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How to fix Steam doesn’t recognise installed games (appearing as uninstalled) on Windows?

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This is one of the most common problems among Windows users, where Steam sometimes shows “Steam Doesn’t Recognise Installed Games,” and if you also encounter the same issue, here is the guide to fixing Steam on Windows. Today, in this article, we will share how to fix the guide. Follow the instructions mentioned below.

How to Fix Steam Doesn’t Recognise Installed Games

There are different ways to resolve this error. For this, you can try some of the following quick guides mentioned below.

The reason is that Steam doesn’t recognize installed games.

  • Installing errors during setup.
  • The act file or game file becomes corrupted.
  • The game file is missing from the game location or is unavailable in the installation folder.

Add the game to your Steam library.

Perhaps due to a drive error or a change in the location of the game on Steam. For this, you can manually add the game to the Steam library. Check it out.

  • Launch Steam, and then head over to Settings from the Steam menu.
  • Next, click on Downloads from the upper-left panel, and then go to the Steam Library Folder option.
  • After that, select “Add Library Folder,” and then, from there, locate the game that you want to add to your Steam library.
  • Choose the game, and then click “OK.”
  • That’s it!

Check the game integrity file.

  • Open Steam, and then head over to the game page to see which game is missing.
  • Next, click on Manage and then Properties.
  • After that, locate the game folder where you have installed the game.
  • Therefore, click on “Verify Integrity of Game File,” through which it will scan the game file. If it finds any missing or corrupted files, it will download and install them from the web.
  • That’s it!

Backup and restore data from the Steam client.

  • Launch Steam, and then open the game library.
  • Right-click on the game, and then choose Properties from the left panel.
  • Next, click on the Backup game file option, and it will show all the backup options available.
  • Check the checkbox for the game, and then click Next to finish restoring the game.
  • That’s it!

Push games into the Steam Library with the help of ACF Cache.

This will restrict access to detecting the game even after it exists.

  • Open Steam, and then if you have moved it, it will suggest you re-download and start installing the game.
  • After that, open the game page, and then click on the Install button.
  • Likewise, it will automatically detect the game installed on your drive and finish installing it.
  • That’s quite the Steam client.
  • Now, check for the.acf format file and copy it from C: Programme Files (x86)Steamsteamapps and paste it into the Steam folder.
  • Relaunch the client, and then, most likely, your game will appear in the library.
  • Again, move the .acf file to C: Programme Files (x86)Steamsteamapps.
  • Restart your Steam client.
  • That’s it!

Upgrade your drive.

It might be possible that, because of insufficient space on your drive, you are encountering this error. If you have little space on your drive, then removing it or upgrading it might help you fix this issue. Also, you can free up space by transferring data to another drive.

Install the Steam game again.

If you encounter the same error and the Steam Client is unable to detect the game, then uninstalling and reinstalling the game might help you.

  • Open the Steam Client, and then head over to the Steam Library.
  • Next, click on Manage by clicking on the gear icon.
  • Click on Uninstall, and then confirm your action in the prompt window.
  • Once it finishes uninstalling, simply start reinstalling the game on your device.
  • That’s it!

When you download the game from the Steam Client, it will automatically detect the game, and there could be various regions due to corrupted or malfunctioning issues.

I hope this article remains helpful for you, and if you can rectify the Steam Client Error, thanks for being with us. We would like to know your valuable opinion and feedback if there is any query you would like to share with us in the comment section down below. Keep an eye out for future updates on the subject.