Get started on Windows

Your first library in four steps.

You need a Windows PC, a source for your games, and a supported frontend plugin. Start with one source; add more when you are ready.

Download MGA

Choose the latest release asset ending in windows-amd64-installer.exe. You do not need to build the source or install a separate MGA Client.

1 · Install

Pick the right setup.

  1. Download the Windows installer from the official release page.
  2. Run setup and choose For me only for a single-PC setup. It runs when you sign in and is local-only by default.
  3. For a household server used by other devices, choose All users. This installs a service, requires Windows administrator approval and allows trusted-LAN access by default.
  4. Start MGA when setup finishes.

2 · Set up your profile

Open your home library.

  1. On the server PC, open http://127.0.0.1:8900.
  2. Follow the first-profile setup shown by your installed version. Set your own password. If a fresh installation shows the initial administrator password changeme, replace it immediately when prompted.
  3. Add other profiles if you share the server. Give each person their own source connections.

3 · Add one source

Bring in your games.

  1. Open Sources and add a supported store or storage connection.
  2. Follow that connection's setup instructions. For folders, give MGA access only to the game folders you want it to scan.
  3. Run a scan and check Library. Review matches, copies and artwork before importing into your frontend.

Some providers need credentials or API keys and have their own restrictions. MGA does not supply games, paid licenses or DRM bypasses.

4 · Connect your launcher

Play where you already play.

Playnite

  1. Download the .pext from the MGA plugin release and install it in Playnite.
  2. Follow the plugin's connection instructions using your MGA server address and profile.
  3. Update your library in Playnite.

Official add-on catalog approval is separate from the public plugin download.

LaunchBox preview

A preview adapter supports metadata, artwork, library sync and authorized downloads. It is not yet a public managed-plugin release.

If you already have the preview: close LaunchBox before replacing its DLL. Then open Tools → MyGamesAnywhere settings…, find your profile, sign in, save, and use Sync MyGamesAnywhere library. Native storefront scanning is not integrated yet.

Frontend plugins need MGA 0.2.22 or newer for profile-password sign-in. Archives and ROMs may need manual extraction or emulator configuration in the frontend. Early plugins are not automatic version updaters; read their download limitations before using existing game folders.

Portable setup, backups and safety

Try without installing

Download the windows-amd64-portable.zip, extract it to a writable folder, and run Start MGA.cmd. Keep its data with the extracted folder.

Back up your library

Normal user installs keep data under %LOCALAPPDATA%\MyGamesAnywhere; all-users installs use %ProgramData%\MyGamesAnywhere. Protect backups: they can include accounts and credentials. Stop the server before copying its live database files.

Keep it on your trusted network

Do not expose port 8900 directly to the internet. Plain HTTP does not protect credentials from other network observers; use only a network you trust. Browser access on a phone is for management, not playing.