The Steam Game Management Client is very straightforward if you're only using Steam-purchased games, but it takes a bit of tweaking if you're adding non-Steam games to the launcher. Read on as we show you how to add any game, app or emulator to Steam with custom icons and graphics.
Why do I want to do this?
The Steam client is a very convenient way to organize your games, and it works both for games purchased on Steam and for games added from your own collection (for example, a manually installed game that is not part of the Steam ecosystem). However, the big problem when you do this is that Steam doesn't automatically add your cute icons and artwork to your game; you can tinker and customize the look yourself.
This guide will walk you through both sides of the process: adding a non-Steam game or app, and editing the graphics to look good in both the launcher window and Steam's Big Picture Couch UI.
Adding a non-Steam game to the Steam client
The first step, adding the game to Steam, is the easiest. In fact, if you don't care about having nice icons and covers for your collection, the whole process will take about two minutes.
Start the Steam client. Look for the "+ Add Game" link in the lower left corner of the screen. Depending on the tab/view style, your background might not look like ours in the screenshot below, but the link will still be there (we're in Library -> Grid View).
Select "Add a non-Steam game" from the pop-up menu. A new window will open and you'll see a list of your games (as well as other apps).
In this guide we add black and white , a fun little title from 2001 from Lionhead Studios that isn't available on Steam (but which we installed manually). Although we only select one game for the tutorial, at this stage you can select as many games/apps as you like and add them all at once. Remember that what you add doesn't have to be a standalone game. You can also add benchmarking tools from games you use or emulators you download to play other games. Finally, the non-Steam game feature is basically just a menu/shortcut panel, so any .exe can jump into it.
After you have selected the items you want to add, click "Add selected programs". At this point, all the apps you've added are now available on Steam (although without icons or cover art).
Customize non-Steam games with icons and grid/big picture view
We don't know about you, but we love a well-arranged and decorated collection. Although we now have our game on the Steam client, it's not very pretty. Non-Steam games get a generic artwork in the Big Picture view and a game executable icon in the details/grid view (if the game executable doesn't have an embedded icon file, you'll also get a generic icon). We found this situation with Black & White; there is an icon file in the installation folder, but it is not embedded in the executable, so we get a very generic icon as seen in the screenshot above.
The Big Picture view is no better.black and whiteit's not a Steam title and doesn't have custom graphics like all the other games, it just has a generic Steam logo. It's annoying because the point of the Big Picture is to simply browse your games, but with generic icons you can tell what game it is just by selecting the generic icon to see the title. Let's fix it.
However, before we start listing the graphics, we need to detail what you'll need for the various customization options. There are three things you can customize: icons (small squares, like desktop icons) and skins (the big blocks you see in the screenshot above, like the music and movie covers found in media organizers like XBMC or iTunes) . In Steam-specific jargon, skins are known as "cases". Here's what you need for each of them:
Icon:These are standard icons, you will need an .exe file with the icon embedded (for example the application's own .exe if it has a real icon) or the icon you want to use as a .PNG or .TGA file that is square (for example 256 x 256 pixels) as normal icon file.
Grilles/covers:These files are 460 x 215 pixels. You can use .PNG, .JPG or .TGA file types.
Where can I find relevant icons and illustrations? Icons are very easy to find, newer games have an icon embedded in the .exe file; a quick google images search will show you alternatives if you don't like the icon you have or missing icon replacements.
The grids are a bit more demanding as they are non-standard sizes compared to normal DVD covers. There are several ways to do this. You can create your own artwork, but it takes a lot of time. Fortunately, if you're short on time or Photoshop skills, there are plenty of resources at your disposal. you can searchBanners on Steam, a site dedicated to cataloging art created by Steam Grid fans. You can also search Google Images and use the Size featureenter exactly 460 x 215. Finally, if you're having no luck with that, you can head over to Deviant Art; Gofind individual images and sets.
Now that you've taken a moment to find grid icons and images for your game, it's time to apply them. Let's see how the transformation worksblack and white.
