Installed game Steam sees it. Why doesn't Steam see the game? The game does not start on Steam: causes and solutions. How to download and install the updated client

Previously installed games that were playable appear as uninstalled in the Steam Library. What can be done so that the game files are recognized by the Steam client as already installed?

Note:

The information in this article also applies to cases in which the download of the game starts again.

Start the installation process so that Steam detects the existing files

The game may appear as uninstalled if Steam does not recognize the installed files. If the game folder is in the standard directory, then launching the game will begin the process of downloading it. This will allow Steam to recognize the installed game.

You can check the game folder in the standard Steam directory:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\Steamapps\Common

Adding libraries/folders to Steam from alternate directories

If you previously installed the game to an alternate directory, try the following:

Launch Steam and click "Settings", select the "Downloads" tab and click "Steam Library Folders". After that, a window with the directories of installed applications will open.
Click "Add folder" and specify the directory of the installed game

Once the directory has been added, the game should appear in your library.

Reinstalling games

If the previous points did not help solve the problem, then we recommend that you completely reinstall the game.

Prevention of such problems

external HDs

It is not recommended to install Steam or games on your hard drive. In addition to potential performance issues, external hard drives can also be connected to or disconnected from the computer at undesirable times during their normal operation. If you encounter this problem, please install Steam and games on your internal hard drive.

To avoid these problems, always close the Steam application before shutting down your computer. Forcing the program to close when Windows is shut down can corrupt the data being written.

In the article, we will analyze the most "popular" causes of errors in which Steam does not see the installed game. Solving the most common problems.

Error "executable file not found"

So, the game is displayed in the library, there is a "Run" button, but when you click it, the error "Failed to start the game (executable file not found)" appears.

In this case, try the following steps (in order of difficulty):

check the compatibility of the game with the operating system (this is described in detail in the next paragraph);
check the integrity of the game cache - in the properties of the game, select the item "Verify the integrity of the cache";
open the antivirus and check the quarantined files. If you find the executable file of the game, then mark it as trustworthy, if the file is not in quarantine, then open the antivirus settings and add the game folders and the Steam client itself to the list of exceptions;
if the previous action did not help, then remove the antivirus completely;
if Steam still does not see the installed game, then try closing the program and running it with administrator rights (right-click on the Steam shortcut and select "Run as administrator").

In most cases, these actions solve the problem. Otherwise, try the more advanced steps below.

Operating system compatibility issue

The bitness of the operating system may affect the launch of the game. Most new games are released for 64-bit Windows, so the first step is to look at the properties of the operating system - in the "Control Panel" find the system properties and see what is indicated in the line "System Type" ("System Type"). There should be a value of "64-bit".

Unfortunately, even if this is indicated, there are no guarantees of compatibility yet. Look carefully at the list of supported operating systems in the properties of the game itself. For example, 64-bit Windows XP or Windows 7 is still used, but some modern games no longer support them. So, if Windows 8 and above are strictly specified in the requirements, you will not be able to play such games on older operating systems. Update.

App freezes or crashes

First, deal with the antivirus - this is described in the first paragraph of the instructions. Next, make sure that Steam is not affected by firewalls. Try disabling them or add Steam to the exclusion list. Also, anti-spyware, FTP and web servers, IP filtering programs can affect the stability of work. If they are running on the computer, then try temporarily disabling them and check if the client starts without them.

Clearing the cache

If Steam shows that the game is not installed, but it is installed, clearing the cache can help. To do this, go to the "Settings" tab, click "Clear download cache" and confirm the action. After restarting Steam, log in again.

Library installation

Sometimes it helps to completely clear the Steam settings and re-register the games in the library: in the Run window (Win + R) in Windows, run the “steam://flushconfig” command. Start Steam and add the game folders to the library again (Steam menu -> Settings -> Downloads -> Library folders).

"Updating" the game

If the game is installed correctly, and Steam says that it is not installed, try clicking on the download again. Steam will scan the installed game directory and simply update some files. It won't download the game again.

Reinstalling the operating system

After reinstalling the OS, add the old games folder to the Steam library (Steam menu -> Settings -> Downloads -> Library folders). If the client still does not see the game, try reinstalling Steam with a registry cleaner. Do uninstall, run regedit, search for Steam entries and delete these registry branches. If all else fails, contact Steam Support.

If some game does not start in Steam, do not rush to return it. After all, this does not mean that it does not work or does not fit the system requirements. Most likely, the problem is in the cache or compatibility settings. But other factors may also play a role.

Almost the most common reason. If the application files are corrupted or deleted, the application will not function. And it's not always the user's fault. For example, if a virus has erased important program components. Or they didn't "load" during the installation.

To download individual game files, you do not need to reinstall it. Everything is much easier.

"executable file not found"

If the game does not start and the message “An executable file was not found” appears, most likely the antivirus “worked”. He mistook the app for malware. After checking the cache, the error will repeat, as the "defender" will remove the component again. So add it to the exceptions. Each antivirus has its own settings. In the help or manual, they usually write how to do this. There is a generic way:

Right-click on the icon.
Hover over the name of the "defender".
There should be something like "Add to exclusions" or "File Options".

To enter the program directory:

In the Steam library, right-click on the utility.
"Properties - Local Files".
"View" or "Open Folder" button.

Compatibility

Another common problem is that the application is not designed for your version of the operating system. But you can configure it to run in compatibility mode.

Right click on the executable file. It launches the game. It is located in the main directory of the utility and has the .EXE extension. The name matches the name (short/full) or program abbreviation.
Item "Properties".
Compatibility tab.
Check the "Run in compatibility mode for" box.
If you do not know which system to install, try several options.

Libraries

The utility needs additional components and libraries to work. For example, DirectX or Framework. They are downloaded along with the programs in Steam and are automatically installed. But sometimes they need to be installed manually.

Open the game folder.
Go to the "_CommonRedist" subdirectory.
There will be directories with the necessary components. Install them.

Process hung

The application has hung. You closed it, but the system "thinks" it is still running. You can restart your computer. But there is an easier way:

Steam cache

Clear your Steam cache. It may conflict with the utility. In addition, it accumulates "garbage".

Sign out of your account. To do this, click on your login (it is on the top right) and select "Change user".
Now close Steam.
Go to the client folder. If you don't remember where you installed it, right-click on it. In the properties in the "Object" field there will be a path.
There are "appcache" and "cached" directories. The latter is located in the [Path]\Steam\Steam subdirectory.
Delete both folders. But before that, save a copy of them. Just in case.
Restart your computer.

The client will download the missing components on startup. But there will no longer be “extra” files in the cache.

Steam itself crashes

If Steam crashes with the game, try the following:

If the bug appeared after the Steam update, it may not be debugged. Wait for Valve to fix the issue. Or contact support: describe the error in detail, tell us when it appeared and what you did.