Modern video games eat up a lot of storage space. If you don’t want to run out of storage space, you can install your games on an external hard drive. Unfortunately, many gamers complained Steam won’t recognize their external hard drives. Let’s see how you can fix this problem.
Steam doesn’t recognize games installed on external hard drive
Unplug your hard drive
Unplug your hard drive, restart your computer and then plug the hard drive back on. Launch Steam and check if disconnecting the hard drive solved the problem. If Steam detects your drive, launch a random game and check if you can play it.
Check your cable and ports
If the issue persists, check the USB cable connecting your external hard drive to your computer. Make sure the cable is not frayed or damaged in any way. Use a different cable and switch to a different port. Check if you notice any improvements.
⇒ Learn more: How Many Hours Have I Spent on Steam?
Verify the Integrity of Game Files
If some of the game files stored on your external hard drive became corrupted, verify their integrity. Software crashes, and power surges often cause file corruption issues.
- Go to your Steam Library, and right-click on the problematic game.
- Select Properties.
- Click on Local Files.
- Hit Verify Integrity of Game Files.
Repair your Steam Library
If your game files got corrupted, Steam may have trouble recognizing the game on your hard drive. Repair your Steam Library to make Steam recognize the game files.
- Launch Steam.
- Go to Settings.
- Click on the Downloads tab.
- Select the Steam Library Folder in the right-hand pane.
- Right-click on each library and select Repair Library Folder.
- Exit Steam, and restart your computer.
Create a new Library folder
- Exit Steam.
- Go to your external hard drive and move the SteamApps folder to a temporary folder.
- Then delete the empty Library folder.
- Create a new Library folder on your drive.
- Launch Steam.
- Move the SteamApps folder into the new Library folder.
- Check if Steam recognizes the hard drive and games stored on it.
Reinstall your game
If Steam doesn’t recognize the games installed on your external hard drive but gives you the option to install them, hit the Install button. Install the problematic game at the same external hard drive location. This should force Steam to recognize your drive.
Conclusion
If Steam won’t recognize your external hard drive, unplug the drive,
check your cable and switch to a different USB port. Then verify the integrity of your game files, and repair your Steam Library. If the issue persists, create a new Library folder, and reinstall your game.
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