Create at least one File action and select an existing executable. If Working Directory is blank, ML-Maid uses the executable's directory. After launch, the button reads Playing and prevents a duplicate launch until monitoring ends.

Monitoring modes

Mode	Behavior	Best use
File	Waits only for the directly launched process	The game executable remains alive
Folder	Watches executable processes inside the working directory	Recommended for most visual novels
Process	Matches configured process names	The real game process runs elsewhere

A directly launched process that runs for at least 10 seconds becomes a valid session. If it exits earlier, ML-Maid treats it as a launcher, waits 5 seconds, discovers the real process according to the selected mode, and polls every 3 seconds. Missing targets do not add playtime. Monitoring stops after 12 hours. A valid session updates total playtime, last played, and statistics.

Japanese locale modes

• Off: start the executable directly.
• Locale Emulator: run LEProc.exe <game.exe>, suitable for older Japanese engines.
• Basic: set LANG and LC_ALL to ja_JP.UTF-8; this only helps software that reads those variables.

Before using Locale Emulator, detect or browse to LEProc.exe under Settings → Launcher. An invalid path fails before a session is created.

Contributors: Kurosu-Ti01

Previous pageManaging the Library

Next pageStatistics, Settings, and Troubleshooting