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Support for Windows Shortcuts in “Scan for Added ROMs

LaunchBox for Windows

Overview

Currently, the Scan for Added ROMs function in LaunchBox is specifically designed for ROM files. When users import Windows shortcuts using the Scan for added ROMs function, the system treats them as ROMs, enabling the Use Emulator checkbox by default

Proposed Enhancement

Modify the Scan for Added ROMs function to recognize Windows shortcuts correctly when:

• The game platform is set to Windows.

When scanning for new shortcuts, LaunchBox should:

1. Detect shortcuts as Windows applications, not ROMs.

2. Ensure the “Use Emulator” checkbox remains unchecked for new Windows shortcuts.

3. Allow users to continue adding new shortcuts to the same folder without needing manual corrections.

Expected Behavior

1. Initial Import:

• Users import Windows shortcuts via Tools > Import > ROM Files, selecting Windows as the platform and leaving the emulator field blank.

• Shortcuts are correctly categorized as Windows applications, with Use Emulator disabled.

2. Adding New Shortcuts:

• Users add more shortcuts to the same folder where their Windows games are stored.

• Running Scan for Added ROMs correctly detects the new shortcuts as Windows applications
• Running Scan for Removed ROMs correctly removes the new shortcuts as Windows applications

• The system does not automatically enable the Use Emulator checkbox for these new entries.

Potential Implementation Considerations

• Adjust the Scan for Added ROMs logic to detect Windows shortcuts and respect the platform settings from the initial import.

• Ensure the Use Emulator setting remains disabled when new Windows shortcuts are detected.

Posted by AstroBob ·
Status: Completed4 comments

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Comments4

  • AstroBob

    Team•

    Jul 11, 2025

    Hi Folks, with the release of 13.22 this feature is now supported. Thanks for bearing with us there. Let us know if anyone is still experiencing issues with this.

  • Lucoshi

    •

    May 31, 2025

    how about make shortcuts?

  • tampoon

    •

    Apr 20, 2025

    like the idea. make some things smarter for sure. also maybe to be able to assign watch folders per platform let it auto detect when games are added or removed and sync that back to launchbox using predefined settings per platform

  • tastyratz

    •

    Mar 9, 2025

    I actually came here to request something similar and inline. I really wanted drag and drop Lnk support to add the games with the shortcut details, not add the game as a file to the shortcut. Instead of just dragging all my desktop shortcuts to my games into launchbox to add them to windows (easy) I have to go to each folder and drag the exe onto launchbox instead 1 by 1 (pain).

    Also, the game EXE does not always match the game name so I have to manually type it. If LB used pathing folder names as alt titles when trying to match against the lb database that would make it easier since the folder name or a parent 1 or 2 levels up for the exe is likely the actual game name.

    I also don’t see the point of the part of the prompt to use the files there or relocate them to the LB folder for a windows game exe file which is potentially breaking.

    Manually adding windows games individually is still a bit of a chore with lb.