JosefNemec/Playnite · error · FileNotFoundException

Cannot create game from executable, {path} not found.

Error message

Cannot create game from executable, {path} not found.

What it means

Thrown as FileNotFoundException by GetGameFromExecutable when File.Exists(path) is false. The method reads .lnk/.url/.exe metadata from the file, so a non-existent path cannot be processed. This is a precondition check before any file I/O.

Source

Thrown at source/Playnite/Extensions/GameExtensions.cs:62

            expaded.TrackingPath = game.ExpandVariables(expaded.TrackingPath, true);
            if (expaded.Type != GameActionType.URL)
            {
                expaded.Path = game.ExpandVariables(expaded.Path, true);
            }

            return expaded;
        }
    }

    public static class GameExtensions
    {
        private static ILogger logger = LogManager.GetLogger();

        public static Game GetGameFromExecutable(string path)
        {
            if (!File.Exists(path))
            {
                throw new FileNotFoundException($"Cannot create game from executable, {path} not found.");
            }

            var game = new Game();
            if (string.Equals(Path.GetExtension(path), ".lnk", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase))
            {
                var prog = Programs.GetLnkShortcutData(path);
                var fileInfo = new FileInfo(prog.Path);
                if (!fileInfo.Exists && prog.Path.Contains("Program Files (x86)"))
                {
                    var newPath = prog.Path.Replace("Program Files (x86)", "Program Files");
                    if (File.Exists(newPath))
                    {
                        fileInfo = new FileInfo(newPath);
                        if (prog.WorkDir.Contains("Program Files (x86)"))
                        {
                            prog.WorkDir.Replace("Program Files (x86)", "Program Files");
                        }
                    }

View on GitHub (pinned to 5911f4e964)

Solutions

1. Check File.Exists(path) before calling GetGameFromExecutable.
2. Resolve and normalize the path (full path, expanded env vars) before the call.
3. If importing shortcuts, validate the shortcut target exists and prompt the user to re-locate if missing.

Example fix

// before
if (!File.Exists(path)) { throw new FileNotFoundException($"Cannot create game from executable, {path} not found."); }

// after — guard at call site
if (!File.Exists(path)) {
    logger.Warn($"Executable not found: {path}");
    return null;
}
var game = GameExtensions.GetGameFromExecutable(path);

// Check file existence before importing.
if (!File.Exists(path)) { logger.Warn($"Executable missing: {path}"); return null; }

try { var game = GameExtensions.GetGameFromExecutable(path); }
catch (FileNotFoundException) { logger.Warn($"Executable not found: {path}"); }

When it happens

Trigger: Calling GameExtensions.GetGameFromExecutable(path) where path does not point to an existing file — wrong path, deleted executable, or an unresolved shortcut target recorded before validation.

Common situations: Importing a game from a shortcut whose target was moved/uninstalled; path stored with a relative or environment-variable value that resolves differently; race where the file was deleted between selection and import.

Related errors

• Can't scan emulation directory, {directory} doesn't exist.
• URL file doesn't have shortcut definition section.
• Manifest file ({PlaynitePaths.ExtensionManifestFileName}) no
• Theme changelog not found.
• Source directory does not exist or could not be found: {sour

AI-assisted analysis of JosefNemec/Playnite@5911f4e964 (2026-08-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/342ad984f3211669. Report an issue: GitHub.