add a non purchased game to steam library

[goodmailboy]

Hello
before even thinking, first read it carefully and stop posting non sense answers, thanks

So I want to add "steam games" to my library before buying them. So lets say I want to add God of War to my library before buying it. I just need to GOW to show up in my library, So the games will be listed in my library , but instead of showing "install/play" it shows "purchase".

I have done it once accidentally, so I need to know how can I do it again with other games. I added a game to my library without buying it, and instead of showing "install/play" it shows "purchase".

The reason I want to do this is because I want to search trough official controller layout for PS5 on steam. The only way to see the official configuration for ps5 controller is that the game must be listed in my library, so then I can click on the controller layout and see the "official" controller configuration for the game.

stop talking none sense about adding non-steam games to the library, every 2 yo kid knows how to that!

thanks

[Nx Machina]

Add them to your wishlist.

The library is for displaying games you actually have.

[J4MESOX4D]

Library is for owned licences whether obtained through a purchase on Steam (or externally) or by adding the game to your account for free either in key form or via the Steam Store direct. You cannot add a Steam game before buying it.

[nullable]

In general you can't download games from Steam you haven't purchased. The exceptions would be free weekends, or family sharing. But once the weekend is over or family sharing is revoked you would still have the game data, but would need to purchase the game.

However you "accidentally" did it previous I couldn't say, but it's not a specific feature I'm aware of. And your memory my be faulty there.

[tintingaroo]

Add a non Steam game/executable file.

In the directory of the executable, create a text file steam_appid.txt

In the text file save the appid for the game you want to show up.

Run the non-Steam game/executable you added.

[goodmailboy]

Escrito originalmente por tintingaroo:

Add a non Steam game/executable file.

In the directory of the executable, create a text file steam_appid.txt

In the text file save the appid for the game you want to show up.

Run the non-Steam game/executable you added.

thanks bro, it really did work.
just remember to start the program/app from the steam library, not the file explorer

thanks

[gallo]

Escrito originalmente por nullable:

In general you can't download games from Steam you haven't purchased. The exceptions would be free weekends, or family sharing. But once the weekend is over or family sharing is revoked you would still have the game data, but would need to purchase the game.

However you "accidentally" did it previous I couldn't say, but it's not a specific feature I'm aware of. And your memory my be faulty there.

was there not an "add to library" button once? idk if im remebering it incorrectly but i remeber a button that said that

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Escrito originalmente por gallo:

Escrito originalmente por nullable:

In general you can't download games from Steam you haven't purchased. The exceptions would be free weekends, or family sharing. But once the weekend is over or family sharing is revoked you would still have the game data, but would need to purchase the game.

However you "accidentally" did it previous I couldn't say, but it's not a specific feature I'm aware of. And your memory my be faulty there.

was there not an "add to library" button once? idk if im remebering it incorrectly but i remeber a button that said that

For free games.

[86/125]

Escrito originalmente por goodmailboy:

Escrito originalmente por tintingaroo:

Add a non Steam game/executable file.

In the directory of the executable, create a text file steam_appid.txt

In the text file save the appid for the game you want to show up.

Run the non-Steam game/executable you added.

thanks bro, it really did work.
just remember to start the program/app from the steam library, not the file explorer

thanks

Seems to be patched or I am just stupid :/

[tintingaroo]

It still works - should show in Library until a Steam restart.

I found another way that I've been meaning to write up about. If we do things via editing an app_manifest file it results in the non-owned game being listed in the Library in a more persistant manner. I can update the post with that method - hopefully the thread doesn't get locked...

(For either method, I found it works for games but not for apps listed as Utilities. Not sure about other app types.)

[tintingaroo]

We can duplicate appmanifest files and edit them to have non-owned Steam games be displayed in the Library.
They will persist in the Library across Steam restarts.
The games will be considered as installed. The games will remain un-owned.

1. go to .../Steam/steamapps/
   
   The appmanifest files there belong to games you have installed. If none are there, install a game. :D
   Numbers at the end are the appid: appmanifest_[APPID].acf
   
   
2. Make a copy of one of the appmanifest files (paste it back into the steamapps folder)
   
3. Replace the APPID in the filename with the APPID of the game you want to be displayed and remove any other text your OS may have added for the duplicate file.
   
   e.g.
   'appmanifest_367520 - Copy.acf' ---> 'appmanifest_1030300.acf'
   
   
   
4. Open our new appmanifest file with Notepad/text editor and make following edits:
   
   

   "AppState"
   {
   	"appid"		"367520"
   	"Universe"		"1"
   	"LauncherPath"		"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steam.exe"
   	"name"		"Hollow Knight"
   	"StateFlags"		"4"
   	"installdir"		"Hollow Knight"
   	"LastUpdated"		"1654620408"
   	"SizeOnDisk"		"7972875944"
   
   			...
   			...
   

