Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Note

If you see any path on this page that starts with %appdata% or %localappdata%, then copy that path exactly as written and paste it into your file explorer to navigate to a correct directory. Strings starting and ending with % are environment variables that will be properly converted when you tell your file explorer to navigate there.

General Questions

What does Playnite name mean?

Playnite is a combination of Play and Unite.

Is Playnite safe to use?

Its safety largely depends on how the installed library and other types of plugins work and what they do, as they handle various aspects of game integration and other functionality.

When connecting accounts, it primarily relies on the practices implemented by these plugins, such as using official login web forms and storing web session cookies or tokens, similar to how your web browser does when you log in to these services but the specifics will vary from plugin to plugin. For more information about safety when installing and using plugins, refer to here.

When it comes to your user data, you can rest assured as all information about your gaming library is stored exclusively on your PC. This guarantees that your data remains securely within your control at all times.

How can I support the project?

To support the Playnite project and contribute to its continued development, you can consider the following options:

Donations and financial support:

The Playnite project may accept donations to help cover the costs of development, server hosting, and other expenses. Consider becoming a Patreon if this is an option for you.

Spread the Word:

Share your positive experiences with Playnite on social media, gaming forums, and among your friends. Increasing the user base and community engagement can benefit the project.

Contribute Code:

If you have programming skills, you can contribute to the project by submitting code improvements, bug fixes, or new features. Playnite is an open-source project hosted on GitHub, so you can fork the repository, make changes, and submit pull requests.

Bug Reporting:

Help improve Playnite by reporting any bugs, issues, or glitches you encounter while using the software. Detailed bug reports with steps to reproduce the problem can be invaluable to the developers.

Translate:

Playnite is available in multiple languages, and you can contribute by translating the software into your native language or improving existing translations on Crowdin.

Support Extensions:

If you're a developer, consider creating or maintaining extensions for Playnite. Extensions can enhance Playnite's functionality and provide more options to users.

Participate in Discussions:

Engage in discussions related to Playnite. Provide help and support to other users, answer questions, and share your knowledge.

Documentation:

Contribute to improving the Playnite documentation, including user guides, FAQs, and tutorials. Clear and helpful documentation benefits all users

Remember that support comes in various forms, and even spreading the word about Playnite or helping newcomers can contribute to the growth and success of the project.

Why is Playnite so cool!!?

That's just how it is. 😎

Will there be Linux or macOS version?

Not in near future, mainly for technical reasons. More information here.

Does Playnite replace game clients?

No. While this will vary depending on the specific library plugin in charge of handling the service library, generally Playnite does not replace game clients like Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, or others. Playnite is designed to complement these game clients by providing a unified library and interface for all your games, regardless of where they are purchased or installed.

While Playnite provides a robust and feature-rich game library management solution, it does not replace the need for the original game clients.

You may still require these clients to access platform-specific features like games downloading, installing and uninstalling, multiplayer, friends, or community features offered by the games respective clients.

Playnite works alongside these clients to provide a centralized and organized gaming experience.

Can I link multiple accounts?

You can't, unless a library integration plugin explicitly supports it (gives you an option to link multiple accounts).

You can however link one account, import games, link a different account, import games again and you'll end up with a library that contains games from both accounts. Playnite never automatically removes games from the library so linking a different account won't affect games from other accounts in any way.

Does Playnite support X controller?

See Controller Support.

Where can I find the library folder with all games?

Go to Settings menu and check Database Location on Advanced tab.

By default for installed versions the library is in %appdata%\Playnite\library folder and for portable it's just library folder inside the application folder.

Warning

Never combine two different library folders from different Playnite instances. It will generate duplicates in your library. If you are moving library to another Playnite instance always completely replace the folder, never just copy one over another!

Where are cover and background images stored?

All media files are stored in Database Location directory together with other game information.

How do I update Playnite?

Playnite supports auto update feature, you don't have to download and install updates manually. Playnite checks for new version at every startup and then every 4 hours. You can also manually check if new version is available by using Check for Updates menu option.

Where are Playnite settings located?

Portable editions have settings stored in config.json directly in Playnite's folder. Installed versions store settings in the %AppData%\Playnite\config.json file.

What is Safe Mode?

Safe Mode starts Playnite with all third-party extensions disabled and using only default theme.

To start Safe Mode, you can:

Navigate to Main menu > Help > Restart in Safe Mode.
Open the Safe Mode.bat file from Playnite's installation directory.
Use the --safestartup application argument when starting Playnite's executable.

How do I start additional application(s) before game starts and kill it after game exits?

See this page.

How do I unhide game?

Use the "funnel" filter button next to the search field to open filter panel, select Hidden filter, right-click on hidden games and choose the Show in Library option.

How can I close a game or emulator with a controller?

Currently Playnite does not offer native functionality for closing games or emulators using a controller.

However, if a game or emulator doesn't have a way to close it via some menu, you can achieve this by using a third-party application that can simulate the ALT+F4 key combination with a controller.

Here are some examples of applications that can help you accomplish this task:

Additionally, the PlayState Playnite extension provides limited keyboard simulation functionality for controllers. However, it is recommended to review the extension functionality and settings to prevent unwanted functionality from being added to Playnite when installing it.

How do I backup Playnite library and move it to another PC?

Playnite 10 introduced built-in options to backup and restore Playnite data accessible from the Library menu.

To manually backup data:

If using portable version, just move the whole installation folder.
If using installed version, then you need to move %appdata%\Playnite folder, which contains all user information.

Make sure to completely replace the folder on new drive/PC if it already exists from other installation. Just copying over existing user data will cause issues!

How do I convert installed version to portable?

Shutdown Playnite
Copy content of %appdata%\Playnite into Playnite's application folder
Delete unins000.exe and unins000.dat files in this directory.
Edit config.json with a text editor and change DatabasePath property value to "library"

Table of Contents