How To Fix Steam Purchase Not Showing In Library
Steam is a well-known digital gaming platform that caters to millions of gamers globally, enabling them to buy, download and play their preferred games while keeping a record of their game collection.
Nevertheless, users may encounter a problem where their Steam purchase fails to appear in their library, causing annoyance, particularly if they have spent their hard-earned cash on a game they are eager to play.
In this article, we will explore the reasons behind this issue and provide solutions to fix it.
Why Is Steam Purchase Not Showing In Library
There are several reasons why a game may not show up in your Steam library after purchase. Here are some of the most common reasons:
1. Delay In Activation
Sometimes there may be a delay in activating a game after purchase.
This can happen due to various reasons such as server issues, payment processing delays, or Steam’s anti-fraud system.
In such cases, it may take a few hours or even a day for the game to appear in your library.
2. Library Filter Settings
Steam has a built-in library filter system that allows users to sort their games by various categories such as installed, uninstalled, and recently played.
If the game you purchased is not set to show up in any of these categories, it may not appear in your library.
3. Steam Client Issues
Occasionally, the Steam client itself may have issues that prevent it from properly displaying your games.
This can happen due to outdated software, corrupted files, or conflicts with other programs on your computer.
How To Fix Steam Purchase Not Showing In Library
If your game is not showing up in your Steam library, here are some steps you can take to fix the issue:
1. Ensure Your Purchase Was Successful
Before diving into troubleshooting, make sure that your purchase was indeed successful. Here’s how to confirm it:
- Open Steam and log in to your account.
- Click on your account name in the upper-right corner and select Account details.
- Navigate to the Purchase History section.
- Look for your recent purchase in the list.
If your purchase is visible and marked as “Completed,” then move on to the next step. If not, you might need to revisit the checkout process or contact Steam Support.
2. Wait For Activation
In case the game you purchased fails to appear in your library, it’s advisable to exercise some patience for a few hours.
This is because there could be a delay in activating the game, and it might take some time to reflect in your library.
However, if the game still doesn’t appear after a day or two, you should proceed to the next step.
3. Check Your Steam Library Filters
Ensure that the game you bought is configured to display in your library by accessing the “Manage > Set Categories” option in the “Games” dropdown menu of your Steam library.
Verify if the game is set to appear in any of the categories and if not, mark the box next to the desired category.
4. Unhide The Game From The Library
Sometimes, the game may be present in your library but not visible due to the “Hide this game in my library” option is selected.
To unhide the game, you can access your library and right-click on the hidden game.
From there, select the “Manage” option and then click on “Remove from Hidden” to unhide the game. After unhiding the game, it should be visible in your library.
5. Try Running Steam As An Administrator
Running Steam as an administrator can sometimes resolve the issue of a Steam purchase not showing up in your library.
This solution can help if there are issues with Steam’s permissions or if the Steam client is not able to access certain files required to display the game in the library.
To run Steam as an administrator, right-click on the Steam icon and select “Run as administrator.”
If prompted, confirm that you want to allow the program to make changes to your computer.
Once Steam is running as an administrator, check if the game appears in your library.
6. Contact Steam Support
If you have tried all the above steps and are still experiencing the issue, contact Steam support.
They can help you resolve the issue and ensure that you can access all the features of the platform.
You can contact Steam Support by following this link: https://help.steampowered.com/en/wizard/HelpWithSteam