   
   
   a) Overwrite the appid in "appid" field with the one you want: "367520" ---> "1030300"
   
   
   b) Could make a change to "installdir" field: "Hollow Knight" ---> "dummy app"
   
   This allows you to just uninstall via Steam when you no longer want the game to show in the Library.
   If you don't change this, when you no longer want the game to be displayed, delete the appmanifest file and restart Steam (don't uninstall via Steam or it'll uninstall the game that belonged to the appmanifest we duplicated)
   
   
   c) Could change the "SizeOnDisk" field: "7972875944" ---> "0"
   
   Not so necessary but could make it 0 so it doesn't affect Steam's calculation of installed data at Steam Settings > Storage.
   (For some I made super large so they're at the top when I go via Big Picture mode and have the installed games sorted by Size On Disk.)
   
   
5. Save and close file, restart Steam.

Might be more things here to learn but that's as far as I took it for this stuff.
I assume people got a way to get games listed without having them be considered as installed but I don't know - it wouldn't involve appmanifest files at any rate... Think its the appinfo or packageinfo file in the appcache folder...

[Dolllyfied]

Escrito originalmente por tintingaroo:

We can duplicate appmanifest files and edit them to have non-owned Steam games be displayed in the Library.
They will persist in the Library across Steam restarts.
The games will be considered as installed. The games will remain un-owned.

1. go to .../Steam/steamapps/
   
   The appmanifest files there belong to games you have installed. If none are there, install a game. :D
   Numbers at the end are the appid: appmanifest_[APPID].acf
   
   
2. Make a copy of one of the appmanifest files (paste it back into the steamapps folder)
   
3. Replace the APPID in the filename with the APPID of the game you want to be displayed and remove any other text your OS may have added for the duplicate file.
   
   e.g.
   'appmanifest_367520 - Copy.acf' ---> 'appmanifest_1030300.acf'
   
   
   
4. Open our new appmanifest file with Notepad/text editor and make following edits:
   
   

   "AppState"
   {
   	"appid"		"367520"
   	"Universe"		"1"
   	"LauncherPath"		"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Steam\\steam.exe"
   	"name"		"Hollow Knight"
   	"StateFlags"		"4"
   	"installdir"		"Hollow Knight"
   	"LastUpdated"		"1654620408"
   	"SizeOnDisk"		"7972875944"
   
   			...
   			...
   

   
   
   a) Overwrite the appid in "appid" field with the one you want: "367520" ---> "1030300"
   
   
   b) Could make a change to "installdir" field: "Hollow Knight" ---> "dummy app"
   
   This allows you to just uninstall via Steam when you no longer want the game to show in the Library.
   If you don't change this, when you no longer want the game to be displayed, delete the appmanifest file and restart Steam (don't uninstall via Steam or it'll uninstall the game that belonged to the appmanifest we duplicated)
   
   
   c) Could change the "SizeOnDisk" field: "7972875944" ---> "0"
   
   Not so necessary but could make it 0 so it doesn't affect Steam's calculation of installed data at Steam Settings > Storage.
   (For some I made super large so they're at the top when I go via Big Picture mode and have the installed games sorted by Size On Disk.)
   
   
5. Save and close file, restart Steam.

Might be more things here to learn but that's as far as I took it for this stuff.
I assume people got a way to get games listed without having them be considered as installed but I don't know - it wouldn't involve appmanifest files at any rate... Think its the appinfo or packageinfo file in the appcache folder...

youre the goat bro. thanks a lot for finding this. hope they dont disable this XD.
cuz i wanna play a game on remote play but you need to disable steam input for that specific game and i dont own it. with this method it worked thanks!

[76561199830450779]

Escrito originalmente por tintingaroo:

Add a non Steam game/executable file.

In the directory of the executable, create a text file steam_appid.txt

In the text file save the appid for the game you want to show up.

Run the non-Steam game/executable you added.

Sorry for the stupid question but by the directory of the executable do you mean the one the original executable is in or some directory in the steam file

[76561198407601200]

Escrito originalmente por Ayo:

Escrito originalmente por tintingaroo:

Add a non Steam game/executable file.

In the directory of the executable, create a text file steam_appid.txt

In the text file save the appid for the game you want to show up.

Run the non-Steam game/executable you added.

Sorry for the stupid question but by the directory of the executable do you mean the one the original executable is in or some directory in the steam file

Add the exe of what you are wanting to launch.

Escrito originalmente por Bastinas:

Spam

Glad the filter is working at least. Doubt anyone worth their weight in salt will want to trade with you.

[Connie]

This thread was quite old before the recent post, so we're locking it to prevent confusion.