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Explore the Editor Interface

Jump into your first Unity scene and familiarize yourself with the main Editor windows.

This tutorial series introduces you to the essential skills of navigating the Unity Editor. 

You'll learn to navigate 3D space in a playground scene, using Flythrough mode and tools like Move and Rotate to design a mural. 

Once you master these skills, you’ll have the foundation required for confidently creating in Unity.

 Mission overview

In this first exercise, you’ll explore the most commonly used windows of the Unity Editor one by one. Although you can rearrange the windows, you’ll use Unity’s 

 Layout so that your screen matches the screenshots in this tutorial.

Tutorial overview

 window is where you can find all the files (assets) available for use in your project, whether you use them or not.

The 

window works like a file explorer, organized in folders. 

You can view the 

 window's assets as large icons or in a more compact list. 


  Locate the slider at the bottom right corner of the 

 If you don’t see the slider, select the 

  Drag the slider all the way to the left to see the assets in a list. 

This way, none of the assets’ names get cut off. This will be easier for now.



 window in the center of the Editor, you'll see a robot standing on the left side of a big white platform in front of a beautiful blue sky, along with a collection of other objects.

Open a scene from the Project window

 window, which is on the left in Unity's default layout, was automatically populated with a list when you opened the scene?

The 

 window is where you organize all the things in your game world. These things are called 



There's an important difference between the 

 window displays all the GameObjects in the current scene.

The 

 window displays all the assets available to your entire project, whether or not they are in the current scene.


 window, double-click some of the GameObjects and notice what happens. 

The selected GameObject is framed in the 

 view at the center of the Unity interface.



 GameObject, then use the foldout (triangle) to expand it and explore the GameObjects within. 

GameObjects are typically organized in a hierarchical tree-like structure. In the 

 window, a GameObject can have parent GameObjects and child GameObjects. 

 GameObjects contain other GameObjects, which are referred to as 

  To return to a view that allows you to see the entire environment, double-click the 

 GameObject, which will frame the entire ground in view.

Explore the scene contents with the Hierarchy window

In the center of the default Unity Editor layout is the 

 view. This is your interactive window into the world you are creating. You’ll use the 

 view to manipulate objects and view them from various angles.


 view, right-click and drag. 

You'll notice the cursor turns into an eyeball icon when you do this. This is the 

 tool.
It's like turning your head to look around in the real world. 



  Release the right-mouse button, then use the arrow keys to freely move around in the 

 arrow keys move you forward and backward. The 

  As a challenge, use these navigation techniques to get a good close-up view of the robot character.



 window and double-click one of the GameObjects to frame and center it in the 

Move around 3D space in the Scene view

By default, there is a floating toolbar in the upper-left corner of the 

 view tools.

There are also a number of toolbars above the 

 view. These toolbars include buttons and settings that allow you to change the way your scene is displayed. For now, avoid clicking on those tools. These selections can't be undone and it can be hard to know how to reset your settings. 

Don't worry, you'll get to those options later!

  In the Hierarchy window, double-click the 

 GameObject to frame it in the Scene view.



  Select the top tool from the toolbar that looks like a hand — this is the 

  With the Pan tool selected, left-click and drag in the 

 view to pan side to side. 

Notice how you can see the changing reflection of the sky in the shiny material on the stairs as you pan side to side. You’ll learn how to make your own materials later!

Use the Pan tool

 view is what you see through the camera. It's what the end user of your experience will see. 

When you enter Play mode to test your application, you will automatically be taken into the 

 will appear in the same area of the Editor as the 

 view.

When you exit Play mode, you'll automatically be taken back to the 

 button at the top center of the Editor and see what happens. 

You can move the robot character around with the following controls: 

  Try to jump to collect the star from the platform at the top of the stairs. 

It will be just out of reach, but you’ll try to fix that in the next step.



 When you’re finished with Play mode, press the 

 mode when you're done testing. If you remain in 

 mode, none of the changes you make will be saved.

Enter Play mode in Game view

 window is where you’ll find and configure detailed information about GameObjects.

