Guides / Unreal Engine / Unreal Engine Basics: Interface and Projects

Unreal Engine Basics: Interface and Projects

This chapter walks you through the Unreal Engine interface and creating your first project. By the end, you will know where the main panels are and how to open and run a project.

What You Will Learn

How to install Unreal Engine (Epic Games Launcher)
The main editor windows and what they do
How to create and open a project
How to run your level in the editor

Time: About 5–10 minutes.

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Installing Unreal Engine

Unreal Engine is installed and updated through the Epic Games Launcher.

Step 1: Install the Epic Games Launcher

Go to <a href="https://www.unrealengine.com">unrealengine.com</a> and click Download.
Create or sign in with your Epic Games account.
Download and run the Epic Games Launcher installer.
Finish the installer and open the launcher.

Step 2: Install the Engine

In the launcher, open the Unreal Engine tab.
Click Install Engine (or Add Version if you want a specific version).
Choose a version (e.g. 5.4 or latest). For learning, the default options are fine.
Click Install and wait for the download and installation to complete.

Pro Tip: Install the engine to a drive with plenty of free space; projects and the engine can use many gigabytes.

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The Unreal Editor Interface

When you open a project, the Unreal Editor opens. These are the main areas you will use every day.

Viewport (Center)

The Viewport is the main 3D view of your level. You can:

Orbit: Hold Alt + Left Mouse and drag.
Pan: Hold Alt + Middle Mouse (or Alt + Right Mouse) and drag.
Zoom: Scroll the mouse wheel.
Move in the scene: Use W, A, S, D and Q/E for up/down (in Fly mode).

This is where you place and move actors (lights, meshes, Blueprints, etc.).

World Outliner (Right Side)

The World Outliner lists every actor in the current level. You can:

Select an actor by clicking its name.
Search and filter the list.
Organize actors into folders.

Use it to find and select objects when the viewport is busy.

Details Panel (Right Side)

When you select an actor, the Details panel shows its properties. You can change:

Transform (location, rotation, scale)
Rendering options
Physics and collision
Any Blueprint or component settings

Changes here apply immediately in the viewport.

Content Drawer / Content Browser (Bottom)

The Content Browser (often at the bottom) is where your project’s assets live: meshes, materials, Blueprints, levels, and so on. You can:

Browse folders.
Drag assets into the viewport to place them in the level.
Right-click to create new assets (materials, Blueprints, etc.).

Common mistake: Putting assets in the wrong folder. Use a clear folder structure (e.g. Meshes, Materials, Blueprints) from the start.

Toolbar (Top)

The Toolbar at the top includes:

Play – Run the level in the editor (PIE).
Build – Build lighting and other data.
Save – Save the current level and assets.
Source Control – If you use version control.

You will use Play and Save constantly.

Mode Panel (Left)

The Mode panel (often on the left) lets you switch between:

Select – Select and move actors.
Landscape – Edit terrain.
Foliage – Paint foliage.
Geometry – BSP and simple geometry.

For your first level, Select mode is enough.

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Creating Your First Project

Step 1: New Project

In the Epic Games Launcher, open Unreal Engine and click Launch for your installed version (or use Library and then Launch on a project).
In the Unreal Project Manager, click New Project.
Choose the Games category and a template. For learning, Third Person or Blank is a good start.
Set Project Location and Project Name (e.g. <code>MyFirstProject</code>).
Click Create. The editor will open with your new project.

Step 2: Understand the Default Level

You start in a level (often named something like <code>Default</code> or <code>Level</code>). This is a single map that can contain your gameplay, lights, and Blueprints.
The World Outliner will show the default actors (e.g. Player Start, light, floor).
The Content Browser will show the project’s asset folders.

Step 3: Save Your Project

File > Save All (or Ctrl+Shift+S) to save every open asset and the level.
Save often; the editor can recover from crashes, but saving avoids losing work.

Pro Tip: Use File > Save Current Level As to duplicate a level (e.g. for backup or a new variant).

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Running Your Level (Play in Editor)

To see your level as the player would:

Click Play on the toolbar (or press Alt+P).
The viewport switches to the game view. You move with WASD and the mouse (depending on the template).
Click Stop (or press Escape) to exit Play and return to editing.

This is Play in Editor (PIE). Changes you make in the editor are not saved when you stop; only when you save the level and assets.

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Troubleshooting

Editor is slow or unresponsive

Close other heavy applications.
In Edit > Editor Preferences, consider reducing viewport quality or disabling unneeded plugins for large projects.

Play button does nothing or level is black

Ensure there is a Player Start in the level (check World Outliner).
Check that the level has a Directional Light (or other light) so the scene is not fully dark.

Project won’t open

Make sure you open it from the Epic Games Launcher or by double-clicking the <code>.uproject</code> file. Do not open the executable inside the engine folder directly.

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Summary

Unreal Engine is installed via the Epic Games Launcher.
The Viewport, World Outliner, Details panel, and Content Browser are the core of the editor.
Create a new Games project from the launcher and save often.
Use Play to run the level in the editor.

In the next chapter, you will use Blueprint Visual Scripting to add simple game logic without writing code.