How to Fix Missing Downloaded Files in Steam

Steam has earned widespread acclaim for delivering a vast array of exceptional games to players worldwide through its robust platform. However, Windows users on systems accidentally delete Steam game files or install patches from their computers. Thankfully, there are several effective solutions to recover lost Steam game files. Let’s check out.

Why does the error MISSING DOWNLOADED FILES happen?

The error "MISSING DOWNLOADED FILES" in Steam typically occurs when the platform cannot locate or verify the game files that are supposed to be installed on your system. This issue can arise due to several reasons:

✘ Accidental Deletion or Corruption: Game files have been accidentally deleted, moved, or corrupted by the user, a third-party application, or a system error.

✘ Improper Shutdown or Crash: If your system or Steam client shuts down unexpectedly (e.g., due to a power outage or crash), it can lead to incomplete downloads or file corruption.

✘ Disk Errors or Bad Sectors: Issues with your hard drive, such as bad sectors or disk errors, can cause files to become inaccessible or corrupted.

✘ Antivirus or Firewall Interference: Antivirus software or firewalls might mistakenly quarantine or block Steam game files, thinking they are potential threats.

✘ Steam Client Bugs or Glitches: Occasionally, bugs or glitches in the Steam client itself can cause it to fail to recognize downloaded files.

5 Solutions for the error MISSING DOWNLOADED FILES in Steam

The solutions to the various Steam game loss issues are diverse. It is imperative to exercise caution when selecting the appropriate solution to restore lost games to your Steam account.

Method 1. Verify Integrity of game files

The warning of Steam lacking downloaded files Windows 10 appears as a result of the download process being interrupted. It is possible to confirm the success of your download procedure by verifying the integrity of game files.

Step 1. Open Steam and go to Library.

Step 2. Right-click the game you are playing and choose Properties.

Step 3. Tap on LOCAL FILES and hit VERIFY INTEGRITY OF GAME FILES.

Method 2. Repair Steam Library folders

Steam missing downloaded files can also be fixed by repairing the Steam Library folders. Follow the steps below carefully:

Step 1. Open Steam and click Steam on the top-left corner of the home page.

Step 2. In the drop-down menu, choose Settings.

Step 3. Click Downloads and STEAM LIBRARY FOLDERS.

Step 4. Choose the drive in which your game is downloaded select Repair Folder after clicking the three-dotted icon.

Method 3. Clear the download cache

The updating and downloading process of the game can be disrupted by corrupted game files, resulting in the absence of downloaded files on Steam. This can be caused by the presence of remnants in the download cache folder.

Step 1. Open Steam and go to Settings.

Step 2. In the Download tab, click on CLEAR DOWNLOAD CACHE.

Step 3. Click OK to confirm this action.

Method 4. Rename ClientRegistry.blob to restore missing game files

Information regarding your Steam installation and game installations is contained in the ClientRegistry.blob file. Steam will restore most of its default settings after you reset the file, thereby enabling missing titles to appear and function properly.

Step 1. Open your Steam installation folder by right-clicking on the Steam shortcut on your Desktop and selecting "Open file location".

Step 2. Locate the ClientRegistry.blob file in the Steam folder, right-click on it and select "Rename".

Step 3. Change the ClientRegistry.blob to ClientRegistry.old.blob and confirm the changes.

Step 4. Restart your Steam.

Method 5. Try data recovery tool to retrieve missing downloaded files in Steam

To recover missing downloaded files in Steam on your Windows computer, you can try a reliable data recovery tool--AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery, which supports a wide range of data loss scenarios, from accidental deletions to complex system crashes. Its powerful scanning algorithms ensure no file is left behind, recovering data in various formats such as documents, images, videos, and emails.

This software works seamlessly across multiple storage devices, including HDDs, SSDs, USB drives, and SD cards. If your Steam deck is missing downloaded files, you can connect the device to your computer and use this handy tool to recover lost files.

Step 1. Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery. Choose the exact partition or disk where your data is lost and click Scan.

Step 2. Then, the recovery tool starts to scan and search. lt will execute the “Quickly Scan" first to find your deleted data fast, and then execute the “Deep Scan" for searching other lost data.

Step 3. Once the scan is completed, all deleted files, recycle bins and other missing files will be displayed. Please select the file you would like to recover and then click "Recover".

Step 4. Then, select a folder path to save your recovered files.

Step 5. Wait patiently for this process of recovery to end.

Conclusion

In this guide, we show 5 ways to fix the error MISSING DOWNLOADED FILES in Steam. It's not a thorny problem, you can quickly fix it. AOMEI Partition Assistant for Recovery is a robust data recovery tool for various devices under different situations, if you also find other files missing, try this tool as soon as possible, you can quickly restore your files on your devices.