GOG Galaxy Guide: Combining Your PC Game Libraries in One Launcher

GOG Galaxy is a free launcher from GOG that pulls the game libraries from other stores and consoles into one searchable list, so you can see everything you own in a single window. It does not replace those stores: you still need the original launcher installed for most games to actually run, and the integrations are what read your ownership and playtime data.

This guide explains how the setup works, which features are worth turning on, and where the limits are. The list of supported platforms changes over time, so confirm the current integrations in the GOG Galaxy settings and on GOG’s support pages before planning a full migration in 2026. The goal here is practical: one library, fewer launchers to open, and no surprises with saves.

What GOG Galaxy Does and Does Not Do

Galaxy has two roles. For games bought from GOG, it acts as a full store client that downloads, installs, patches and syncs saves. For games from other platforms, it acts as an aggregator that lists them, shows playtime, and starts the correct launcher when you press play.

What it can combine

Through optional integrations, Galaxy can pull in libraries from platforms such as Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox, Ubisoft Connect, EA app, Battle.net and others, and some console accounts. It also lets you add non-integrated games manually, so a standalone or older title can sit in the same list.

What stays separate

Purchases, subscriptions, achievements and cloud saves for another platform’s games remain governed by that platform. Overlays and friends features from those stores are not replaced. Some integrations are community-built rather than official, so quality can vary, and they can break after a platform changes its systems.

Why people use it

A single library with filters, tags and a unified search is useful when you own hundreds of titles across stores. It is also a way to record playtime in one place and to avoid launching four apps just to find what you were playing last month.

Setting It Up Step by Step

1. Download the installer from GOG’s official site and install it. A free GOG account is needed to sign in.
2. Sign in, then open the settings menu and find the integrations section.
3. Choose a platform to connect. Each one asks you to authorize with that platform’s own sign-in page, so Galaxy does not need your password in most cases.
4. Let the first import finish. A large library can take a few minutes, and some platforms hide private profiles from import, so adjust your profile privacy settings if games are missing.
5. Install the original launcher for any platform you want to start games from, and sign in there as well.
6. Back in Galaxy, press play on a game from another store. Galaxy will hand over to the original launcher in the background.

Safety note: only authorize integrations from sources you trust, keep two-factor authentication on for your store accounts, and review which permissions are requested before approving them.

Features Worth Using

Filters, tags and hidden games

You can filter by platform, genre, installed status and custom tags, which makes a large library manageable. Games you never plan to play can be hidden so they stop cluttering the list.

Playtime tracking and a unified recent list

Galaxy records playtime for games launched through it, and the homepage displays recently played games in a single row regardless of store. If you launch a game outside Galaxy, playtime may not be captured by Galaxy, though some integrations import the other store’s own totals.

Update control, rollbacks and offline installers

For GOG games, Galaxy can let you turn off automatic updates and, in many cases, roll back to an earlier version if an update breaks a mod or a save. GOG also offers offline installers from its website, which are useful if you want a copy that does not depend on the launcher. Which games offer rollback depends on the title, so check the game page.

Friends and activity

Galaxy can bring friends lists from connected platforms into one place. Whether a friend appears depends on their privacy settings on the original platform.

Is Galaxy Right for Your Library?

Organizing a Large Library Without Losing Track

An imported library of several hundred games is only useful if you can find the right one in seconds. A little structure at the beginning saves time later.

• Create tags for how you play, such as co-op, short sessions, controller-friendly or backlog, instead of only genre labels the stores already provide.
• Use the platform filter to see what is installed on each launcher, which helps you notice duplicate copies of the same game you own on two stores.
• Sort by last played to bring current games to the top and hide titles you have abandoned.
• Add manual entries for games installed outside any store, and give them a cover image so they match the rest of the grid.
• Review your list once a month, since new purchases arrive through the integrations automatically.

Performance, Privacy and Storage

Resource use

Galaxy runs as an extra background program, and it works alongside the other launchers rather than instead of them. On a modern gaming PC this is rarely noticeable, but on a machine with limited memory you can close Galaxy before a demanding session, since games launched through it do not require it to stay open after they start. Check the launcher’s settings for a minimize-to-tray option and for startup behavior if you do not want it opening with Windows.

Privacy settings

Galaxy can show your activity and playtime to friends. Review the privacy options in settings and on each connected platform so you only share what you intend. If you stop using an integration, remove it from Galaxy and also revoke the permission from the other platform’s account page.

Where games are installed

Galaxy lets you pick a default install location for GOG games. Choose a drive with enough free space, and remember that games installed by other launchers live in their own folders, which Galaxy only points to. Moving a game between drives usually has to be done through the original launcher’s own tools, so check that launcher’s documentation before relocating files by hand.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Games from another store are missing

Reconnect the integration, confirm the account’s game list is set to public on that platform if required, and wait for the sync to finish. Restarting Galaxy often helps after a platform update.

A game opens the wrong launcher or fails to start

Make sure the original launcher is installed and signed in, and that the game path in Galaxy points to the real install folder. Using the game’s own shortcut once can also fix a stale link.

Playtime or achievements look wrong

Achievement and playtime sync depends on each integration. Treat Galaxy’s numbers as a convenience view, and trust the original store for the official record.

Before You Commit to One Launcher

• List which stores hold the games you play most often.
• Check that each store appears in the current Galaxy integrations list.
• Decide whether you want automatic updates for GOG games.
• Keep the original launchers installed and updated.
• Note which games rely on a store’s overlay or cloud save, since those stay with the store.

Common Mistakes

• Uninstalling the original launchers because Galaxy lists the games, then wondering why they will not start.
• Importing with a private profile and assuming the library is empty.
• Expecting purchases to be transferred between stores, which Galaxy does not do.
• Launching games outside Galaxy and then expecting accurate playtime in it.
• Skipping the integration permission screen without reading what is being shared.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is GOG Galaxy free?

Yes, the launcher itself is free to download and use. You pay only for games you buy, and you can use it to manage libraries from other stores without buying anything from GOG.

Do I need to own games on GOG to use it?

No. A GOG account is required to sign in, but you can use the aggregation features with an empty GOG library.

Will it make my other launchers unnecessary?

No. For most non-GOG games, Galaxy starts the original launcher in the background, so those apps must stay installed. It reduces the number of windows you interact with, not the number of programs on the machine.

Is it safe to connect my accounts?

Integrations use each platform’s sign-in and permission screens, but they are still third-party access to your account data. Enable two-factor authentication, review the permissions each time, and disconnect an integration you no longer use.