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How to Fix the NIL Path Error When a Game Won't Launch

When the usual fixes don’t shift the NIL path error, set the install path and executable by hand

A NIL path error means Junk Store doesn't have an install folder set for the game. Usually a reset, a repair or a reinstall sorts it. Every now and then none of them do, and you'll need to fill in the missing details by hand. Here's how.

What the Error Looks Like

You'll get this either as soon as the install finishes, or when you hit Play:

Something went wrong
Unhandled exception in backend
Default pathname NIL is not an absolute pathname

Junk Store showing Default pathname NIL is not an absolute pathname error

It boils down to one thing: the game's install folder isn't set. The files may well be sitting on your Deck, but Junk Store has no record of where they went or what to run, so it has nothing to launch.

Try the Easy Fixes First

This error turns up for a few different reasons, and most of the time the automated tools clear it without any fuss. Work through these before you go any further:

  1. Reset Launch Options, under sliders menu > Manage
  2. Verify game from the sliders menu
  3. Repair game from the sliders menu
  4. Reinstall the game

Junk Store sliders menu with the Manage submenu open showing Reset Launch Options, Uninstall Game and Delete from Database

Any one of those will often set the install folder and put things right. Start with Reset Launch Options, since it's the quickest and it puts the game's configuration back to default.

If That Doesn't Work

If the error keeps coming back after all of those, none of the automation is getting there and you'll need to sort it yourself. That means telling Junk Store the two things it's missing: where the game is installed, and which executable to launch.

Before you start: The steps below edit the game's entry in the Junk Store database directly, so take your time and only change the fields listed here. Reset Launch Options won't undo a mistake, because it builds the launch options from those same database entries. If you do end up in a mess, use Uninstall Game and then Delete from Database, both under sliders menu > Manage, then refresh your games list and start again from scratch.

Step 1: Set the Install Path

  1. Open Game Details

    On the game's page in Junk Store, select the cog icon.

    Junk Store game page with the cog icon selected

    From the Configuration menu, choose Game Details.

    Junk Store Configuration menu with Game Details selected
  2. Select the Install Path Field

    Scroll down to Install Path. If it says Select directory..., that's your problem right there: Junk Store has no idea where the game is. Select the field to open the file manager in directory picker mode.

    Game Details screen with an empty Install Path field
  3. Find Your Game Folder

    Navigate to wherever the game actually installed. Use the sidebar to jump to your Games folder or your SD card, then work your way down to the game's own folder. With the right folder highlighted, press X to Accept. That drops you back on the Game Details screen with the path filled in.

    Select Directory picker with the game folder highlighted and the X to Accept prompt
  4. Save It

    Press X again to Save Config. Don't skip this one. If you back out without saving, the path is gone and you'll be doing it all again.

    Game Details screen showing the Install Path filled in and the X to Save Config prompt

Step 2: Find Out Which Executable to Run

Most games ship with a pile of executables, and only one of them is the game. Rather than guess, have a look at the file the storefront leaves behind that lists the launch task.

  1. Open the File Manager

    Back on the game page, open the sliders menu and choose File Manager. It opens in the game's directory.

    Junk Store game page with the sliders menu button selected Junk Store Actions menu with File Manager selected
  2. Open the Game's Info File

    For a GOG game, look for goggame-<gameid>.info in the top level of the game folder and press X to open it. There'll be a few files with that same goggame- prefix. You want the .info one.

    Junk Store File Manager showing the game folder with the goggame info file selected
  3. Look for the Path

    Scroll down to the playTasks section. The "path" value is the executable Junk Store needs to run. In this example it's hs-friendsim.exe. Make a note of it.

    goggame info file open in Junk Store showing the playTasks path value
No info file? Not every storefront leaves one behind. If you can't find one, you can usually pick the right executable by name in the next step. It's normally the one named after the game and sitting in the top level of the game folder. Give the launcher, installer, vcredist, python and anything tucked away in a lib or redist folder a miss.

Step 3: Set the Game Executable

  1. Open Run exe in Game Folder

    Open the sliders menu again and select Run exe in Game folder.

    Junk Store Actions menu with Run exe in Game folder selected
  2. Pick Your Executable and Save It

    Find the executable you noted down in Step 2 and press X to Set Game Executable. Pressing A only runs it the once, which isn't what you want here. You want it saved so the Play button uses it every time.

    Select executable to run list with the game exe highlighted and the X to Set Game Executable prompt

Step 4: Force a Compatibility Tool

Because the install never registered properly, the game won't have a compatibility tool set either. You'll need to sort that out yourself.

  1. Jump to the Steam Game Page

    Press Y on the game's page in Junk Store to open its Steam page, then select the cog icon.

    Steam game page for the title with the cog icon selected
  2. Open Properties

    Choose Properties... from the menu.

    Steam game menu with Properties selected
  3. Tick Force Compatibility

    Go to Compatibility, tick Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool, and pick the version you want from the list.

    Steam Compatibility settings with Force compatibility ticked and GE-Proton selected
Heads up: There's a long-standing bug in Steam where the compatibility tool doesn't stick the first time. If your selection doesn't look like it took, just set it again. It's been that way for months and it's on Valve's side, not ours.
Not sure which version to pick? GE-Proton tends to be the safest bet for non-Steam games. See How to Change Proton Version in Junk Store.

Hit Play

That's the lot. Head back to the game's page in Junk Store and press Play Game. It should launch straight into the game.

The game launching successfully to its title screen on Steam Deck

Still not launching? Double check the Install Path actually saved, and that the executable you picked is the game itself rather than a launcher or a setup file. If it's still playing up, come and see us on Discord and we'll give you a hand.

Stuck or need help?

Most issues are quick to sort out. Here's where to start.

Still stuck? Open a support ticket right in the Support Portal

For game-specific issues, feedback, or just a chat, you'll find us on:

Discord Reddit Lemmy