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You can back up GOG games without installing GOG GALAXY: while online, sign in to your GOG account in a browser, open a game in your library, choose DOWNLOAD OFFLINE BACKUP GAME INSTALLERS, and save every setup file the game requires. Keep the complete set somewhere safe. Later, run its installer on the computer where you want to play, then launch the installed game from its folder. This supports offline installation and local play, but does not make every online feature work without a connection.
What do you need before starting?
Prepare while you have an internet connection and can sign in to the account that owns the game. You will need enough storage for the full installer set, plus any separate DLC installers or extras you want to keep. The exact files and choices depend on the individual game; its GOG library page shows what is available.
- Your GOG account: use the account that has the game in its library.
- A destination computer in mind: choose the operating system and language that match it when those options are offered.
- Storage for every required file: check the displayed downloads and their sizes before choosing a backup destination.
- A second copy location: keeping another copy on separate physical storage reduces the chance that one lost or damaged device takes out the only backup. GOG does not mandate a particular drive or storage device.
The offline-installer route is GOG’s documented way to install games without its app. GALAXY is optional for this route, not a prerequisite.
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Also consider the computer where you intend to play. Installer choices can include operating system, language and version; those options are not necessarily the same for every title. If you expect to install on more than one kind of computer, check what the game page offers and plan which sets you need to preserve. The available information is specific to each game, so a library-wide assumption is not a substitute for checking the individual listing.
How do I download all parts of a GOG offline installer?
Download the complete group of setup files shown for the game. A large game may have multiple parts, so saving only the main-looking installer can leave you without everything needed to install it.
- Sign in in a browser. Open GOG and sign in to the account that owns the game.
- Open the game in your library. Select the game whose installer you want to preserve.
- Choose the offline installer option. Click DOWNLOAD OFFLINE BACKUP GAME INSTALLERS. GOG Support describes this as installing games without the app.
- Choose the appropriate options. If the page offers choices, select the version, operating system and language for the computer where you plan to install the game.
- Download every necessary setup file. Check the entire list, not just the first or largest-looking download, and let each download finish.
- Keep the files together. Put the parts for one game in a clearly named folder, with the version information if available. Avoid mixing installer parts from different games or versions.
GOG’s instruction is to download all necessary setup files. The game’s page determines which files that means for that specific title. If you are unsure whether a listed download is part of the installer set, check the game’s page rather than assuming the primary executable is enough.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsDo not treat the first file in a list as the whole backup just because it looks like the main installer. Some games present multiple setup files as parts of one set; the practical test is whether you have downloaded all the necessary setup files shown for that game. Keep the parts together when you copy or move them, and do not combine files from different titles or versions into a single unlabeled folder. If you are downloading multiple games, finish the folder for one game before moving on or clearly label each set as it is saved.
Where the page offers a version choice, note the version you selected or retain the version information displayed with the download. An installer is a snapshot of a particular build, not a promise that it will always match the latest release. This makes the folder easier to identify later and helps you notice when you are using an older saved set.
Should I download DLC and extras separately?
Yes, if you want to preserve them: check for separate DLC setup applications and download them in addition to the base game files. Extras such as manuals, artbooks and soundtracks are also separate downloads when offered.
DLC
Some games list DLC with separate setup applications below the main offline installers. GOG instructs users to download and run these separately. Do not assume that installing the base game automatically installs every DLC item; check the particular game’s page and save the relevant DLC setup files alongside the game’s backup, clearly labeled.
Think of a separately listed DLC setup application as an additional item in your archive, not as a file you can safely ignore if you want that DLC available offline later. During installation, run its own setup application after installing the base game, if you want the content and the title provides a separate installer. Availability and organization differ by game, so inspect the page instead of assuming every title has DLC or handles it the same way.
Extras
Look for the game’s extras if you want to preserve bonus material such as a manual, artbook or soundtrack. These are not a substitute for the game installer, and you do not need to download extras you do not want. Availability varies by title.
Extras can be included in the same organized game folder or in a clearly labeled subfolder. Keep them separate enough that you can distinguish bonus downloads from the files needed to install the game. If you are short on storage, prioritize the complete game installer and any DLC you want; only add optional extras you actually wish to retain.
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How should I organize and store the backup?
Keep each game’s full installer set together, make a second copy on separate physical storage, and check the actual file sizes before deciding how much space you need. These are practical backup recommendations, not a GOG requirement or a guarantee about any particular device.
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- Copy the complete set. Include every base-game installer part, any separate DLC setup files you intend to keep, and any extras you chose to preserve.
- Make a second physical copy. An external backup drive is one option; another storage device can also work if it holds the complete set. Keep the second copy separate from the first, rather than relying on two folders on the same device.
- Check the copy. Confirm the files are present at the destination and that the copied set is complete. If practical, install the game before disconnecting from the internet so a missing or damaged download can be replaced while you still have access.
There is no universal storage-capacity figure for a GOG library: the amount depends on the games, versions, DLC and extras you choose. Add up the displayed file sizes for the material you intend to keep, then allow room for the complete collection rather than estimating from the number of games.
