How to Make Epic Games Launcher Detect and Locate Installed Games

Follow these steps to make the Epic Games Launcher recognize your existing game files:

1. Open the Epic Games Launcher
   • Launch the Epic Games Launcher and navigate to the Library tab.
   • Identify the game you want to locate.
2. Locate the Existing Game Files
   • Find the folder where your game is currently installed on your hard drive (e.g., Fortnite).
   • Open the game folder and delete the .egstore folder if it exists.
3. Rename the Game Folder
   • Rename the installed game folder to something different, like Fortnite_temp.
4. Begin Downloading the Game in the Launcher
   • In the Epic Games Launcher, start downloading the game to the desired location.
   • Let the download run for a few seconds, then pause the download.
5. Exit the Epic Games Launcher
   • Right-click the Epic Games Launcher tray icon (in the bottom-right corner of your screen) and select Exit.
6. Restore the .egstore Folder
   • Navigate to the folder where the Epic Games Launcher started the download (default: C:\Program Files\Epic Games\[gamename]).
   • Copy the .egstore folder from your current game folder to the renamed folder (Fortnite_temp).
7. Replace the New Download Folder
   • Delete the newly created folder for the game (Fortnite in this example).
   • Rename the Fortnite_temp folder back to Fortnite.
8. Restart the Epic Games Launcher
   • Open the Epic Games Launcher and return to your Library.
   • The launcher will verify the existing game files.
9. Launch the Game
   • Once the verification process is complete, you can launch the game without re-downloading the entire installation.

This process saves time and bandwidth by utilizing your existing game files while ensuring they are properly verified by the Epic Games Launcher.