Hello, fellow gamers and streamers! Have you ever geared up for a thrilling session of moonlight game streaming, only to find that some of your favorite games are mysteriously missing from Moonlight? It’s like planning a grand feast and realizing some of the main dishes are not on the table. Don’t worry, though; this is a common issue in the world of moonlight streaming, and there are several ways to bring those missing games back to your moonlight stream.
Games are Missing from Moonlight Streaming Software
The “Games are missing from Moonlight” issue can stem from several factors, as outlined in the Moonlight troubleshooting guide. Here’s a list of potential causes and checks to consider if you find that games are not appearing in Moonlight:
- Game Folder Not Listed in GeForce Experience: Ensure the folder where your games are installed is listed in GeForce Experience. If it’s not, you can add it by navigating to the settings in GeForce Experience and adding the folder manually.
- Games Not Detected by GeForce Experience: Some games might not be automatically detected as streamable by GeForce Experience. In such cases, you can add games manually following a guide provided by Moonlight, ensuring they become visible for streaming.
By addressing these two key areas, users can often resolve issues with games not appearing in Moonlight, ensuring a smoother streaming experience.
let’s break down these factors and their solutions into simpler terms:
1. Game Folder Not Listed in GeForce Experience
Imagine GeForce Experience as a librarian that needs to know where your games (or books, in this analogy) are kept. If it doesn’t know where to look, it can’t lend them out to Moonlight for streaming. Sometimes, your games are stored in a folder that GeForce Experience doesn’t know about.
Solution:
- Open GeForce Experience. Think of this as opening the library’s system to update its records.
- Head to the settings. This is like telling the librarian, “Hey, I’ve got more books for you to lend out.”
- Look for a section where you can add folders. Here, you’re basically saying, “My books are over in this shelf.”
- Click the + button and navigate to the folder where your games are stored. By doing this, you’re showing the librarian exactly where your new books are.
- Once you’ve added the folder, GeForce Experience will check this new “shelf” and recognize any games there, making them available for Moonlight to stream.
2. Games Not Detected by GeForce Experience
Sometimes, even if GeForce Experience knows where your games are, it might walk right past them without realizing they’re there. This usually happens with less common or older games that GeForce doesn’t automatically recognize as streamable.
Solution:
- You’ll need to manually tell GeForce Experience, “Hey, you missed this one; it’s a game too.” Moonlight provides a guide on how to do this. It’s a bit like filling out a form for the librarian, detailing what the book is and where it’s located.
- Following the guide, you’ll add the game to GeForce Experience manually. This process involves a few steps, like creating a shortcut for the game if necessary and adding it through the GeForce Experience interface.
- Once you’ve done this, GeForce Experience will “learn” about this game and include it in its list of streamable games, making it visible in Moonlight.
In both cases, the key is to ensure that GeForce Experience is aware of all the games you want to stream via Moonlight. By either pointing GeForce to where your games are stored or manually adding games it doesn’t recognize, you’re updating its “catalog” so that when you use Moonlight, all your games are ready and waiting to be streamed, just like books ready to be checked out from the library.
Identifying Other Reasons Why Games May Be Missing from Moonlight
By exploring these overlooked factors, we aim to provide insights and solutions to help gamers restore their complete library and enjoy uninterrupted streaming experiences.
GeForce Experience: The Starting Point
Moonlight streaming relies heavily on the GeForce Experience software to detect and stream games. If your games are missing, the first place to check is the GeForce Experience. Ensure that it’s up to date, as an outdated version might not recognize newer games for your moonlight game streaming.
Game Scan Settings: The Detective Work
Within GeForce Experience, there’s an option to scan for games. Sometimes, the path to your game installations might not be included in GeForce’s scan paths. Like a detective, you need to ensure GeForce Experience is looking in the right places. Add your game folders to GeForce Experience’s scan paths to help it find all your games for moonlight streaming.
Manual Addition: The Personal Touch
If GeForce Experience still doesn’t pick up some games, you can add them manually. This is like writing down a friend’s address in your address book when your phone fails to save it. Manually adding games ensures they appear in your moonlight stream list.
Game Compatibility: The Key Factor
Not all games are compatible with moonlight game streaming. Some games, due to their DRM or graphical settings, might not work with Moonlight. Check the compatibility of your games with Moonlight. It’s like making sure each puzzle piece fits in your puzzle.
NVIDIA Shield Settings: The Hidden Switch
In some cases, the NVIDIA Shield settings in GeForce Experience might be the culprit. This setting needs to be enabled for moonlight streaming to work correctly. It’s like turning on the power switch for an appliance to work.
Firewall and Antivirus: The Invisible Barriers
Sometimes, your firewall or antivirus software might be blocking Moonlight’s ability to detect games. Check your firewall and antivirus settings to ensure they’re not interfering with moonlight game streaming. It’s like ensuring there are no blockades on your road to gaming.
Network Issues: The Connectivity Check
Moonlight streaming requires a stable network connection. If your network is unstable or if your devices are on different networks, it might affect Moonlight’s ability to detect games. Ensure a stable and consistent network for a smooth moonlight stream experience.