Windows search is the first tool you should try if you can’t find the Steam folder. Open Windows Search and enter Steam. It’s highly likely that the Steam app will come up as the first result however look through the other results and expand the group of folders. “Steamapps” folder may have various size as it all depends on the number of games you have installed. Transfer this folder to another location on your hard drive or to external media. If you copy a folder to an external drive, but it does not have enough space, try deleting the games that you do not need. 'steamappsinterfaceversion008' Steamworks is the set of tools and services built by Valve that help you configure, manage, and operate your game on Steam. So, I wanted to install a small texture change to the game, but I cannot find 'Terraria' in my SteamApps/Common folder. Does anyone know what might.

Are you the one struggling with the Steam not recognizing installed game issues? Don’t know why does Steam not detecting installed games?

Or what to do when steam doesn’t recognize installed games.

RELAX!!! In this article, I’ll help you to solve all your queries and know how to get steam to recognize installed games?

Steam helps the users to manage all their games from one place. This is very helpful and makes the works a lot easier for gamers.

But, nowadays many gamers are found encountering various Steam related issues. So here in this article, I am going to discuss one such problem – steam not recognizing installed game the players are facing and found reporting on the forums threads.

Steam not detecting installed games on your system is the issue that interrupts the user’s time to time so here check out the complete information why Steam is not installing and how to resolve steam doesn’t detect installed games issue.

Let’s get started…!

Why does Steam not Recognize Installed Game?

Here check out the possible reason why steam stopped recognizing installed games.

• The problem appears when you clean install the Windows and keep the backup of the Steam app folder that comprises games files and other data.
• Something wrong with the game installation

You can move it back to Steam installation folder only to let Steam to re-download the game data back

So, if having the same issue, then here follow the tricks to force Steam to recognize the installed games.

How do I Get Steam to Recognize Installed Games?

#1: Reinstall the Games without Downloading

This is the easiest solution that works for you when Steam fails in recognizing the installed games, it shows an option to install the games again.

Well, if you are having game data in the Steam apps folder, then you would force Steam to detect the games by starting the game installation problem.

Follow the steps to do so:

• First, start Steam > go to Games.

• Now choose & click > install for the games that Steam failed to identify.
• And after installing the steam world start determining the existing game files.

Hope after doing this the Steam not detecting installed games issue is solved. But if still, the issues persist then follow the next solution.

#2. Identify Games from New Drive

Check if the main drive (default installation location of Steam) has sufficient space for installing the entire games.

Where Is Steam Library Folder

If it is not having enough space to install games then move game data to the new hard drive and after that add the Game Library Folder manually in the Steam app.

Follow the given instructions to do so:

• If you desire your games should be in the D:/games directory > then create a subdirectory and name it “Steamappscommon”. The folder looks like D:>Games > steamapps>common
• And as the subdirectory is generated > move entire games to the newly-created directory.
• After moving games, it looks like:
  • D:>Games >steamapps >common >Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag
  • D: >Games >steamapps >common > Arma 2 Operation Arrowhead
• Next, from the desktop,> start the Steam app
• And click on Steam > Settings > click the Downloads tab

• And under Content Libraries section > choose Steam Library Folder

• Then click on Add Library Folder > move to the location where the games are moved in D:/games/your_subdirectory.

• Now click on Select > Close for saving the library folder.
• Lastly exit Steam > restart it.

And now Steam scans the newly selected Library folder > display entire games as installed.

#3: Manually Add Steam Library Folder

In the installation disk in the Steamapps folder steam stores the game data by default. But if you had a custom location to store game data then try adding the location in the Steam app to fix the Steam doesn’t recognize installed games.

Here follow the steps to do so:

• First, launch and click on Steam > choose Settings

• And click on Downloads tab > Steam Library Folders.

• Next, in the pop-up window > click on Add Library Folder > choose the location where entire the Steam game data is saved.

• Click on Select > close the Steam settings.

• And exit Steam app > restart Steam

I hope now, Steam starts detecting the installed games again and shows the games in the folder.

#4. Utilize .acf Cache to Force Steam to Recognize Games

After taking the Steamapps folder backup with entire game data, utilize the Steam cache files to force recognize steam games from the game data.

Follow the steps to do it:

1. Verify you have reinstalled Steam or have existing installation.
2. Now move game data to C: > Program Files (x86) > Steam > Steamapps folder.
3. And launch Steam > now steam might display some games that are installed correctly.
4. But for the games that not show as installed > choose and click on the Install button
5. And steam starts detecting entire existing files.
6. But if still, Steam won’t recognize existing files > it starts downloading the files and progress read 0%.
7. Now pause updating for games > exit Steam
8. Next go to C: > Program Files (x86) > Steam >Steamapps > locate entire current .acf files.

1. And copy entire .acf files > move it to a new folder > outside the Steamapps folder.
2. Again relaunch Steam > and in the Games library, > affected games appears as uninstalled.
3. Exit Steam.
4. Now move entire .acf files back into C: > Program Files (x86) > Steam > Steamapps folder.

