating what I already created

Saved character appearances are saved in the Documents\My Games directory, not on the server. So if you got a new computer or something similar, it is possible the data is lost unless you can still access the old computer.

It would probably back it up if you used the cloud backup feature on the character selection screen. There is a cloud back up icon above the character list to backup system files which should backup character-wide data such as System Settings and character appearances. This is separate from the character-specific back button which you should also do if you want to backup character data like hotbars and macros.

I already tried that, but never worked for me. So I'm simply going the "oldschool" way aka Copy Character Folder you want to copy the settings , then paste it on your Playing Character Folder. Don't know which folder is which character, just look at date of creation in your folder. But yeah, idk why I lost my list appareance this time, usually no.

As far as I know the upload/download system they added in 2023 (?) is just from one system to another (aka console) Thats what I understood from it
. So I'm still happy with my ways.

The old school way of copying from an external drive or over the network is fine, but both work the same:
- Copying the CHAR_ folder will copy the character-specific settings such as hotbars, HUD Layout and macros.
- Copying all the files outside of the CHAR_ folders, such as FFXIV.cfg, MACROSYS.dat and FFXIV_CHARA_01.dat, copies the system settings, such as graphic and sound settings, account-wide macros, and yes, character appearances.

The upload/download system was added in patch 4.45 (Stormblood in 2018) and iterated on over the remaining Stormblood patches. It doesn't just copy from platform-to-platform ie. PC to console, but also PC-to-PC. It is much the same as using a cloud backup service such as Dropbox, OneDrive or Google Drive, allowing you to retrieve your files from the internet if you get a new PC.

i don't know if I tested it for real the upload to cloud and download, but PC to PC is not working for me, I shall check it a bit more.

Maybe it is copying over system settings but not saved character appearances. I never really used the feature myself, so maybe they just didn't consider that.

In any case, if you still have the data on an old PC, you could do it the old school way. As I said it should be in Document\My Games\Final Fantasy XIV - A Realm Reborn\ and it's the FFXIV_CHARA_01.dat files which contain saved character appearance. Another option is just taking a picture and trying to recreate the appearance.

I litteraly drag all the files from the settings i want, and deposit them in my newest character

The worst is, when you had uploaded a characer settings/HUD/keybind and want to download it to another character, you can't, no choice than the same charater. Makes me think it might just be a backup settings/HUD/keybind for one and same character. That's all I get from it.

Wow, I tried it properly finally after saving myself from versions vortex from the chars folder after creating a new char, and its a pure gem, Im so satisfied.
Ok here is how to do

Find your best character Settings/HUD/Keybindings in Document/My Games/ FINAL FANTASY XIV
Copy paste it to all your characters. (a la oldschool)
In logging menu Upload EACH one character by EACH turn. If you loose somehow your laptop in long years to come or need a repair, then re download each character from the cloud.

I saw there is a system cloud, for resolution, etc etc; I didn't bother because it's been 5 years I play on a Samsung TV.

I think it's all.

I might think it works if you don't ever never tweak with files and folders

SE did create a feature recently to copy settings from one character to another. But doin it the way you did is how I've always done it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rachma

I saw there is a system cloud, for resolution, etc etc; I didn't bother because it's been 5 years I play on a Samsung TV.

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Doesn't matter, easy to adjust. Game will update on game reboot if needed, and you can adjust resolution and gfx settings to max easily.

Copying the system files outside of the CHAR_ folders is necessary if you want to port over character appearance so you can load it when making a character or with a fantasia. As I mentioned, they are .dat files.