Once your Steam client is in desktop mode (not Big Picture mode), go to your library. Change the view to Detailed view:
If you look at the newly added game, you will see that it has a generic icon. Right-click an entry in the detailed list on the left side of the panel:
Select "Properties". In the Properties menu, click the Select icon at the top of the window. The window will refresh and show the file browser:
Here you can choose the executable file you want to extract the icon image from, or like us you can filter by image file types and choose a custom PNG icon (we used the Lionhead Studio logo). Click Open, then click Close to return to the library view. Black and White now has a custom icon:
Small icon updates are fun, but we're pretty sure you're here to admire the beautiful grid blocks. Let's move on to customizing our networks. Change the view from detail to grid by clicking on the corresponding icon in the upper right corner.
In the grid view, right-click the game entry you want to customize:
Select "Define Custom Image..." and select the image file you want to use for your custom grid block using the Browse button.
Once found, click "Upload Image".
In the grid view we see the customblack and whitetiles have been installed. This new block will appear in both the grid view and the big picture view:
This is all! With a few tweaks and a few minutes spent searching for quality icons and skins, you can enjoy the same beautiful graphics in non-Steam games that you expect from Steam games.
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FAQs
How to add non-Steam games to Steam and apply custom icons? ›
How to Add Non-Steam Games to Steam and Apply Custom Icons. To add a non-Steam game to Steam, from Steam's menu bar, choose Games > Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library. Then, select the game(s) to add and choose "Add Selected Programs." Then you can add custom icons, backgrounds, and logos to your non-Steam games.
How to add non-Steam Games to Steam and apply custom icons? ›To change the artwork of a non-Steam game, head to your library, and go to a game you want to add a cover to. When on the game, press the Options button and navigate down to Change artwork... . Select it.
How do I add non-Steam Games to Steam? ›Go to Games > Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library and choose the game you want to add. If it's not listed, click Browse and find the game. Click Add Selected Programs and the game will now be listed in your Steam library.
How do I add non-Steam Games to big picture mode? ›you can configure Non-Steam games to use the GPD's inbuilt 360 controller using exactly the same method above, you simply have to add the game to your steam library. to do this, open steam and press "games" in the top left, then press "Add a Non-Steam Game to My Library." add the game from the list or navigate to the ...
Can you add Steamunlocked Games to Steam? ›Go to Games then click on Activate a Product on Steam... Enter the code you purchased. Go to your Steam game library, highlight the game, and click install.
What happens if you add a non Steam game to Steam? ›This will only add a shortcut to your game in the Steam client. This will not allow you to download updates for your game through Steam nor allow you to use this game as proof of ownership for your Steam account.
How does adding a non Steam game work? ›- Open Steam and click on Add A Game, then select Add a Non-Steam Game. ...
- Click on Browse to search for the game. ...
- Select the executable for the game and click Open. ...
- Ensure that the entry is highlighted in the list and click Add Selected Programs to add the game to your Steam Library.
Will steam detect a pirated game if add it to my steam library? No. Steam has no way to do so, but Valve may learn about it when you talk about it online, such as on Quora.
How do I get Steam to recognize my game files? ›Launch Steam and go to Steam > Settings > Downloads and click the Steam Library Folders button. This will open the Storage Manager. Here you can see manage your game installations and locations. Near the top of the Storage Manager, click the "+" button to add another folder of your installed games.
Is moonlight better than Steam Link? ›One thing to note about Moonlight versus GameStream or Steam Link is that it gives you far more options to fine-tune your connection quality and speed. You can set exactly how much bandwidth you want the app to aim to use while streaming gameplay, prioritize quality over frame rate, and other options.
Why does Steam big picture mode exist? ›
Big Picture is a mode of Steam designed for use with your TV and game controller, so you can enjoy your Steam games from the comfort of your couch. With the press of a button, Steam displays a full-screen user interface which has been completely redesigned for readability and interaction on TV.
