: Often, the game is unable to create or write the profile file because it lacks system permissions. Navigate to your game installation folder (usually under .../Steam/steamapps/common/Watch_Dogs 2/bin Right-click WatchDogs2.exe and select Properties Compatibility tab, check Run this program as an administrator Apply and restart the game. Save Path Configuration (Mainstream Fix for Cracks/Repacks) : If you are using a non-standard version of the game, the file often points to a directory it cannot access. folder in your game directory. Locate and open with Notepad. Find the line SavePath=%DEFAULT_CPY_DIR% Change this to a specific local path, such as
SavePath=C:\Users\[YourName]\Documents\My Games\Watch_Dogs 2 Save the file and relaunch. Delete Existing (Corrupted) Save Data
: If you have played before, a corrupted save file might be preventing the profile from loading. Navigate to
C:/Program Files (x86)/Ubisoft/Ubisoft Game Launcher/savegames/[User ID]/3353 Backup and then the files in this folder. Restart the game to allow it to generate a fresh profile. Network & Security Workarounds
The "Creating profile data" stuck screen in Watch Dogs 2 is typically caused by corrupted local save files, sync issues with Ubisoft Connect, or Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) conflicts. Quick Fixes for PC
If you're stuck on this loading screen, try these steps in order:
Clear Local Save Files: Deleting existing local data often forces the game to regenerate the profile. Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Ubisoft\Ubisoft Game Launcher\savegames\[User ID]\3353 and delete or move the files in this folder before restarting the game.
Run as Administrator: Close the game, Ubisoft Connect, and Steam completely. Right-click the Steam executable and select "Run as Administrator," then launch the game from your library.
Verify Game Files: Right-click the game in your library (Steam or Ubisoft), go to Properties > Installed Files, and select Verify integrity of game files to repair missing or corrupted data.
Bypass Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC): Create a desktop shortcut for WatchDogs2.exe (found in the bin folder of your installation). Right-click the shortcut, go to Properties, and add -eac_launcher to the end of the Target field. Note that this may disable online features. Console Fixes (PS4/Xbox)
Power Cycle: Completely shut down your console and unplug it for 30 seconds. This clears the system cache and can resolve profile loading loops. watch dogs 2 creating profile data stuck
Sync Clock Settings: Ensure your console’s date and time are set to "Set Automatically" via the internet.
These tutorials provide visual walk-throughs for fixing loading and launch issues in Watch Dogs 2:
Getting stuck on the "Creating profile data" screen is a common issue in Watch Dogs 2
often caused by permission conflicts, corrupt save folders, or Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) glitches Direct Solutions Delete Existing Save Folders
: Corrupt files in the save directory often cause this hang. Navigate to:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Ubisoft\Ubisoft Game Launcher\savegames\[Your User ID]\3353 Delete the contents of the folder (this is the specific ID for Watch Dogs 2). Run as Administrator : Right-click the game's executable ( WatchDogs2.exe folder) and select Run as administrator Perform a Full Shutdown
: Ubisoft suggests that EAC issues can cause startup hangs. Choose rather than "Restart" to fully clear the system cache. Verify Game Files : Right-click Watch Dogs 2 > Properties > Installed Files > Verify integrity of game files Ubisoft Connect : Select the game > Properties > Verify files Disable In-Game Overlays : Turn off overlays in Ubisoft Connect
, Steam, or Discord, as these can interfere with the initial profile creation process. Technical Workarounds Antivirus Exclusions
: Ensure your antivirus or Windows Defender isn't blocking the game from writing to your folders. Add the entire game folder to your exclusion list Folder Permissions
: Some users found success by deleting the "Watch Dogs 2" folder located in to let the game regenerate it from scratch. Disable Mods : Often, the game is unable to create
: If you are using mods like "Watch Dogs 2 Extended," try moving the patch3.dat patch3.fat
files out of the game directory temporarily until you pass the profile creation screen. Are you playing the Ubisoft Connect version of the game?
To fix the "Creating profile data" freeze in Watch Dogs 2 , you should first try deleting your local save game folder, as this often forces the game to rebuild corrupted profile data. Core Troubleshooting Steps
Clear Save Data: Navigate to C:\Program Files (x86)\Ubisoft\Ubisoft Game Launcher\savegames\[User ID]\3353 and delete or move the files inside. Deleting the game folder in your Documents can also reset these settings and allow the game to proceed.
Verify Game Files: Use your launcher (Steam or Ubisoft Connect) to verify the integrity of the game files. This restores any missing or corrupted data that might be stalling the profile creation process.
Run as Administrator: Ensure both the game executable and your launcher (Ubisoft Connect) are running with administrator privileges.
Reinstall Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC): The game may hang if the EAC service isn't properly initialized. Go to the EasyAntiCheat folder in your game's installation directory and run EasyAntiCheat_Setup.exe to repair or reinstall it. Common Community Workarounds
Disable Overlays: Turn off in-game overlays from Discord, Steam, or Ubisoft Connect, as they are known to cause startup crashes and freezes.
Launch Manually: If stuck on the splash screen, try launching Ubisoft Connect separately as an administrator while the splash screen is visible, which can sometimes "push" the game past the hang.
Bypass Easy Anti-Cheat (Offline Only): Some players have success by adding -eac_launcher to the game's launch options (shortcut target), though this disables multiplayer features. Launch Uplay
Save Path Correction: If you are using a specific version where save paths are hardcoded, you may need to edit the CPY.ini file in the game's bin folder to point SavePath to your actual Documents\My Games directory. Community Perspectives
Players have shared specific folder adjustments that finally worked for them:
“Bro, I tried deleting the game folder in the documents and everything worked.” Steam Community · 1 year ago
“Once you find the folder where your new saves are located, I had to turn off read-only, and turn off compression and then it finally loaded my saves.” Reddit · r/CrackSupport · 9 years ago
Watch dogs 2 "Creating profile data" forever : r/CrackSupport
This is a known issue in Watch Dogs 2 on PC (especially Steam/Uplay versions). The "Creating profile data" message can get stuck due to save game corruption, permission issues, or cloud save conflicts.
Here’s how to fix it, from simplest to most effective:
Temporarily disable Windows Defender or any third-party AV. The game’s save system can be blocked from writing to Documents.
The “Creating profile data” stuck screen almost always traces back to a damaged or inaccessible save folder. Deleting the local profile data (back it up first!) and disabling cloud sync until a fresh save is generated resolves the issue for 95% of users. Ensure admin rights and antivirus exclusions to prevent recurrence.
Sometimes, the Ubisoft servers themselves are undergoing maintenance or are simply too busy to respond to the "Create Profile" request instantly. You can force the game to create a local profile first.
How to do it:
Documents\My Games\Watch Dogs 21234567890). This is your profile folder.