Sync/Edit Game Achievement for Steam

For your Stardew Valley game save, If you imported old game save file, imported from another platform into Steam to continue to play, or played the game offline, game may have not synced and unlock the achievements from that save file to your Steam. The game send achievement unlock to Steam only at the point of unlock in the game. You will have to re-unlock the achievement.

If you do not want to replay the whole game in order to unlock the achievements you already have, this is for you.
If you previously changed the game save by any means of edit/mod, you may need adjustment steps, which will not be discussed here.
If you expect dev to fix this for you, don't bet on it because it hasn't been fixed for many years.

Note: not all achievement may be unlocked with the methods listed. Some achievements require it be triggered again manually in its specific way and game old version save files have differing XML code format that this guide may not fully guide you. Nevertheless, given information on this guide, you'll be able to have an idea how you could unlock any other achievements. Those parts will be added as we go on, and your help is needed in completing it. Let me know, and I'll add it to the guide so that others who need could make use of it. Thanks.

Note: this guide has been made at the time of game version 1.4.5.

Step By Step

1. First close Stardew Valley

2. For Windows, go to C:\Users\<ComputerUserName>\AppData\Roaming\StardewValley\Saves.
For Linux/Mac, go to ~/.config/StardewValley/Saves.
Each folder is for its own save character, and it'll be named characterName_#########. Backup the folder you will be working on

for more info on saves, refer here:
https://stardewvalleywiki.com/Saves
https://stardewvalleywiki.com/Mobile_Saves

3. For the name of the character that you need Steam to sync achievement to, open that folder

4. For each characterName_######### and SaveGameInfo file you see, you will need to do the following:

a. Open the file in text editor. You'll see XML language codes in it
Note, there's limitation to searching for string in large text file using Windows Notepad.exe. You just might want to use online XML formatter for better search and readability.
b. ctrl+f search "<achievements>"
c. Remove everything in between <achievements> and </achievements>

*d. If you need Moving Up and Living Large unlocked:
d.a. ctrl+f search "<houseUpgradeLevel>". Accepted values are 1 to 3. Change it to 2
d.b. The next bracket right after will be <daysUntilHouseUpgrade>. Change the value from -1 to 1
for those who had problem getting Moving Up try changing <houseUpgradeLevel> to 1 instead
**e. If you need D.I.Y., Artisan, and/or Crafting Master unlocked:
e.a. ctrl+f search "craftingrecipes", and you'll see something like this:
<craftingRecipes><item><key><string>Wood Fence</string></key><value><int>116</int> ...
It gives you the value of each items you crafted
e.b. For Crafting Master, you'll simply have to change one of the item value int to 0

If you need D.I.Y. or Artisan, Note you'll have to have only 14 or 29 items value int set to greater than 0. This could be tedious editing unless you have a program/software to do it fast for you. So simply, what you can do is, remove all between <craftingRecipes> and </craftingRecipes>
***f. If you need specific event/cutscene to trigger the achievement such as Local Legend and Joja Co. Member Of The Year:
f.a. ctrl+f search "eventsSeen"
f.b. Remove, <int>eventID</int> where "eventID" 191393 for Local Legend, 502261 for Joja Co. Member Of The Year

You may find other "eventID" from link below, under Event/Cutscene never happening "Show Spoiler"
Source: https://community.playstarbound.com/threads/save-file-editing-guide-for-solving-some-common-issues.110762/
****g. If you need Mystery Of The Stardrops unlocked:
g.a. ctrl+f search "CF_Spouse"
g.b. Remove <string>CF_Spouse</string>. This element is categorized under <mailReceived>. This only removes the event where you previously received this particular Stardrop, it doesn't reduce your energy.
g.c. ctrl+f search your spouse's name. Find the fifth entry, and you'll see
<string>spouse's_name</string></key><value><Friendship><Points>####</Points><GiftsThisWeek>#</GiftsThisWeek><GiftsToday>#</GiftsToday>
g.d. Change Friendship Points to 3375
NEED VERIFICATION
Reaching heart >=12.5 (friendship >=3125) is said to give stardrop.
So any value 3125 > friendship >= 3080 should work.
g.e. Change GiftThisWeek and GIftsToday to 0

h. Save

5. Make sure Steam is running and online with Stardew Valley in its game library. Start Stardew Valley and load your character

Upon following the above steps, the game will attempt to reinitialize its achievement values. The game save will re-unlock the game achievements that it deems achieved and synchronize to Steam achievement.

6.*4.d. If you've additionally done this part, achievement Moving up will be unlocked, but not Living Large. Sleep on bed, and Living Large will be unlocked
Note: Many do mention that only one or the other one worked for them. Try changing <houseUpgradeLevel> on its accepting value (which may change) and test it out.

6.**4.e. If you've additionally done this part, craft particular 1, 15, and/or 30 items to trigger that specific achievement

6.***4.f. If you've additionally done this part, go to location specific for its event (some require specific player interaction afterward), and achievement will be unlocked

6.****4.g. If you've additionally done this part, gift your spouse's liked or loved gift and you'll receive a Stardrop from your spouse, and achievement Mystery Of The Stardrops will be unlocked


If something goes wrong, gets broken, or wish to continue with save file you had, simply delete the folder you were working on and paste your backup folder in.
Enjoy.

Q&A

Q1. My game save file character is not loaded when I start the game. My game crashed at start when I followed your instructions.

You likely have made a mistake somewhere. Restore your backup save folder and try the instructions again. I personally had to do it a few times to get it right.

Q2. The XML code you wrote in the guide is nowhere to be find.

If you have a very old game save file, you may see something different in the layout of the XML codes. Being the case, I can only suggest you look for similar XML code layout and make edit yourself to see if it will work.

