Forced to redownload the whole game after accidentally clicking the normal launcher instead of Steam

[DestroBlitz 0]

So I want to play WT today and I accidentally clicked the launcher button on my desktop which launched the normal launcher instead of launching it through steam. I was forced to redownload, and then when I tried to launch through steam it said that the Settings.json file under EasyAntiCheat was missing. I tried to reinstall EasyAntiCheat but it didn't work. I tried to verify game files through steam and now I'm forced to redownload the whole game, now through steam. Knowing my internet capabilities, I don't think I can wait for an entire week to download a game I already have. How do I solve this?

[Stona_WT 72,761]

1 hour ago, DestroBlitz said:

So I want to play WT today and I accidentally clicked the launcher button on my desktop which launched the normal launcher instead of launching it through steam. I was forced to redownload, and then when I tried to launch through steam it said that the Settings.json file under EasyAntiCheat was missing. I tried to reinstall EasyAntiCheat but it didn't work. I tried to verify game files through steam and now I'm forced to redownload the whole game, now through steam. Knowing my internet capabilities, I don't think I can wait for an entire week to download a game I already have. How do I solve this?

You do not need to re-download game. Simply allow it to create War Thunder steam directory and then copy your original WT into it. Steam will check files, download missing one and you will be ready to go.

[DestroBlitz 0]

2 hours ago, Stona said:

You do not need to re-download game. Simply allow it to create War Thunder steam directory and then copy your original WT into it. Steam will check files, download missing one and you will be ready to go.

I copied my WT files into the download folder where it was downloading and Steam didn't do anything and continued to download the whole game.

[Intlon 0]

Having the exact same issue going on for a few weeks. Dont know why this is happening, and I think it may have been introduced in the sky guardians update or something. The solution Stona suggested does not work, neither does changing the file name, like in this old situation:

1. Go to Steam library, where War Thunder is installed (right click on War Thunder on Steam, select Manage, then Browse local files
2. Rename War Thunder folder to something else (e.g. War Thunder.old)
3. Uninstall War Thunder from Steam library: right click on War Thunder on Steam, select Manage, then Uninstall
4. After uninstalling, rename the WT folder back (e.g. from War Thunder.old to War Thunder)
5. Install War Thunder on the same disk it was installed on, Steam will discover existing files and only download missing ones, if any

Overall, im just confused on what to do.