Automatically Remove Missing Games
š Summary
Add an option in LaunchBox for Windows to automatically remove games from the library when their associated files no longer exist on disk
ā Problem
Currently on Windows:
LaunchBox can scan for missing ROMs, but this requires manual action
Libraries do not update automatically when files are removed or reorganized
Users maintaining collections at the file system level must repeatedly rescan and clean up
For large or frequently changing collections, manual cleanup becomes tedious.
š” Proposal
Introduce an automatic missing file cleanup option:
Periodically or on startup, LaunchBox checks whether linked game files still exist
Games with missing files are automatically removed from the library
Optional settings:
Enable or disable automatic removal
Prompt before removal
Restrict to specific platforms or folders
š¦ Benefits
Keeps libraries in sync with the file system automatically
Reduces manual maintenance for large collections
Supports workflows where ROMs are frequently added or removed
š” Notes
Should reuse existing āscan for missing ROMsā logic
Default behavior should remain manual to avoid surprises
Clear messaging is needed when games are removed automatically

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Comments2
Feb 1
PinnedHi there!
Thanks so much for submitting this request and for taking the time to explain your use case ā that context is always super helpful.
Iāve gone ahead and fleshed out the main idea using the info you provided, and Iām opening it up to the community for further discussion and feedback. Please let me know if this fleshed-out version doesnāt match your original intended request.
Feel free to let me know if you have any extra thoughts, examples, or edge cases you think might be relevant!
Cheers,
The LaunchBox team
fursphere
Feb 1
Auto-Remote Titles from LB when game no longer exists
This was recently added to Launchbox for Android, not sure why its been left out of the Windows version.
This allows collections to be maintained at the file level, with LB updating as needed.