GZdoom can't find wad files

[Peppiniello]

Hi, I just installed Gzdoom but I can't get it to run. Here is what I've been trying:

I put wad files in the same directory of gzdoom.exe (->error)
I copied path of wad files in gzdoom.ini IWADSearch (->error)
I copied path of gzdoom.exe in gzdoom.ini IWADSearch (->error)
I drag'n dropped wad file onto gzdoom.exe (->error)

WAD files are fine, I've been using gzdoom for years on another PC (windows 10), am I missing something obvious?

Error is always the same:

OS: Windows 11 (or higher) (NT 10.0) Build 26100

GZDoom version g4.14.2

Execution could not continue.
Cannot find a game IWAD (doom.wad, doom2.wad, heretic.wad, etc.).
Did you install GZDoom properly? You can do either of the following:

1. Place one or more of these wads in the same directory as GZDoom.
2. Edit your gzdoom-username.ini and add the directories of your iwads
to the list beneath [IWADSearch.Directories]

[Kappes Buur]

I'm using gzdoom_portable.ini in the GZDoom directory instead of gzdoom.ini in the Windows dependent setup (whereisini in the console) for easier access to the ini settings.
For example:

---

# This file was generated by GZDoom g4.14.2 on 2025-05-30 13:34:13
# These are the directories to automatically search for IWADs.
# Each directory should be on a separate line, preceded by Path=
[IWADSearch.Directories]
Path=D:\IWADS
Path=$DOOMWADDIR
Path=$HOME
Path=$PROGDIR

# These are the directories to search for wads added with the -file
# command line parameter, if they cannot be found with the path
# as-is. Layout is the same as for IWADSearch.Directories
[FileSearch.Directories]
Path=$PROGDIR
Path=$DOOMWADDIR

# These are the directories to search for soundfonts that let listed in the menu.
# Layout is the same as for IWADSearch.Directories
[SoundfontSearch.Directories]
Path=$PROGDIR/soundfonts
Path=$PROGDIR/fm_banks

# Files to automatically execute when running the corresponding game.
# Each file should be on its own line, preceded by Path=

[Doom.AutoExec]
Path=D:\IWADS/autoexec.cfg

[Heretic.AutoExec]
Path=D:\IWADS/autoexec.cfg

[Hexen.AutoExec]
Path=D:\IWADS/autoexec.cfg

[Strife.AutoExec]
Path=D:\IWADS/autoexec.cfg

[Chex.AutoExec]
Path=$PROGDIR/autoexec.cfg

# WAD files to always load. These are loaded after the IWAD but before
# any files added with -file. Place each file on its own line, preceded
# by Path=
[Global.Autoload]
Path=D:\MAP_ENHANCEMENTS\SmoothDoom_v2\SmoothDoom.pk3
Path=D:\1_PWADS\MODS_DOOM\DarkDoomZ\darkdoomz.pk3

# Wad files to automatically load depending on the game and IWAD you are
# playing. You may have have files that are loaded for all similar IWADs
# (the game) and files that are only loaded for particular IWADs. For example,
# any files listed under 'doom.Autoload' will be loaded for any version of Doom,
# but files listed under 'doom.doom2.Autoload' will only load when you are
# playing a Doom 2 based game (doom2.wad, tnt.wad or plutonia.wad), and files listed under
# 'doom.doom2.commercial.Autoload' only when playing doom2.wad.

[doom.Autoload]

[doom.id.Autoload]

[doom.id.doom2.Autoload]

---> and so on

which served me quite well.

The only thing to look out for is the load order of the files of [Global.Autoload] since the last file loaded will overwrite the earlier file and thus, possibly, eliminate some effects.

To play a specific pwad you can simply drag the pwad file onto either GZDoom.exe or the GZDoom shortcut on the desktop.

I tried setting
Path=$DOOMWADDIR
Path=$HOME
Path=$PROGDIR
to what I thought were the correct folders before, but I did not get the results I was looking for, so I left them as they were.

[Peppiniello]

Thanks for the response, I have no idea why but this worked