How to Install Unreal Engine 5 on Windows
Back in 2001, when I was 13 and starting to learn programming, I faced my first major challenge: figuring out how to install C++. The internet offered limited resources, online courses were non-existent, YouTube hadn't been launched until 2005, and I had nobody to guide me. I resorted to a handful of decent C++ books from the bookstore, turning what should have been a simple first step into a daunting months-long journey.
I'm now dedicated to making what was a difficult learning curve for me as smooth as possible for others. This way, you can learn in hours or days what took me months of hard work. You can then focus on what truly excites you: crafting stories and developing games.
The installation process is quite straightforward. If you already use the Epic Launcher for Epic Games, you're halfway there, as the Unreal Engine Launcher is integrated into it.
First, download the Epic Games launcher here and run the installation wizard.
Once the installation is complete, log in with your Epic Games account. If you don't have one, you can easily create a new account.
After logging in, the Epic Games Launcher will start. Here, you can buy, install, and launch Epic Games, as well as install Unreal Engine and manage projects. Simply navigate to the Unreal Engine tab on the left.
In this section, you'll find the latest Unreal Engine news, download learning projects, purchase and download assets from the Marketplace, and under Library, download the Unreal Engine itself.
Click on the small plus icon next to the Engine Versions header.
Clicking the plus icon brings up a menu where you can select and install your preferred version of Unreal Engine. The latest version is selected by default, but you can change this by clicking the small arrow icon. However, I recommend sticking with the latest version unless there's a specific reason not to.
You'll then be prompted to choose a folder for Unreal Engine installation. It's possible to have multiple versions installed – for instance, I keep older versions to access and migrate older Marketplace assets into the latest engine version.
Clicking 'Install' initiates the installation process. All that's left is to wait for the Unreal Engine version to download and install.
With that, you've successfully installed the engine. You can now start the Unreal Engine Editor by clicking the Launch button.
After a brief loading period, the Unreal Project Browser appears, allowing you to create a new project or open existing ones. Clicking Create opens the Unreal Editor with your new project.
Congratulations, you've installed Unreal Engine and the Unreal Editor! You're now ready to start developing your game.