For instruction step 4.g.c, old game save file instead shows something like this on the sixth entry of your spouse's name:

<item><key><string>Sam</string></key><value><ArrayOfInt><int>3499</int><int>0</int><int>0</int><int>0</int><int>0</int><int>0</int></ArrayOfInt></value></item>

Mentioned by: MountainWulf

Change ArrayOfInt value to 3375.

NEED VERIFICATION
For the other two 0 that you need to make change to, I am not sure which two to change, but having it all to 0 will probably work.

Q3. Achievement Mystery Of The Stardrops is still not unlocked after following your guide instructions after step 6.****4.g.

The original max Energy is 508 when you have received all Stardrops.
But after my instructions, Energy will be 542.
If your Energy is not 542, then that means you have not in fact previously received all Stardrops you need to unlock the achievement. I suggest you go back and see which Stardrop you missed.

Q4. What about friendship achievements?

List of friendship achievements
A New Friend
Reach a 5-heart friend level with someone.

Best Friends
Reach a 10-heart friend level with someone.

The Beloved Farmer
Reach a 10-heart friend level with 8 people.

Cliques
Reach a 5-heart friend level with 4 people.

Networking
Reach a 5-heart friend level with 10 people.

Popular
Reach a 5-heart friend level with 20 people.

Here's my previous response to achievement 'A New Friend'

Now I do not remember if this unlocked A New Friend achievement (I think I personally created a new game save and played to unlock regularly).

If the instruction steps don't work, you can do something similar with step 4g, not on spouse element (since spouse heart is way beyond 5-heart). You'll have to edit all NPC friendship value down below 5-heart I believe for this achievement.
So rather than doing such tedious editing, you could just make a new game save and simply edit one NPC. Pick the NPC that like/love spring forage item, as it'll be quickest to get. Leah like/love Daffodil, Leek and Dandelion, so she may be a good pick. Ctrl+f search for Leah, edit the friendship value down to less than 5 heart. 250 friendship points per heart, so change to 1245 and then give a gift.
If Leah friendship element is not found, it'll just mean XML have not persisted the data set to savefile as it is a new save slate. You can probably just give a gift to persist it, so in such instance give a gift, end the day to save, go edit friendship value, give a gift.
NEED VERIFICATION
Let me know which resolved your issue.

Q5. Other achievements?

As I mention in Q4, I may have unlocked on regular replay, as it wasn't so hard to do before I even started to edit game savefile. Since I already have the achievements prior, I cannot test it to be 100% sure that it will sync with Steam, though I have some confidence. Nevertheless, you've read enough, you know how it works now. If you've found the solution by editing savefile, I'm sure many other would like to know as well. If you'd like to share, please do so.

Q6. I tried your guide instruction for achievement that you mentioned, but Steam still does not unlock the achievement

Either you've made error in following the instructions or the game itself may be failing to connect online to Steam. Try the instructions again carefully. And if still not working, it may be your game network connection. I won't write you complete guide for it as it is easy find search result for it. Try the following one at a time:

1. Validate integrity of game files for Steam
2. Uninstall the game and all its related game files other than the saves (to remove left behind settings), then try again with fresh install
3. Allow the app (the game) through firewall   (this generally is not needed as it is resolved on game install. However may be required if your computer has certain strict permissions setting)

Other Helpful Resources

Save file editing guide:
https://community.playstarbound.com/threads/save-file-editing-guide-for-solving-some-common-issues.110762/
https://stardewvalleywiki.com/Saves

Save file Corrupt troubleshoot:
https://www.stardewvalley.net/missing-corrupt-save-file-troubleshooting-guide/
https://community.playstarbound.com/threads/how-to-fix-corrupted-save-files-tutorial.110048/

My other guides:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2008064100
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2103945195

[emizucchini]

im reinstalling it again

[emizucchini]

also, there are no folders with my name, only npc's names

[emizucchini]

i'm on mac and the name of the folder isn't ~/.config/StardewValley/Saves. it's called Contents. my mac is on Ventura 13.2.1

[Tristin]

@Scottie
Since my savefile only show one set of achievement element. I canndot tell you which one if the formatting have changed with the newer version of the game. Mine has several <int>someNumber</int> child elements under achievement.

[поедатель сосков]

I have several <achievements> and </achievements>
which I need to delete?

[Woolley]

I've had completely aged kids for awhile yet the "Full House" achievement doesn't trigger. Would you be able to direct me on how I could possibly fix that or will I have to play through it again? Thanks!

[Tristin]

@капитан россия
There's no way that it doesn't have element end tag. Use online XML formatter.

[JEW LOVER]

Also I deleted all my save files. I earned some gold achievements but not poped up. On other save file I got fisherman but idk how it popped. Now I deleted the game and reinstalled deleted all my save files but no hope. Now im in new save file maybe due to new file there is no other achievement that i didin't get any on this save file. im not sure what am i gonna do

[JEW LOVER]

I have only one achievements segment. So I can't delete anything. Guide says delete between 2 achievements but i have only one segment. can anyone help me ?

[The Essence of Woerm Sin]

@Brankstone - my wife had exactly the same problem, had found all the stars, didn't get the achievement even after following this guide, save file checking utility said she was missing the one from floor 100 of the mines.

I just fixed it:

1. Followed the guide above to reset the spouse stardrop
2. Searched for CF_Fair in the save file - it should look like <String>CF_Fair</String>
3. Next to that, added <String>CF_Mines</String> - it now looks like <String>CF_Fair</String><String>CF_Mines</String>
4. Saved the file
5. Started the game, loaded that save, spoke to her spouse; got the Stardrop from her and the achievement.