# March 3, 2026

***

## Desktop Launcher

### Executable Format Support: .exe, .bat, .cmd

{% hint style="success" %}
**NEW FEATURE:** The desktop launcher now supports launching `.exe`, `.bat`, and `.cmd` executables. Configurable directly from the Dashboard!
{% endhint %}

<div data-full-width="true"><figure><img src="/files/MnEiTPk6UaJKgZY3nQXq" alt=""><figcaption><p>NEW - App Platform Settings - Executable extension dropdown</p></figcaption></figure></div>

Game executables are no longer limited to `.exe` files. You can now configure `.bat` and `.cmd` files as your game's primary or secondary executable in the Dashboard, and the desktop launcher will handle them correctly.

**Supported formats:**

| Format | Description                 |
| ------ | --------------------------- |
| `.exe` | Standard Windows executable |
| `.bat` | Windows batch script        |
| `.cmd` | Windows command script      |

***

### Possible Previous Install Locations

{% hint style="success" %}
**NEW FEATURE:** The launcher now searches known locations to automatically detect previous game installations — saving players from re-downloading!\
\&#xNAN;*Very useful for old launcher migrations to Game Launcher Cloud!*
{% endhint %}

<div data-full-width="true"><figure><img src="/files/QZXQArcQRXxExukQkR0t" alt=""><figcaption><p>NEW - App Advanced Settings - Possible Previous Install Locations</p></figcaption></figure></div>

When a player opens the launcher and no local installation is found, the launcher will now search a list of **possible previous install locations** to try to locate an existing game installation. If found, the launcher links to the existing files instead of requiring a manual locate or full re-download / installation.

**How it works:**

1. Configure possible install locations in **App Advanced Settings** on the Dashboard
2. When the launcher starts and no installation is detected in the current app, it searches the configured paths for the app
3. If a valid installation is found at any of the configured locations, the launcher uses it automatically as the installation path
4. Launcher verifies the files, if everything is up to date, can launch the game immediately

**Key details:**

| Aspect             | Detail                                                                            |
| ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Configuration      | Set from **App Advanced Settings** in the Dashboard                               |
| Search behavior    | Launcher checks each configured path sequentially                                 |
| Fallback           | If no previous install is found, the user has to locate the installation manually |
| Multiple locations | Support for multiple paths — useful for games previously on other drives          |

**How to test it:**

1. Close the **Desktop Launcher**
2. Press **WIN + R** and type **`%LOCALAPPDATA%\GameLauncher\Settings`**
3. Delete the **`apps.json`** file
4. Open the launcher again

If the launcher automatically detects the installation, the path you configured is working!

***

### Fixed — Launcher Failing to Start .exe Executables (Converted from .bat)

{% hint style="warning" %}
**BUG FIX:** The launcher now correctly opens and executes game files that were originally `.bat` files configured as executables.
{% endhint %}

An issue was discovered where the configured executable was actually a `.bat` file, causing a startup error (`Launch failed`) when the launcher attempted to run it. This has been fixed — the launcher now properly handles and starts the configured file regardless of its original format.

***

### Fixed — Hidden Environments with Access Keys Not Appearing

{% hint style="warning" %}
**BUG FIX:** Hidden environments that require an access key are now correctly displayed after entering the correct key.
{% endhint %}

Previously, even after entering the correct access key, the environment did not appear in the desktop launcher environment dropdown on some PCs. This behavior has been fixed and valid environments are now shown as expected.

***

### Fixed — Incorrect Installation Path Resolution

{% hint style="warning" %}
**BUG FIX:** The launcher now correctly respects the installation folder selected by the user.
{% endhint %}

Previously, if a user chose a custom directory such as `C:\Game`, the launcher incorrectly searched for the game inside `C:\Game\Production`. This has been fixed so the launcher uses exactly the path selected by the user without appending unintended subfolders.

***

{% hint style="info" %}
**Need Help?** Check out our [Help Center](https://help.gamelauncher.cloud/) or join our [Discord Community](https://discord.gamelauncher.cloud)!
{% endhint %}


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