1. Lastly, restart Steam > go the Game library > click Resume Updating the games you paused before.

Well, if everything works well then the entire games you installed earlier will appear as installed. So if any update is needed than update it.

#5: Check the Game’s integrity through Steam

This may work to fix steam doesn’t recognize installed games. Try verifying the integrity of the game cache of your operating system.

Follow the step given:

• From the library section,> load Steam > right click on game > from the menu choose Properties
• Now choose Local files tab > click Verify integrity of game cache button
• And steam starts verifying the game’s files.
• This may take several minutes, wait for the whole process to complete.

And restart your steam, hope this fixes the steam not detecting the issue of the installed game.

#6: Use Steam’s own Backup and Restore Function

You can use steam’s own backup and restore function to copy the game between the PCs to resolve the problem.

Here you need the 65GB of free space on the home computer and 65GB somewhere else like USB drive, or a portable hard drive or USB key. Or else you can a folder on the main system and share it over the network.

Follow the steps to perform the backup and restore:

• In your library > right click on the game > choose Backup Game Files.
• And to do the restore choose Backup and Restore Games > from Steam menu at the top left
• Now make to delete the game files you have copied to the home computer.

Conclusion:

Hope the solutions given works for you to fix the Steam not Detecting Installed Games issues.

Well, this is a common problem that many users are struggling but it can be fixed after following the solutions given.

So, try the solutions given one by one to make the steam recognize the installed games. Hope the article helps you to solve your problem.

Well sometimes the issues might be internal and can’t be fixed manually so, in this case, you can scan your system with the PC Repair Tool, this is an advanced tool that fixes various computers issues and errors just by scanning once. And boost the Windows PC performance.

However, is you have any query, suggestions, regarding the ones presented then fee-free to share it with us in the comment section below.

Hardeep Kaur

Hardeep has always been a Windows lover ever since she got her hands on her first Windows XP PC. She has always been enthusiastic about technological stuff, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) computing. Before joining PC Error Fix, she worked as a freelancer and worked on numerous technical projects.

This tutorial should show you how to quickly install your ARK: Survival Evolved mods to your server. First you will need to have all of your mods installed to your Steam client. If you don't know how, read this tutorial.

Locating your ARK Mods

The first thing that you will need to do is find where your mod files are located so that you can install them on your server.

1. You must subscribe to at least one ARK workshop mod and run the game to make sure that the files are downloaded by your Steam client. Read the above linked tutorial for help with this.
2. In your Steam library with ARK selected, right click on ARK: Survival Evolved and select properties. Click the Local Files tab and then choose Browse Local Files.
   
3. This will open a file browser at this location: [Steam Install Directory]steamappscommonARK . Steam Install Directory refers to where you installed Steam. This could be different on any computer. However, it is usually under C:Program FilesSteam.
4. From this directory, navigate down three directories to [Steam Install Directory]steamappscommonARKShooterGameContentMods. For this tutorial, we will install the Structures+ mod. If you have subscribed to it, you should see this in your mods folders:
   
5. Make a note of the ModID of every mod that you install. You will need it for later. For instance, the ModID for Structures+ is 731604991.

Installing Mods to your ARK Server

Now that you have located your mod files, you just need to put them on your server and then tell your server how to load them. First, let's upload the mods to the server:

1. Login to your server's FTP.
2. On the remote site, your server, navigate to /ark-survival-evolved/ShooterGame/Content/Mods.
3. On the local site, your computer, navigate to [Steam Install Directory]steamappscommonARKShooterGameContentMods.
4. Select all of the mod folders and .mod files on the local site and drag them to the remote site.
   

Note

Steamapps Downloading Folder

: When you update your mods, you will need to remove all of the ones that you have uploaded and replace them with the newer version. However, make sure not to remove the added DLC content that comes with the game in the three pictured folders: 111111111, Ragnarok, and TheCenter. If you remove these, they will need to be reuploaded or reinstalled which can take some time.
Now that we have uploaded the mods to the server, we have to tell the server how to load the mods:

Steamapps Download

Steamapps Folder

1. Start your server at least one time so that a Saved folder is generated.
2. From the Command Center control panel, click on the Files tab.
3. In the file tree, navigate to /ark-survival-evolved/ShooterGame/Saved/Config/LinuxServer/GameUserSettings.ini and open the file. This will open the file in a new window that you can edit.
4. Under the [ServerSettings] heading, you will need to add a new line with this entry: ActiveMods=
5. After the ActiveMods= entry, you must list every ModID for every mod that you want to load in your mods folder. The order doesn't matter. If you have more than one mod, the ModIDs must be seperated with a comma like this: ActiveMods=xxx,xxx,xxx
   
6. Restart your server. If everything above was done correctly, you should now be able to connect and play on your modded ARK: Survival Evolved server.