When choosing a destination, weigh capacity against portability and separation. A portable external drive, USB flash drive or another storage device can serve as the second copy if it holds the complete installer set. The important point is not a particular product type or brand: it is that the files fit and that the backup is stored separately from the primary copy. A second folder on the same device is convenient organization, but it is not a separate physical backup.
There is no researched universal price, capacity or speed recommendation for this task. Check the actual total size of your chosen downloads and compare it with the capacity of the storage you already have or are considering. If you maintain a large library, calculate the space needed for the full collection, including the DLC and extras you decide to preserve, rather than relying on a generic per-game estimate.
GOG encourages users to safeguard their offline installers, but it does not require a specific backup device. Keeping a second copy is a sensible precaution because it avoids relying on one storage location alone. It is still worth reviewing the folders occasionally: a clearly named set is easier to identify, and an older installer should not be mistaken for the latest build if you later update your archive.
How do I install and play the game offline?
Move or access the complete installer set on the destination computer, install the game, and launch its local executable. GALAXY is not required for GOG’s documented offline-installer route.
- Transfer the complete folder to the computer where you intend to install the game, or connect the storage holding it.
- Run the installer application from the saved set and follow its installation prompts.
- Install any separately downloaded DLC using its own setup application, if the game provides one and you want that content.
- Open the installed game directory after installation and launch the game’s executable.
That process is for local installation and launching. It does not guarantee that every feature of a particular game can be used offline: online multiplayer, matchmaking and cloud-save synchronization rely on connected services. A game may also have other game-specific online dependencies, so check the individual title’s requirements if a particular feature matters to you.
If the goal is to travel or use a computer that will not be connected, do the download and transfer preparation in advance. Confirm that the full installer set is on the destination computer or accessible storage, and, when practical, test an installation before you lose the opportunity to replace a file. The documented steps are to run the installer application and then launch the executable in the installed game directory; they do not require opening GALAXY for the installation route.
Be precise about what “play offline” means. The saved installer lets you install local game files without relying on GALAXY’s installer workflow. It does not turn online multiplayer into local multiplayer, make matchmaking available without a connection, or synchronize cloud saves while disconnected. Whether the single-player or other local parts of a specific game work offline depends on that title; do not infer that every feature has the same requirements just because the installer itself is available offline.
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Do I need GOG GALAXY, and what does it add?
No. You can use browser-downloaded offline installers without GALAXY. The app is a separate, managed route that can be useful for updates, cloud saves and supported connected features.
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| Route | App required? | Keep setup files independently? | Updates | Cloud saves and connected features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browser-downloaded offline installers | No; download from the GOG library in a browser. | Yes; retain the installer files you downloaded. | Downloaded installers represent a particular build; get a later installer when one is available. | Does not provide GALAXY cloud synchronization or connected services by itself. |
| GALAXY-managed installation | Yes, for this route. | The offline-installer backup is a separate download route; do not assume a managed installation folder is a preserved installer set. | GALAXY is useful for managing updates. | Provides cloud-save synchronization and supported online features through its connected workflow. |
The choice is not all-or-nothing. You can use GALAXY for its management features and still keep separate offline installers as a backup. Conversely, if your priority is installing from files without the app, the browser route is the one GOG documents for that purpose.
The main difference is what you want to manage. With offline installers, you choose and retain the setup files yourself, and the files remain a separate archive you can copy to other storage. With GALAXY, the app manages its installation workflow and is useful for updates and supported connected features. These routes are complementary rather than mutually exclusive: using the app does not mean you cannot also download and keep installers, and keeping installers does not provide the app’s cloud-save synchronization or online services.
For version control, the offline route puts the saved build in your hands, but you need to check whether a newer offline installer has appeared when you want to update your archive. GALAXY is useful when you want app-managed updates. Neither route makes every online feature available offline, and an offline backup does not itself copy your saved progress.
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Do offline installers back up saves too?
No. The installer files preserve the ability to install the game; they are not save-game archives. If your progress matters, locate that game’s local save files and back them up separately.
There is no universal save location to give here: locations vary by game. GOG describes cloud synchronization as a GALAXY feature and notes that its automatic implementation is not possible for every game. Do not assume that keeping an offline installer, or having GALAXY installed, means your saves are safely copied; check the save instructions for the specific title.
Keep saves in your backup plan as a separate category. A complete installer folder can restore the game files, but it does not restore progress by itself. Look up the save location or save-backup instructions for the particular game, then copy those files separately if you want to preserve a playthrough. Do not rely on a single save path for every title, and do not treat cloud synchronization as a universal substitute: GOG notes that automatic cloud-save implementation is not possible for every game.
Why might the offline installer be behind the latest update?
A newly published game build may not appear immediately in the offline installer list. GOG’s developer documentation says post-launch offline installers are generated after a build is published and can take several hours to appear.
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Compare the version shown for the game with the version you expect, then check the library page again later if the offline files have not caught up. Do not treat a short delay as proof that the update will never be offered, or assume that the installer is current just because it is downloadable.