How do I put games in big picture mode? ›Big Picture Mode can be entered by pressing the icon in the top right of the Steam client, next to your username.
Is Steam unlocked legit? ›Steam Unlocked is a gaming platform that lets you download thousands of pre-installed PC games for free. Games are continuously added as more requests line up on their game requests section. The only legitimate web address for Steam Unlocked is steamunlocked.net. They are not using any mirror sites.
Is there a site better than SteamUnlocked? ›net's top 5 competitors in March 2023 are: igg-games.com, repack-games.com, hisgames.org, steamrip.com, and more. According to Similarweb data of monthly visits, steamunlocked.
Is SteamUnlocked safe anymore? ›Yes, downloading games from SteamUnlocked is safe. SteamUnlocked is a platform that allows users to download their favorite games from Steam without having to pay for them.
Will Steam refund a game if I dont like it? ›You can request a refund for nearly any purchase on Steam—for any reason. Maybe your PC doesn't meet the hardware requirements; maybe you bought a game by mistake; maybe you played the title for an hour and just didn't like it. It doesn't matter.
How do I add Steam without paying? ›- 1) Search the Steam community for the person you want to add.
- 2) Create an invite link and share it with them.
- 3) Link your Facebook profile so you can find friends on Steam.
- 4) Add friends on Steam using a friend's code.
Cost. As long as your game complies with the Steam Terms of Service, you will only need to create an account and pay a one-time fee of US$100 to publish your game on Steam. They will, however, give you the money back if your game makes $1,000 in gross revenue from sales on the Steam store.
What is GreenLuma? ›GreenLuma 2023 (GL2023) is a Steam unlocker made by Steam006 that is used to obtain games from family shared libraries and DLC for games. There's much more to it, though.
What happens if you buy a game on Steam and you don't like it? ›Valve will, upon request via help.steampowered.com, issue a refund for any title that is requested within 14 days of purchase and has been played for less than 2 hours. Even if you fall outside of the refund rules we've described, you can submit a request and we'll take a look at it.
Does Steam detect cheat engine? ›
If a user connects to a VAC-Secured server from a computer with identifiable cheats installed, the VAC system will ban the user from playing that game on VAC-Secured servers in the future. The VAC system reliably detects cheats using their cheat signatures.
Will Steam ban me for cracked games? ›That's the ONLY WAY to get a VAC Ban from Steam. According to my experience, Steam does not ban you if the game is pirated however if the game has a direct connection to steam like launching the steam app or doing something along those lines then Steam will display an error and prevent the game from being launched.
Is it a crime to download pirated games? ›Like illegally downloading music and movies, pirating video games is considered a federal crime in the United States. The legal punishment may vary depending upon the state by typically ranges from paying back the copyright holder to spending some time in jail.
Will uninstalling Steam delete games? ›How should I uninstall Steam? Important: This process will remove Steam and any installed game content from your machine.
How do I add a game to Steam from files? ›Right click the game's title and select "Properties..." Select the "Local Files" tab and then select "Move install folder..." From the drop down menu you can then select the Steam Library folder location you want to move the game's installation to.
How do I verify non Steam game files? ›You can right-click on the game, select properties, go to Local Files, and press the VERIFY INTEGRITY OF GAME FILES button.
What does EXE stand for in gaming? ›EXE written on it (.exe is file extension designating an executable file). It centered around the video game franchise and character Sonic the Hedgehog.
How to install non-Steam games exe on Steam Deck? ›Yes you can. On the desktop, go to the Steam client, and click the “add a game” button in the lower left corner, click 'add a Non-Steam game', then find the application you installed in the list. This app will now show up in the Deck UI library under the 'non-steam' tab.
Where is the .EXE game on Steam? ›The Default Location
Steam installs to C:\Program Files\Steam folder by default and files for games installed on Steam are stored in the folder C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\ by default.
