Launcher will not read installed Unreal Engines

Development Getting Started & Setup
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I know it said question, but I am not sure where to post this correctly. Admin or Moderator, Please move this post to the correct location If I did this incorrectly. As I just wanted to solve a problem If someone else in the future has this issue that can be hopefully be resolved with this post. Thanks!

For some reason, my client decided to somehow not recognize any of the engine versions. So I reinstalled the UE 19 version, and when I closed it for a quick restart then I look into my Library. Epic Games’ Launcher wants me to reinstall UE 19 I literally just installed all over again. Also, This happened to any video game in Epic Game Launcher, But when I click install, The Launcher told me “Directory must be empty.” (>_<) YOU GOT TO BE JOKING ME!?!?!?

I know I shouldn’t have to reinstall any of the UE versions or games as there already installed correctly other than the fact I have it on another Drive. But, how do I get the Launcher to recognize that I already have the installed Unreal Engines and any games installed?

I believe I have found a solution as this might of happened to anyone else.

First, Either move “one at a time” of an Unreal Engine Version or video game out of your installed location (Yes the full file folder) into somewhere else or CUT (CTRL + X) and read for the next step.

Next, go into Epic Games Launcher and press install on the chosen Unreal Engine Version or video game. Make sure you install it again into the new location; Epic Games/New Folder Name.

Then, Paste (CTRL+V) the full file folder of your Unreal Engine Version or video game back into Epic Games/New Folder Name and overwrite the one that is currently downloading at the moment. Note:“You are tricking the launcher into thinking it’s all done downloading it.”

Cancel the download and resume it, The launcher should be thinking of verifying all the files now.

This has worked for me and I hope it works for you too! If this solution has worked for you. Please, Upvote this post by clicking or press the little arrow by my post and share your experience with a post below. Thanks! :slight_smile:

MOO!

UAT Student Senior Game Designer

1 Like
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Thank you for sharing your Solution [trick]…!!

Yes; it works for versions 4.18 - 4.19 & 4.20… and it is my pleasure to be the first one who Up-vote this post.

But with 4.17 for example, after 85% verifying, launcher started RE-downloading from Zero…!!

All the best

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You could try this:

  1. go to Epic Games/Launcher/Engine/Binaries/Win64
  2. copy the file called ‘UnrealVersionSelector.exe’
  3. go to YourEngineDirectory/Engine/Binaries/Win64
  4. paste the file right here
  5. double click to run the ‘UnrealVersionSelector.exe’, and hit the answer ‘yes’
  6. restart your launcher
1 Like
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Excelent! It worked for me, thanks a lot!

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great! worked for me for Unreal Engine 5.1