JosefNemec/Playnite · error · Exception

Can't scan emulation directory, {directory} doesn't exist.

Error message

Can't scan emulation directory, {directory} doesn't exist.

What it means

Thrown by ScanDirectory (the low-level overload taking supportedExtensions/scanPlatforms) when FileSystem.DirectoryExists(directory) is false. The scan requires a real, accessible directory on disk; a missing or inaccessible path is a fatal precondition failure.

Source

Thrown at source/Playnite/Emulators/Scanner.cs:665

                mergeRelatedFiles,
                fileScanCallback);
        }

        private List<ScannedGame> ScanDirectory(
            string directory,
            List<string> supportedExtensions,
            List<string> scanPlatforms,
            CancellationToken cancelToken,
            string crcExludePatterns,
            bool scanSubfolders,
            bool scanArchives,
            bool mergeRelatedFiles,
            Action<string> fileScanCallback = null)
        {
            logger.Info($"Scanning emulated directory {directory}.");
            if (!FileSystem.DirectoryExists(directory))
            {
                throw new Exception($"Can't scan emulation directory, {directory} doesn't exist.");
            }

            var emuDbs = emuDbProvider(scanPlatforms);
            var resultGames = new List<ScannedGame>();

            try
            {
                ScanDirectoryBase(
                    directory,
                    supportedExtensions,
                    emuDbs,
                    resultGames,
                    cancelToken,
                    crcExludePatterns,
                    scanSubfolders,
                    scanArchives,
                    mergeRelatedFiles,
                    fileScanCallback);

View on GitHub (pinned to 5911f4e964)

Solutions

1. Verify the directory exists and is accessible (Directory.Exists) before initiating the scan.
2. Update the scan configuration to point at the current ROM location.
3. For removable/network paths, confirm the drive is mounted or the share is reachable before scanning.

Example fix

// before
if (!FileSystem.DirectoryExists(directory)) { throw new Exception($"Can't scan emulation directory, {directory} doesn't exist."); }

// after — caller-side guard
if (!Directory.Exists(scanDir)) {
    logger.Warn($"Scan directory not found: {scanDir}. Skipping.");
    continue;
}

// Confirm the directory exists before invoking ScanDirectory.
if (!Directory.Exists(directory)) {
    logger.Warn($"Scan directory missing: {directory}");
    return;
}

try { ScanDirectory(...); }
catch (Exception ex) when (ex.Message.Contains("doesn't exist")) {
    logger.Warn($"Scan directory unavailable: {directory}");
}

When it happens

Trigger: Calling ScanDirectory with a directory path that does not exist on disk — an unmounted drive, a moved/deleted ROM folder, a network path that is offline, or a typo in the scan configuration.

Common situations: External ROM drive disconnected; network share unavailable; user moved their ROM library but did not update the scan directory; portable drive letter changed.

Related errors

• Emulator startup script not found.
• {directory} not found.
• Emulator not found.
• No emulator profile specified.
• Assigned custom emulator profile not found.

AI-assisted analysis of JosefNemec/Playnite@5911f4e964 (2026-08-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/a6d8b66ebe2e7e15. Report an issue: GitHub.