How to Fix: Can’t Find Steam Game When I Search on Windows

As a dedicated gamer, nothing is more frustrating than searching for a game in your Steam library or Windows search bar, only to find that it’s nowhere to be seen. Whether you’ve just installed a new title or are trying to locate an older game, there are several common reasons for this issue, and fortunately, several straightforward solutions exist. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to fix the problem of not being able to find your Steam game when you search on Windows.

Step 1: Check Your Steam Library

Before jumping into more complex solutions, start by ensuring that your game is indeed installed on your system.

1. Open Steam: Launch the Steam application.
2. Library Tab: Click on the “Library” tab located at the top of the window.
3. Search Your Games: Use the search bar to type in the name of the game. If it appears, but you can’t find it on your computer, it’s probably an issue with shortcuts.

Step 2: Create Shortcuts

If you’ve installed the game but cannot find it via Windows search, you might need to create shortcuts manually.

1. Locate the Game in Steam: Go back to your Steam Library and right-click the game.
2. Manage Shortcut: Click on ‘Manage’ and then select ‘Add to Desktop’. This will create a desktop shortcut for easy access.
3. Start Menu Shortcut: If you prefer, you can also create a Start Menu shortcut by selecting ‘Create Start Menu Shortcut’ from the same Manage menu.

Step 3: Verify Game Installation

If your game is not showing in your Steam Library or desktop shortcuts, it might not be installed correctly.

1. Go to your Library: From the Library tab, find your game.
2. Properties: Right-click on the game and select ‘Properties’.
3. Local Files Tab: Click on the ‘Local Files’ tab and select ‘Verify Integrity of Game Files’. This will check your game installation for any missing files and rectify the issue.

Step 4: Check Windows Apps and Features

Sometimes, games installed through Steam may not appear in Windows search because they are not recognized as standalone applications.

1. Open Settings: Go to your Windows Settings by clicking the gear icon in the Start menu.
2. Apps: Click on ‘Apps’ and then ‘Apps & features’.
3. Search for the Game: Scroll through the list or use the search function to see if your game is listed here. If you see the game, you can choose to uninstall or troubleshoot any issues regarding its installation.

Step 5: Reinstall Steam

If none of the above solutions have worked, there could be a problem with your Steam installation itself. Reinstalling Steam may help.

1. Backup Your Games: Before reinstalling, make sure to back up your games. Steam has a built-in feature for that.
2. Uninstall Steam: Navigate to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features, search for Steam and select ‘Uninstall’.
3. Download Steam: Head to the official Steam website, download the latest version, and install it.
4. Restore Backup: After reinstalling, use the backup to restore your games.

Step 6: Use the Steam Store

If you still cannot find your game, you may want to check the Steam Store.

1. Open Store: From the Steam client, select the Store tab.
2. Search for the Game: Use the search bar to find your game. If it’s present and shows that you own it, you can retry installing it.

Conclusion

With those steps, you should be able to resolve the issue of not being able to find your Steam games on Windows. By checking your Steam Library, creating the necessary shortcuts, verifying your game installation, checking Windows settings, or even reinstalling Steam, you can ensure that your gaming experience remains uninterrupted. Remember, it’s always a good practice to keep everything updated and perform regular checks to ensure all your games are accessible. Happy gaming!