Constantly getting "Project Files not Associated"

This is minor, but I’ve had it since 4.2. Every time I load up the launcher it says “Project files not associated” and asks me if I want to associate them now. Every time I say “Fix Now” I get an “Error” dialog box that says “Couldn’t update file associations”. With both 4.2 and 4.3 I’ve done a fresh install (not the github version, just the regular one you download and install) and the error doesn’t seem to go away.

Hey Architekt -

If you would go into your Unreal Engine directory, typically in Program Files\Unreal Engine, and go to Unreal Engine\Launcher\Engine\Binaries\Win64\ and launch the UnrealVersionSelector.exe file. Answer “Yes” to the question asked and then see if you still receive the version errors again.

Let me know -

Eric Ketchum

I just tried and I got another error dialog saying “Couldn’t update file associations.”

Hey Architekt -

Did you move the engine from its original install location at any time? My suggestion at this point would be to uninstall the engine and re-install from your account page.

Thank You

Eric Ketchum

A full uninstall and fresh reinstall fixed the problem. Thanks!

Ok here’s a step by step guide with pictures on how to re-associate your .uproject files in Windows:

  1. Open the Epic Launcher and click on the Down Arrow to the right of the Launch button for the engine version you want to use. Choose the “Create Shortcut” option. This will place a shortcut to the Editor on your desktop.

  1. Right click on the Editor Shortcut and choose “Properties” this will open the Shortcut tab and show you the installation directory of the Editor on your system. Mine was “C:\Program Files\Epic Games\UE_4.18\Engine\Binaries\Win64\UE4Editor.exe” but this will vary depending on where you chose to install the editor.

  1. Open the Start Menu and search for “File Type” without the quotes in the search bar and select the “Change the file type associated with a file extension” option. In windows 10 this is called “Change the default app for each type of file”.

  1. Scroll down to the bottom of the list until you get the the file extensions that start with the letter U and you’ll see the .uproject file type. Select this and hit the “Change Program” button in the top right corner. In windows 10 this process is more complex if windows hasn’t detected that Unreal Engine can open .uproject files so I refer you to this link: How to Change File Associations in Windows 10 | Digital Trends

  1. Once you click on the “Change Program” button a new window will pop up with suggested programs. Ignore these and hit the “Browse” button in the bottom right corner. This will open a small File Explorer where you need to navigate to the directory that we discovered with our Editor shortcut. Again, in my case this was “C:\Program Files\Epic Games\UE_4.18\Engine\Binaries\Win64” You can copy and paste the directory to speed things up, just don’t include the “UE4Editor.exe” part. Find UE4 Editor in the list and select it and hit the “Open” button.

  1. Once this is done you will be taken back to the Open With window and you’ll see an icon for “Unreal Engine” in the list. Hit the OK button on this window and you’re done. Close the File association window and double click on your .uproject file. It will now open in the editor.
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For anyone else who might get this after reinstalling windows and UE4.
Copy “UnrealVersionSelector.exe” from your directory :
…\Program Files (x86)\Epic Games\Launcher\Engine\Binaries\Win64

Paste that into …\Program Files\Epic Games\UE_.**\Engine\Binaries\Win64 where (UE_.** = version of UE4 you need to have your uproject launch from)

Launch UnrealVersionSelector.exe

That should give “Registration Successful”.
That’s it!
Go back into the Launcher and Launch your project.

Thanks man it worked now thank you very much

Thanks @AdamF
I had the same problem. Fixed it right up.
UE 5.2, Win 10, 22H2