Your Steam library does not have to hold only games you bought on Steam. The client can create shortcuts to any executable on your PC, which means Epic, GOG, Battle.net, emulators, and even non-game apps can live alongside your Steam titles. Adding them unlocks the Steam overlay, controller configuration, and Big Picture mode for programs that never shipped with any of those features. This guide shows how to add a non-Steam shortcut, what you gain, and how to fix the handful of quirks that come with it.
Why bother adding outside games?
A non-Steam shortcut is more than a launcher icon. Once a game runs through Steam, it inherits a stack of platform features it otherwise would not have.
| Feature | Works on non-Steam games? |
|---|---|
| Steam overlay (Shift + Tab) | Yes, in most cases |
| Steam Input controller config | Yes |
| Big Picture / console-style UI | Yes |
| Steam achievements | No |
| Steam Cloud saves | No |
| Playtime tracking | Yes |
How to add a non-Steam game
Use the Add a Game button
At the bottom-left of the Steam library window, click Add a Game > Add a Non-Steam Game. Steam scans for installed applications and shows a checklist. Tick the ones you want and confirm. If the program is not in the list, use Browse and point Steam at the game’s executable, which usually sits in the install folder and ends in .exe on Windows.
Point at the right executable
Many launchers install a small stub that opens the store instead of the game. If your shortcut launches the launcher rather than the game, dig into the install directory and target the actual game .exe. For Epic and GOG titles this is often a subfolder several levels deep, so check the game’s own properties or documentation to find the correct file.
Set up the overlay and controller
Right-click the new shortcut, open Properties, and confirm the overlay is enabled. Under the controller section you can assign a Steam Input layout, which is the main reason many players add non-Steam games at all: it gives an otherwise controller-hostile game full gamepad remapping, gyro aiming, and per-game profiles. Big Picture mode then treats the shortcut exactly like a native Steam game, which is ideal for a couch or handheld setup.
Common problems and fixes
Overlay not showing
Some games with their own anti-cheat or overlay block Steam’s. If Shift + Tab does nothing, try running Steam as administrator, or accept that the overlay simply will not attach to that particular title. Controller config usually still works even when the overlay does not.
Custom artwork looks plain
Non-Steam shortcuts show a generic icon by default. Right-click the entry, choose Manage > Set Custom Artwork, and drop in a grid image, roughly a 600 by 900 pixel portrait, to make your library look consistent. This is cosmetic but makes Big Picture far easier to navigate.
Keep non-Steam entries organized
Once you have added a handful of outside games, treat them like any other library item so they do not clutter your view. Drop them into Steam collections such as “Epic”, “Emulators”, or “Utilities” so a single sidebar click filters your whole list. Rename a shortcut through its properties if the executable name is cryptic, since a file called launcher.exe tells you nothing at a glance. For emulators, point the shortcut at the emulator itself and use launch options to auto-load a specific game, which lets one program appear as several tidy library entries. If a shortcut ever stops working after you move or update the underlying game, the fix is almost always the file path: reopen properties, browse to the new executable, and the entry springs back to life without losing your controller layout or artwork.
Frequently asked questions
Will adding a non-Steam game give me Steam achievements?
No. Achievements and Steam Cloud saves are tied to games sold on Steam and cannot be added through a shortcut. You do still get the overlay, controller configuration, Big Picture support, and playtime tracking, which is the real value.
Does adding a shortcut copy or move the game files?
No. A non-Steam shortcut only stores a path to the existing executable, so it uses essentially no extra disk space and does not touch your install. Deleting the shortcut removes only the entry, never the game.
Bottom line
Adding non-Steam games turns Steam into a single front end for your whole PC library, complete with overlay, best-in-class controller support, and Big Picture navigation. Point each shortcut at the true game executable, enable the overlay in properties, and add custom artwork for a clean look. You lose achievements and Cloud saves, but for controller users and couch setups the trade is well worth it.
