Critical bug: Can't open any new or existing projects -- Failed to load window layout

Unity Engine
1

6308250--698667--upload_2020-9-13_14-18-57.png

I’m encountering a critical error with Unity 2020.1.5f1 (issue originally occurred on 2020.1.4f1) where any time I try to open or create a new project, it says Failed to load window layout and gives a couple options to Load Default Layout, Revert Factory Settings, or Quit.

I’ve looked online and this appears to have been a known issue with previous versions but was supposedly fixed. Some of the suggested troubleshooting steps listed that I’ve tried include the following:

  • Restarting Windows 10
  • Uninstalling & re-installing Unity (as well as Unity Hub for good measure)
  • Changing region settings on Windows (this was the official workaround, though I tried switching to multiple different languages but no success)
  • Clearing out certain keys related to custom layouts from the registry (which on my machine don’t exist)
  • Moving projects to another folder as some folks reported the folder Unity saved projects to didn’t have proper permissions (I moved these via drag and drop)

I’m not sure how or why this occurred as I’ve been using Unity without issue the past couple of weeks. It appears in many other cases folks are only unable to open previous projects, but I can’t open any whatsoever which is a big issue.

Has anyone else experienced this? And if so, are there any suggestions? Apologies if this should instead be posted elsewhere.

2

Just tried installing 2019.4.10f1 and I get the same error. Created a new project in a totally separate folder but no change.

Any help is greatly appreciated as Unity is completely unusable right now.

3

I have the same problem.

4

I’ve encountered this myself and I’ve tried everything from

but nothing works, eventually I “fixed” it by uninstalling Unity Hub with Revo Uninstaller and deleting every registry keys and manually deleting all Unity related files in
*C:\Users\Username\AppData\Local
*C:\Users\Username\AppData\LocalLow
*C:\Users\Username\AppData\Roaming
Some folders are a little stubborn upon deleting so just delete the files only and also double check if Unity in Program Files was deleted already, if not then do it. Now all you got to do is just install Unity Hub again.

Hope this help anyone cause i spent almost a day trying to fix this and was devastated ha. ha.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You don’t need to delete your project folder and always make a backup or consider making a restore point.

5

Thank you SternleinVoegel!!! I think the Revo Uninstaller did the trick. We’ll see if the issue resurfaces. Not sure if this will solve junior1kill’s issue but fingers crossed. You’ve been a tremendous help!

6

I should also point out after the uninstall you get an option to scan for leftover files. I chose ‘Advanced’ so it would be as thorough as possible.

7

I tried many things like replacing the layout…wlt changing stuff updating you name it. the solution was a bit of all of it.

  • start new project use default layout and light theme for editor.

  • copy the editor layout file from the new project [ Library/currentLayout_default.wlt] to your project replace the old file.

  • close Unityhub > reopn it open the new project you just created

  • click open project from Unity Editor, UnityHub will popUp choose your project (Keep the new project instance open from here on)

  • Unity will load your project(if same error shows click load default) set your layout change theme back to Dark(2019.4+) if you had it before.

  • VERY IMPORTANT CHECK FOR ANY PACKAGE ERRORS OR UPDATE NEEDED

  • if you feel like the editor is unstable with preview packages remove them (can them add later)

  • close the new project instance

  • save the project and your layout then close project (you had issue with)

  • open UnityHub reopen your project Issue gone ^^