Over a 5 GHz network, our target is a resolution of 1080p at 60 frames per second, with good quality for most scenes. If you have a powerful gaming rig, a wired network, and a capable client device, it's possible to stream 4K at 60 FPS. For more information about Steam Remote Play, visit Steam Support.
Is Steam Link discontinued? ›
The aforementioned ex-partner got the Steam Link when we split, by which point Valve had discontinued the gadget and removed its listing from its Steam platform for good.
What game has the most mods on Steam? ›The last Steam Client stable update enabled the new Big Picture Mode, the one that resembles the Steam Deck UI, by default. Today's update improves keyboard navigation by adding the F11 hotkey to let you toggle between windowed and full-screen modes, as well as the Alt+Enter hotkey to exit the Big Picture Mode.
Does Big picture mode cause lag? ›Is anyone getting massive lag in big picture mode? If you have an Nvidia GPU then yes. Valve hasn't fixed the performance problems dating back to when it was first added to the desktop client.
Why does every game have a photo mode? ›Photo mode gives you the opportunity to pause the game and take a closer look at your surroundings. This can help you appreciate the game's art style or simply find new things that you missed before.
How do I force a game to not be full screen? ›1. How to Switch to Window Mode With a Hotkey. You can switch to a windowed mode whilst playing many games by pressing a keyboard shortcut. Try pressing the Alt + Enter hotkey when you're playing in full-screen gaming mode.
Can you craft Steam badges for games you don't own? ›You can only create (craft) boosters for games you own.
How do I add an existing game to Steam? ›Launch Steam and go to Steam > Settings > Downloads and click the Steam Library Folders button. This will open the Storage Manager. Here you can see manage your game installations and locations. Near the top of the Storage Manager, click the "+" button to add another folder of your installed games.
How do I add non Steam games to Steam Deck UI? ›Yes you can. On the desktop, go to the Steam client, and click the “add a game” button in the lower left corner, click 'add a Non-Steam game', then find the application you installed in the list. This app will now show up in the Deck UI library under the 'non-steam' tab.
How rare are foil cards Steam? ›There's a 1% chance to get a foil card instead of a regular card. A full set of these special cards can be used to craft a rare Foil badge.
Can I sell a game I made on Steam? ›
Steam items, in-game items and extra copies of games (referred to as Steam Gifts) are tradable. To be sure if an item is tradable, please go to your Inventory and select the item and read the item details. The "Tags" section will indicate if it is tradable or not.
Do you legally own the games on Steam? ›You do not own your games. Whether bought through Steam, Origin, or any other digital download service that requires a live account to play them, you are at best renting those games, with no guarantee that you'll be able to continue to do so.
How do I add a physical copy of a game to Steam? ›- Log in to Steam and click on. Library.
- Right-click on the game, select. Manage. ...
- Insert the first disc into your computer.
- Close Steam (Steam > Exit)
- Press Windows Key + R to open Run.
- In the Run window type the below line, but you will need to replace E: with the CD/DVD drive you are installing from. ...
- Press.
Cost. As long as your game complies with the Steam Terms of Service, you will only need to create an account and pay a one-time fee of US$100 to publish your game on Steam. They will, however, give you the money back if your game makes $1,000 in gross revenue from sales on the Steam store.
Can Epic Games play with Steam? ›An Epic Games Store player can join a Steam or Epic Games Store session listed in the multiplayer menu. A Steam player can join a Steam or Epic Games Store session listed in the multiplayer menu.
Can you add GOG games to Steam? ›No, as GOG.com (game platform) is independent platform which specializes in DRM-free games. But, what you can is to have your Steam (game platform) games on GOG by installing GOG GALAXY 2.0 on your computer, which has a script to import Steam games from your Library & to play it directly from GOG.
Can Steam Deck emulate everything? ›The vast majority of emulated games you can run on the Steam Deck will run well, but it does have its limits. In general, you should expect great performance from all 8-bit and 16-bit consoles. This includes favorites like the NES, SNES, and Genesis, plus handhelds of the same era.