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

Unreal Engine Basics: Interface and Projects

This chapter walks you through installing Unreal Engine, picking a sensible first project, and learning the editor layout you will use every day. By the end, you can open a project, find assets, place actors, save safely, and run Play in Editor (PIE).

What You Will Learn

How to install and update Unreal Engine through the Epic Games Launcher
The main editor panels (viewport, outliner, details, content, toolbar)
How to create a Games project and understand the default level
Where to set a few project-level options that prevent surprises later
How to run and stop 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 Unreal Engine 5.x build that matches tutorials you follow (newer is fine; just stay consistent across a course or book).
Leave Starter Content available when you install; you can still skip it per project.
Click Install and wait for the download and installation to complete.

Pro Tip: Install the engine to a drive with plenty of free space. Engine installs, derived data cache, and projects can consume 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.
Fly: Use W, A, S, D and Q/E for up/down when the viewport has focus (behavior depends on navigation scheme).

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

World Outliner (Usually Right)

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 (Usually Right)

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 and Content Browser

In Unreal Engine 5, assets often open from the Content Drawer (a quick browser you can summon while working) and from the docked Content Browser. Both browse the same files under your project’s <code>Content</code> folder.

You can:

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

Common mistake: Dumping every asset into <code>Content/</code> root. Create folders early (for example <code>Maps</code>, <code>Blueprints</code>, <code>Meshes</code>, <code>Materials</code>) so teammates and future-you can search quickly.

Toolbar (Top)

The Toolbar at the top includes:

Play – Run the level in the editor (PIE).
Platforms / Settings (version-dependent) – Quality presets, platform targets.
Build – Build lighting and other data when you use baked lighting workflows.
Save – Save the current level and assets.

You will use Play and Save constantly.

Mode Panel (Left)

The Modes panel lets you switch between tools such as:

Select – Select and transform actors.
Landscape – Edit terrain.
Foliage – Paint foliage.
Geometry – Simple modeling and BSP-style workflows.

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:
Third Person – Good default for camera, character, and input already wired.
First Person – Useful for shooters and inspection games.
Blank – Minimal scene; you add lights and Player Start yourself (fast, but easier to get a black screen if you forget lights).
Pick Blueprint if you are new; you can add a C++ module later when you need it.
Choose Target Platform (Desktop is the usual learning path).
Toggle Starter Content on if you want ready-made materials and props; off if you want a lean repo.
Set Project Location and Project Name (for example <code>MyFirstProject</code>).
Click Create. The editor opens with your new project.

Step 2: Understand the Default Level

You start in a Level (<code>.umap</code>). It holds actors, lighting, and references to gameplay classes.
The World Outliner shows default actors (for example Player Start, Directional Light, floor meshes in templates).
The Content Browser shows your project folders.

Step 3: First Project Settings Pass

Open Edit > Project Settings and skim these sections once (you do not need to change everything on day one):

Maps & Modes – Default GameMode and which map loads first for this project.
Packaging – Later, you will care about build flavor and staging; bookmark the page.

This pass prevents mystery spawning and wrong maps when you duplicate templates.

Step 4: Save Your Work

File > Save All (or Ctrl+Shift+S) saves dirty assets and the current level.
Save often; autosave helps, but intentional saves keep branches clean.

Pro Tip: Use File > Save Current Level As to fork a level before risky experiments.

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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. Movement depends on the template (WASD and mouse is typical).
Click Stop (or press Escape) to exit PIE.

Changes you make during PIE often do not persist unless your workflow explicitly keeps them. Save maps and assets in edit mode after you like the result.

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Mini Exercise

Create a Third Person Blueprint project with Starter Content enabled.
In the level, select the Player Start in the World Outliner and nudge it slightly in the Details panel so you remember transforms stick to the actor.
Press Play, walk around, then Stop.
Save All, close the editor, and reopen the project from the <code>.uproject</code> file to confirm it loads the same map.

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Troubleshooting

Editor is slow or unresponsive

Close other heavy applications.
In Edit > Editor Preferences, reduce viewport effects or resolution while learning on low-end hardware.
For large scenes, lower editor scalability (toolbar Settings / scalability controls, names vary slightly by version).

Play button does nothing or level is black

Ensure there is a Player Start in the level (check World Outliner).
Ensure at least one Directional or Sky light setup exists so geometry is visible.
If you used Blank, add a light and a floor mesh before testing.

Project won’t open

Open from the Epic Games Launcher or double-click the <code>.uproject</code> file next to your <code>Content</code> folder. Do not rely on random executables inside the engine install path.

Content Drawer feels missing

In UE5, use Ctrl+Space (common default) to open the Content Drawer, or dock Content Browser from Window > Content Browser.

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Summary

Install and update through the Epic Games Launcher; match engine 5.x versions to your learning materials.
Viewport, World Outliner, Details, and Content Browser / Drawer are your daily layout.
Create a Games project, skim Project Settings > Maps & Modes, and save with Save All.
Use Play for PIE and Stop to return to editing.

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