If you have recently logged into your Steam account to find that a game you purchased is not appearing in your Steam library, you may be confused about why the game has disappeared. The problem usually has a straightforward explanation and a simple fix. However, there are several reasons why your game might have disappeared from your Steam library. So in this guide, we will take a closer look at the possible causes and outline a solution for each one.
Usually, when you can’t see your game in the library, it means your game is set to hidden. Another possible reason is that you don’t have the license or subscription to play the game.
Check for hidden games:
- Log into your Steam account.
- Go to ‘Help.’
- Go to ‘Steam Support.’
- Click on ‘Games, Software, etc.’
- Select the game you can’t find.
- Click ‘It’s not in my library.’
- Select ‘View the product in your library.’
- Click on settings.
- Select ‘Manage.’
- Click ‘Remove from hidden.’
Check for a missing license or subscription:
- Open Steam and click on your username.
- Click on ‘Account details.’
- Then select ‘View licenses and product key activations.’
- Make sure you have the correct license or subscription.
This blog post will discuss the following:
Why games aren’t showing up
As explained above, your game may not be showing up in your Steam library for several reasons. Most of the time, you’ll find that your game isn’t showing up in your Steam library because it has been hidden. Although this may seem like a pointless feature, many users like to hide their games to organize their libraries.
For example, if there are specific games you don’t play as often as others, you may not want them to clutter your library. Having the hidden game feature means you can easily separate your regularly played games from those you rarely play while retaining your old games.
Another reason you may not be able to see a game in your library is that you may not have the license or subscription needed to play the game. You should try purchasing the game again if you don’t have a subscription. Then reset your internet and refresh the page. You may have to restart Steam or your computer if that doesn’t work.
Check you have the license/subscription
If your game isn’t appearing in your library, it may be that you have the license you need. First, you should check the license you do have. If you have one relevant to your game, you should try purchasing the game again. Then reset your internet and refresh the page. After this, you may have to restart Steam and restart your computer well. The steps below outline how where you can view the license you have.
1. Click on your username.
On the top right-hand side of the page, click on the small arrow next to your username.
2. Click on ‘Account details.’
When a drop-down list appears, select the option for ‘Account details.’
3. Then click on ‘View licenses and product key activations.’
Under the store and purchase history section, select ‘View licenses and product key activations.’
4. Your licenses will appear in a list.
You may have to repurchase the game or contact Steam Support if you don’t have the correct license or subscription.
Check for hidden games
As stated previously, it is most likely that if you can’t find your game in your Steam library, it may be that the game has been hidden. Follow the step below to remove the game from your hidden item and return it to your library.
- Log into your Steam account.
Use your username and password to log into your Steam account.
2. Go to ‘Help.’
From the panel at the top of the page, select the option for ‘Help.’
3. Go to ‘Steam Support.’
When the drop-down list appears, select ‘Steam Support.’
4. Click on ‘Games, Software, etc.’
When the Steam Support page opens up, click on the option for ‘Games, Software, etc.’
5. Select the game you can’t find.
You will be taken to a list of all your purchased games. Select the game you can’t find in your library.
6. Click ‘It’s not in my library.’
Then click on the option for ‘It’s not in my library.’
7. Select ‘View the product in your library.’
Select the option for ‘View the product in your library.’
8. Click on settings.
If your game is hidden, you’ll see on the top right-hand side of the screen it will say ‘hidden.’ Click on the cog icon to go to the game’s settings.
9. Select ‘Manage.’
From the drop-down list, select ‘Manage.’
10. Click ‘Remove from hidden.’
Finally, select the option for ‘Remove from hidden.’
Conclusion
As this blog post has explained, there are two causes for your game not appearing in your Steam library. The most common reason is that your game has been hidden. This means it doesn’t appear in your library; however, you can still search for it in the search bar, and it will appear. Removing the game your hidden items is very simple and can be done via Steam Support. This blog post has outlined how you can do this. The second reason you may not be able to see your game in the library is that you don’t have the proper license to play the game. You can find out how to view your game licenses from the method outlined above.
Thank you for reading this blog post. If you have any further questions or comments about your Steam library, feel free to leave a comment, and we’ll be sure to get back to you soon.