This is a reason to distinguish “a downloadable installer exists” from “the installer contains the newest published build.” If an update has just appeared, note the version currently listed and check again after some time; GOG says the offline installer generation can take several hours. The timing is not a guarantee that every update will be present at a particular hour, so verify the game’s current listing before replacing or labeling an older archived set as current.
What should I check if a download or installation fails?
Start by checking whether the complete set downloaded and copied. GOG recommends using a download manager with queue, pause and resume functions if browser downloads repeatedly become corrupted.
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A setup file is missing
Return to the game’s library page and compare the files saved on your device with the full list of necessary setup files. Download any missing parts before trying again. If the game has separately listed DLC setup applications, those are not necessarily included in the base-game installer.
A download appears corrupted
Try downloading the affected file again. If browser downloads repeatedly corrupt, GOG recommends a download manager that supports queueing, pausing and resuming downloads. Once the files are complete, check the copied set before disconnecting so you have a chance to replace a damaged download.
The installer runs, but the game will not work offline
Separate an installation problem from an online-feature limitation. The offline installer is for installing local game files; it does not make multiplayer, matchmaking, cloud synchronization or other connected features available without a connection. Check the particular game’s requirements if its local launch depends on something beyond installation.
The installed game is not the latest version
Check the installer’s displayed version and the game’s library listing. A recently published build can take several hours to appear as an offline installer, so check again later before concluding that the version is unavailable.
Before disconnecting, use a simple checklist: the game folder contains every necessary setup file, any DLC you want has its own setup file if listed separately, and the copied backup includes the same intended files. If you can, test the installation while you still have browser access and can replace an incomplete or corrupt download. This is a practical safeguard, not a promise that every game or device has been tested.
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Do not treat a backup as permission to redistribute the files or as an unlimited ownership claim. An older GOG user-agreement PDF describes a personal license, but that document says it was last updated December 5, 2014; its wording should not be presented as the current legal terms. Consult GOG’s current agreement for the terms that apply to your account.
Frequently asked questions
Can I download offline installers for every game in my GOG library?
Availability and choices are game-specific. Check the individual game’s library page to see whether offline installers are listed and which operating systems, languages or versions are offered.
Can I install a GOG game directly from a USB drive?
If the drive contains the complete installer set, you can access the installer from that storage and run it on the destination computer. Keep the separate backup copy intact while installing so you do not accidentally lose your only preserved set.
Do offline installers include DLC automatically?
Not always. Some games list DLC as separate setup applications, so inspect the title’s page and download those separately when you want to preserve and install them.
Can I play a GOG game offline without GALAXY?
Yes, GOG documents a browser-download route for installing games without its app. Download the complete installer set while signed in, install locally, and launch the game executable. This does not guarantee that online multiplayer, matchmaking, cloud saves or every game-specific feature will work offline.
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Do I need to back up save files separately?
Yes, if you want to preserve progress. Installers are not save archives, save locations vary by game, and cloud synchronization is a separate GALAXY feature that is not automatically available for every title.
Why is my offline installer older than the latest update?
GOG says post-launch offline installers are generated after a build is published and can take several hours to appear. Compare the listed version and check the game page again later.
How much storage do I need?
There is no single capacity figure for every library. Add the displayed sizes of the games, DLC and extras you plan to keep, then choose storage that can hold the complete set and any second copy you want to make.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download offline installers for every game in my GOG library?
Availability and choices are game-specific. Check the individual game’s library page to see whether offline installers are listed and which operating systems, languages or versions are offered.
Can I install a GOG game directly from a USB drive?
If the drive contains the complete installer set, you can access the installer from that storage and run it on the destination computer. Keep the separate backup copy intact while installing so you do not accidentally lose your only preserved set.
Do offline installers include DLC automatically?
Not always. Some games list DLC as separate setup applications, so inspect the title’s page and download those separately when you want to preserve and install them.
Can I play a GOG game offline without GALAXY?
Yes. GOG documents a browser-download route for installing games without its app. This supports local installation and launching, but does not guarantee online multiplayer, matchmaking, cloud saves or every game-specific feature will work offline.
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Yes, if you want to preserve progress. Installers are not save archives, save locations vary by game, and cloud synchronization is a separate GALAXY feature that is not automatically available for every title.
Why is my offline installer older than the latest update?
GOG says post-launch offline installers are generated after a build is published and can take several hours to appear. Compare the listed version and check the game page again later.
How much storage do I need?
There is no single capacity figure for every library. Add the displayed sizes of the games, DLC and extras you plan to keep, then choose storage that can hold the complete set and any second copy you want to make.
The Bottom Line
While online, sign in to GOG in a browser, download every necessary offline setup file for each game, and save any separate DLC or extras you want. Keep the complete sets organized and, if possible, make a second copy on separate physical storage. Then install from the saved files and launch the local executable without GALAXY. Back up saves separately, and remember that connected features such as multiplayer, matchmaking and cloud synchronization still depend on their online services.