When you select a GameObject in the 

 window, its components are listed in the 

 describe the properties and behaviors of GameObjects. 

In this step, you’ll use the 

 window to position the star a bit closer to the platform so the player can reach it. 


 window, then browse its components in the 

 window.

You probably won't understand what many of the components do yet, but that's OK! You'll get very familiar with these components as you go through this Pathway.



 GameObject to frame it in view, then locate its 

value by 1 or 2 units to move the star closer to the platform and reduce the 

 value by 1 or 2 units to lower the star closer to the ground. 

Remember, you can always undo any unwanted changes with 

 mode again and try to jump and collect the star, then exit 

Edit the GameObjects’ properties in the Inspector

Unity doesn't automatically save your scene. Make a habit of saving often so that you don't lose any progress. 

If you have unsaved changes in your scene, there will be an asterisk 

 next to the name of the scene at the top of the 



If there was an asterisk next to the scene name in the 

 window, the asterisk would disappear. 



Save your scene

Congratulations on completing this first guided tutorial in the Unity Essentials Pathway! 

Here are some of the things you learned how to do along the way: 

Identify the windows that appear in the Unity Editor’s default view.

Proceed to the next tutorial where you'll explore a playground scene to master 3D navigation in the 

Review and proceed to the next tutorial

Confidently operate the Unity Editor from an empty default project. 

Unity Editor Essentials

NealEdu

Product Manager at Unity

1.1.2 - The Project Window - VIDEO_V2.mp4

1.1.3 - The Hierarchy window - VIDEO_V2.mp4

1.1.5 - Use the pan tool - VIDEO_V2.mp4

1.1.4 - Scene view - VIDEO_V2.mp4

1.1.8 - Save your Scene - VIDEO_V2.mp4

1.1.7 - Edit the GameObjects’ properties in the Inspector - VIDEO_V2.mp4

Essentials_Pathway_M1_Editor_Essentials.mp4

1.1.6 - Enter Play mode in Game view - VIDEO_U6.mp4

Creating, loading, and saving scenes

Unity’s interface

The Inspector window

Scene view navigation

The Game view

Save your work

Games

Film

Automotive

Identify and describe the windows that appear in the Unity Editor’s default view.

Rearrange, dock, and undock windows in the Unity Editor.

Explain the differences between the Project and Hierarchy windows.

Explain the relationship between the Hierarchy window and the Scene view.

Explain when to use the Scene view and the Game view.

Explain the purpose and functionality of the Package Manager.

Use the Package Manager to add functionality to the Unity Editor.

1.1 Identify and describe the windows that appear in the Unity Editor’s default view.

1.2 Rearrange, dock, and undock windows in the Unity Editor.

1.3 Explain the differences between the Project and Hierarchy windows.

1.4 Explain the relationship between the Hierarchy window and the Scene view.

1.5 Explain when to use the Scene view and the Game view.

1.6 Start and stop Play mode (Game view).

1.7 Explain the purpose and functionality of the Package Manager.

1.8 Use the Package Manager to add functionality to the Unity Editor.

Employ essential features of the Unity Editor

Explain Unity’s 3D Y-up coordinate system.

Identify the Toolbar button(s) used for changing your view.

Change your view in the Scene view using the mouse and keyboard.

Change your view in the Scene view by focusing on a selected GameObject.

Change your view in the Scene view using the Scene Gizmo.

Use the 2D button to change the view of Scene view.

Navigate the Scene view confidently in all three dimensions, demonstrating the ability to quickly relocate to desired position and orientation in 3D space.

3.1 Explain Unity’s 3D Y-up coordinate system.

3.2 Identify the Toolbar button(s) used for changing your view.

3.3 Change your view in the Scene view using the mouse and keyboard.

3.4 Change your view in the Scene view by focusing on a selected GameObject.

3.5 Change your view in the Scene view using the Scene Gizmo.

3.6 Use the 2D button to change the view of Scene view.

3.7 Navigate the Scene view confidently in all three dimensions, demonstrating the ability to quickly relocate to desired position and orientation in 3D space.

Unity Version 6.0