Update: 2024-01-28

This trick NO longer work

If you want to track your gaming session (and other application usage) on windows, give ProcrastiTracker a try. In linux I recommend Lutris.

Original Article

If you have non-steam game[0] added to steam launcher, one feature that missing is ability to track playtime. It turn out that you can simply move your non-steam game into steam library folder and it will recognize the game and add playtime tracking just fine.

How To

  • Open steam library folder
  • You will find several directories (common, compatdata, downloading, etc)
    Steam library folder

    Steam library folder

  • Move/Copy your game installation folder into common directory
  • Add “non-steam game” into steam launcher
  • Launch game with newly added entry
  • If the title is recognized, a new entry will be added by steam
    Config.exe is actual entry I added to steam as launcher

    Config.exe is actual entry I added to steam as launcher

    Steam recognize the title and add new entry

    Steam recognize the title and add new entry

Some caveats:

  • Actual game must exist in steam store, otherwise it won’t be recognize
  • You can NOT use the (automatically) added entry to launch the game. You must use the entry that you manually added
    You can’t use the added entry to lauch the game, but it can track your playtime

    You can’t use the added entry to lauch the game, but it can track your playtime

[0]: refer to game bought outside steam store or “other” version