Steam doesn't scan added libraries and fails tor recognize games

[Dad]

I keep having to reinstall massive games because steam fails as a launcher and can't recognize it's own install paths, rather than steam scanning library's that are added actively every time they're added so that it would recognize previously unrecognized games, it just adds the library and claims the games aren't there, normally forcing the user to reinstall the games, which if you don't have 60gb or so of free space means you'll have to uninstall other games just to reinstall one game. I've had to toss out half my library multiple times just to insure 1 or 2 of the games on it where recognized again, why hasn't this issue been addressed considering how common it is, and considering steams main purpose to manage and keep games up to date why is it so terrible at its main purpose.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

I have never run into this issue in all my years, multiple PC and a crap ton of different HDDs.

[Mad Scientist]

Are some of those installed onto an external drive that you're connecting AFTER logging into Steam? Because that would be why it wont recognize something, if it's not there before you login.

Else, wake up all the drives before loading Steam, to avoid the same exact issue. Any drives present running within the system should always be recognized before Steam is loaded, and thus should have no such issue unless you're manually moving around folders without manifests.

[Dad]

Messaggio originale di Mr. Gentlebot:

Are some of those installed onto an external drive that you're connecting AFTER logging into Steam? Because that would be why it wont recognize something, if it's not there before you login.

Else, wake up all the drives before loading Steam, to avoid the same exact issue. Any drives present running within the system should always be recognized before Steam is loaded, and thus should have no such issue unless you're manually moving around folders without manifests.

I've tried removing & reloading the library, only inserting the usb after steam has loaded, i've started steam with the usb preloaded, and i recently gave up again and decided to delete one of my larger game files to reinstall the other with the preexisting files, for reference i use a 256gb usb 3.0 flash drive to install games via my laptop when im at a place with better internet, i then transfer the files over to my pc's ssd and install with the copied files cutting the download time down normally by half or more, i don't heave these issues with my laptops internal hdd or my pc's internal ssd, i have considered the flash drive could be corrupted or damaged but all repair and diagnostic tools say it's fine

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Read this article... Installed games are appearing as uninstalled

[Satoru]

steam doesnt support external usb drives and as such if you use them you do so at your own risk and that isn't steams issue

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8379-RYIP-2998#:~:text=External%20hard%20drives%20are%20not,part%20of%20their%20normal%20operations.

[Dad]

Messaggio originale di cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Read this article... Installed games are appearing as uninstalled

:qr:

I've read the support article and while that fix would work if i had the space for it, unfortunately all the steam games not being recognized take up the space needed to preallocate and allow steam to recognize the preexisting files. I understand that external drives aren't recommended for use with steam or steam games, however this issue is a straight forward fix, if they prioritize steam to scan added library's rather than add them without a scan it would fix the issue of unrecognized games, and lack of space available, it seems strange that with the amount of people that use external hd ssd etc it isn't changed. I'll go ahead and set this as answered as there doesn't seem to be a solution outside uninstalling to free up space and saving what games i can, thanks for the help though!

[Jaunitta 🌸]

Never had a problem ever.
Insure the drive is never disconnected bfore when starting steam.
Exit Steam correctly by using the Steam top left corner exit or the taskbar bar launcher. r/click it and exit.