To add non Steam games to Steam, open Games, choose Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library, check your game's entry, and click Add Selected Programs. These steps work in the Steam desktop client on supported Windows, macOS, and Linux systems for installed games compatible with that operating system. If you need the client first, open the Steam download page and select Install Steam or the appropriate platform download.
The short version
- Start with the picker: Select your installed game and click Add Selected Programs.
- Missing game: Use Browse to select its executable manually.
- Steam Deck: Switch to Desktop Mode to use Steam's built-in program picker.
- Other launchers: Heroic and Lutris provide their own Steam shortcut options on Linux.
- Special imports: Third-party tools offer routes for supported Xbox PC games, bulk imports, and configured emulation libraries.
| Method | Use it for | Main requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Steam program picker | Installed games shown in the list | Supported desktop operating system |
| Steam Browse option | Games missing from the list | A local game executable |
| Lower-left Add a Game menu | Opening the same program picker | Steam desktop interface |
| Steam Deck hardware controls | Operating the desktop picker | Steam Deck LCD or OLED with SteamOS |
| SteamOS application menu | Adding an installed application | Steam Deck Desktop Mode |
| Heroic manual integration | An existing Heroic installation | Heroic on Linux or Steam Deck |
| Heroic automatic integration | Future Heroic installations | Automatic addition enabled in Heroic |
| Lutris installation option | Adding a game during installation | Lutris on Linux or Steam Deck |
| Lutris context menu | Adding an existing game | A game already in Lutris |
| UWPHook | Installed UWP and supported Xbox PC games | Windows and the third-party importer |
| BoilR | Bulk imports from other launchers | A supported launcher and platform combination |
| Steam ROM Manager through EmuDeck | ROMs, emulators, or a frontend shortcut | Configured emulators and appropriate game files on SteamOS |
| NonSteamLaunchers | Launcher shortcuts and supported game discovery | Steam Deck or SteamOS desktop version |
| Decky plugin | Adding applications or files in Gaming Mode | Compatible Decky Loader and Add Non-Steam Games plugin |
| SteamShortcut | Adding games from Windows Explorer | Steam and .NET Desktop Runtime 9 |
Add an installed game from the Steam menu
Launch Steam, open Games, then choose Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library. In the program picker, check the entry displaying your game's name. You can check several games together, then click Add Selected Programs to add your selections.
You can also open the picker from the lower-left corner of the desktop client. Click Add a Game > Add a Non-Steam Game, select the installed application, then click Add Selected Programs. This entry point also works in SteamOS Desktop Mode.
Browse for a game that is missing from the list
If Steam's automatic detection misses your game, open Games, choose Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library, and click Browse. Locate the game's executable and select it, then click Add Selected Programs. This gives you a manual route for local games, including those installed outside Steam.
Add games on Steam Deck
On a Steam Deck LCD or OLED running SteamOS, press STEAM, then select Power > Switch to Desktop. Open Steam and click Add a Game > Add a Non-Steam Game. Select your installed application and click Add Selected Programs, or use Browse to locate its executable before adding it.
You can operate the desktop picker with the Deck's controls. Move the pointer with the right trackpad, press R2 for a left-click, and press L2 for a right-click.
For the application-menu route, open Application Launcher in Desktop Mode and locate your installed application. Right-click it and select Add to Steam. For Microsoft Edge, locate it under Internet > Microsoft Edge, then right-click it and select Add to Steam. If the program picker opens, check Microsoft Edge and click Add Selected Programs.
Add games already managed by Heroic
If you use Heroic on Linux or Steam Deck, open Heroic and select an installed game. Open the three-dot menu in the upper-right corner, then click Add to Steam. This integration is maintained by Heroic and is not a Valve-supported importer.
For future installations, open Heroic's Settings and enable Add games to Steam automatically. Games you subsequently install through Heroic are added to Steam. For existing installations, use the game's three-dot menu and click Add to Steam.
Create Steam shortcuts from Lutris
On Linux, including Steam Deck, you can add a Lutris game during installation or afterward. While installing a game through Lutris, select Create Steam shortcut. For a game already in Lutris, right-click its entry and select Create Steam shortcut.
If you need Lutris on Steam Deck, switch to Desktop Mode, open Discover, search for Lutris, and install it. You can then create the shortcut during a game installation or from an existing game's context menu. Both routes are provided by Lutris.
Import supported Xbox PC and UWP games
On Windows, you can use UWPHook to import installed UWP applications and supported Xbox PC games. Get it through the latest-release link on the UWPHook developer page, then open the tool. Click the refresh icon to discover installed apps and select the entries you want.
Click Export selected apps to Steam, close UWPHook, and restart Steam when prompted. If you need help closing and reopening the client fully, follow the steps to restart Steam completely. UWPHook is an independent workaround that neither Valve nor Microsoft endorses, and its developer identifies limitations involving Steam Overlay.
Import several launcher libraries with BoilR
For bulk imports, open the BoilR developer page and follow its release link or linked Flathub installation route. Check its integration matrix for your source launcher and package before proceeding. Support varies between Windows, native Linux, and Linux Flatpak builds.
Run BoilR and click Import Games, then restart Steam to load the shortcuts. The separate BoilR 2.0 interface is a beta, so keep that distinction in mind when choosing a build.
Add an emulation library through EmuDeck
For an EmuDeck setup on SteamOS, you can use Steam ROM Manager to add ROMs, emulators, or an emulation frontend. You need configured emulators and appropriate game files for this workflow. Place your game files in the appropriate system folders under Emulation/roms, then open Steam ROM Manager through EmuDeck in Desktop Mode.
Enable the parsers for the systems you want to include, click Preview, then click Parse. Wait for artwork processing to finish before clicking Save apps to Steam. The save-button wording can differ between themes and releases.
If you prefer one frontend entry, enable the ES-DE parser instead. This adds one frontend shortcut for accessing your emulation setup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you add games directly from Steam Deck Gaming Mode?
With compatible Decky Loader and the independent Add Non-Steam Games plugin installed, press ••• and open Add Non-Steam Games. Under Browse, choose Applications or Files, select the app or executable, and adjust its name and compatibility tool as needed. Select Add to Steam, then select Restart now when prompted. This workflow uses a third-party plugin.
Can you add a game from the Windows right-click menu?
You can add this integration with the independent SteamShortcut extension, which requires Steam and .NET Desktop Runtime 9. Run SteamShortcut and click OK to install its context-menu integration, then right-click a game's executable or shortcut and choose Add to Steam. If Steam is running, restart it when prompted. If Steam is closed and SteamShortcut asks which user's library to use, select one, then launch Steam to see the game in your library.
Does the old Big Picture command still work for adding games?
Valve removed support for steam -oldbigpicture, so use the current desktop workflow instead. Open Games and choose Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library.
Does adding Xbox Cloud Gaming on Steam Deck import individual Xbox games?
Microsoft's Edge procedure adds a cloud-service shortcut, not individual Xbox licenses. It uses the community-maintained Microsoft Edge Flatpak, and Microsoft says it does not officially support Edge on SteamOS.
Can NonSteamLaunchers discover games after you install their launchers?
Yes, its desktop version on Steam Deck and SteamOS can add supported games through its scanner, with support varying by store. In Desktop Mode, obtain NonSteamLaunchers.desktop from the project's page and run it, choose the required launchers, then click OK to create their Steam shortcuts. Install games through those launchers so the scanner can add supported games. If entries are missing, restart Steam or the device to trigger scanning; NonSteamLaunchers is an independent project.