How to Fix Achievements Not Unlocking

Overview

This guide will hopefully help solve an issue where certain achievements stay locked despite making multiple attempts at unlocking them.

Introduction

Certain achievements may enter a permanently locked state without any apparent reason, and starting a new game doesn’t seem to solve this problem. I’ve gathered some methods that seem to work for some people. Following the steps below will hopefully solve the issue. If none of them works or you have trouble following this guide, please let me know.

Initial Steps

Before you start reading the solution, make sure that

Origin is in online mode and you are also connected to the servers in-game.
it’s not a mod that’s preventing some achievements from unlocking.
you’ve actually met the requirements for unlocking the achievements. If you’re not sure, check it by logging in to the Dragon Age Keep, going into Career, then viewing Inquisition achievements (Accomplishments). The keep may also have issues recording certain achievements correctly, but it should mostly work fine.

If you suspect that one of these might be the problem, see a related guide and try to unlock the achievements again. If you’ve checked these things and you’re certain that some achievements are wrongfully locked, continue reading.

Solution

Find the local saves folder and remove the ProfileOptions file (not ProfileOptions_profile!). I recommend making a backup of the file before removing it (better yet, backup the whole save folder).
The location for Windows users is usually at C:Users*YOUR_USERNAME*DocumentsBioWareDragon Age InquisitionSave.
Launch the game and allow Origin to use local data. This should recreate the previously removed file, not reacquire it through the cloud.
If the option to use local saves doesn’t appear, then do these steps in the following order:
- make sure that the previously mentioned file is removed (you have to remove it again if you’ve launched the game and the option didn’t appear)
- start Origin in offline mode (open the client, click Origin on the menu bar -> Go Offline)
- launch the game
- quit after the game has loaded (the removed file should have been recreated by the game at this point)
- restart Origin in online mode
- launch the game and let it use local data
Load a saved game and progress with each wrongfully locked achievement as if you were one step away from unlocking them or redo them completely. See the end of the guide for some examples.

Alternative Method

If the steps above didn’t work, do the following:

Remove everything from the save folder (I recommend making a backup of these files), launch the game and let Origin use local data (you have to start the game in offline mode first, then restart in online mode for the option to appear), and start a new game. See Step 1 and Step 2 for details.
If you’ve made a backup, progress with the story until you can save the game (then save the game!), then restore a save file (files that start with the DAISAVE prefix) and see if the problem is solved (restart the game, load the restored save file and try to unlock bugged achievements). If it works, you can restore any DAISAVE files and the ProfileOptions_profile file (but not ProfileOptions!).

It is possible that despite following this guide, some achievements will become permanently locked again. In this case, do only the first step of the alternative method (start the game from scratch and don’t restore any files).

Examples

As I’ve already mentioned, you will most likely need to progress or redo certain parts of the achievements to unlock them, even if they should already be unlocked and you have followed the steps above. If you want to know how to unlock achievements properly, see a related guide. I’ve included a link in the last section.

Below is a list of achievements that were permanently locked for me and the steps I did to unlock them after solving the problem. For most of these, I’ve loaded a save file where the requirements for these achievements were already met or one where I was close to unlocking them. You may have to do something different to unlock them or the other achievements, though I hope that this list gives a good example of what to try.

I respecced and spent 10 points in an ability tree.

I’ve captured the 3rd keep again.

I’ve just sealed one more rift.

I did one more potion upgrade.

I’ve had to get 1 more Inquisition level for this to unlock (I did it quickly by buying favors from Farris in Skyhold).

I’ve done a friendly cutscene with Sera (just by talking with other companions and changing their approval didn’t seem to unlock it).

I’ve had to redo this achievement.

This one popped up automatically after loading a saved game.

I’ve had to unlock the 15th astrarium again (the ones in the Frostback Basin didn’t unlock the achievement at a game state where I’ve already unlocked 15).