Hub can't open Projects! "unity is already in list. you cannot locate the same version"

[RubberDragonGames]

I will try to give all the detail I can because I have been fighting this since 5am on Thanksgiving Thursday (3 days ago). I have also already submitted a bug report with no response at this time. I’ve researched into the problem on google and only found 2 similar posts which I will link after going over what I have interpreted of this issue.

To begin, I would like to explain what is happening.
Using Unity Hub 2.2.1 (this problem started with 2.2.0), I can create a new project, perform changes and save this new project, but attempts to open the project from the Unity Hub will fail with a 1 second error display of “unity is already in list. you cannot locate the same version.” This error also occurs with older projects from previous versions.
When attempting to open these projects, the Unity Editor splash screen will display for a brief moment before Unity Hub is reopened and the error “unity is already in list. you cannot locate the same version” is displayed before immediately disappearing from the Hub. I had to use Snipping Tool in order to freeze a screenshot of my desktop so I could read the error displayed because it is gone that quickly. Again, this is only when attempting to open any existing project. This error does not occur when creating a new project.

The problem started when I applied a new Personal Unity License.
On the day this first happened, Unity Hub asked me to Manage my License. It seemed to have forgotten that I was on a Personal use License and asked me to apply a new one. I went through the process of a manual activation for a new Personal License since I am just starting as a developer. This also wasn’t the first time it had me apply a new license. Since I have done this, the hub has had this problem with opening my project files. I can no longer work on my game. I have been trying to fix it for 3 days with no luck.

The fixes I have tried include:

• Uninstalling and Reinstalling Unity Hub (multiple attempts)
• Uninstalling and Reinstalling 3 different versions of the Unity Editor (multiple attempts)
• Attempting to Apply new Unity Personal License (multiple attempts)
• Attempting to Return Personal License and Apply new Unity Personal License (multiple attempts)
• Uninstalling all versions of Unity Editors and Unity Hub, Restarting Computer, and Reinstalling
• Uninstalling and Reinstalling Visual Studio and all Unity Editors and Unity Hub
• Restarting my Internet Connection

After all of these attempts, I have now decided to turn to the forums. I found the following 2 posts which suggested a clean wipe of my computer with a fresh install of windows (this is not a viable solution nor should it ever be), and adjusting my internet (Unity Hub will not open projects without server access).

The related posts can be found here

[Solved] Unity Editor doesn't start "Unity is already in list. You cannot locate the same version"

problem - in the Unity Hub I select a project and the Editor boot up screen shows up for a few seconds - Editor boot up screen exits out, I'm back in the Unity Hub - for a split second I get the error message "Unity is already in list. You cannot locate the same version". with a yellow allert sign on the bottom left corner. - creating and opening a new project works once. After reopening the project, the same issue accures. failed fixes - reinstall the editor - install different versions…

and here

unity is already in list. you cannot locate the same version

Hello community. After Unity Hub was update my project stop working. I have a message from it u*nity is already in list. you cannot locate the same version .* No one editor was running. How to fix it? [5226680--521078--upload_2019-11-29_12-41-32.png]

There is a working solution in the post chain. I am quoting it here.

@""

We have a temporary work around that should allow you to open your existing project files. This will work with Hub 2.2.1
1) You will want to find your existing Unity Project File on your computer. If you don’t know where that is, you can click the 3 dots on the right side of the project and click show in explorer. This should take you to the file location.

2) Go into your project’s file, into the assets folder, and into the scenes folder. You should see a Unity scene file. Click the Unity scene file to launch the Unity Editor with the scene loaded. The rest of your project files should open with it.

3) You should now be able to work on your project and save it without encountering the Unity Hub error.

[Etonix]

Any luck?

[RubberDragonGames]

@Etonix

Any luck?

No reply yet on the bug report I sent in last week. I still can’t open existing projects. I have one thing I want to try and will post here again if it ends up proving anything.
I’m also still watching the other two posts for updates, this person makes me wonder about the thing I’ve wanted to try though. I’ve only got an hour to try for a result that might end up giving me nothing.

@MikeWise

I have this too, on my laptop that I need to travel with. It still works fine on my desktop, which are my two seats for my Pro License. I am definitely not going to reinstall Windows, but the reply from marc081 is not too attractive either. Wondering if it will go away tomorrow :). Looks to me like it might be some kind of wierd licensing bug on their server.

[Etonix]

This worked for me! :: I downgraded to Unity Hub 1.6.0, everything is fine now

[RubberDragonGames]

@Etonix

This worked for me!

Thanks for telling us. I think this can effectively confirm that the Hub is where the problem originates.

To update on what I’ve tested, I tried disabling my firewalls and that did nothing. I also logged out of the Hub and then tried applying a new license without signing into the Hub. Again, there was no effect on the Hub’s behavior.
I did run a few more tests with my laptop. I installed the latest stable version of Unity and Hub 2.2.1 on it. It’s never had either of those before and both the Hub and Editor are working just fine. I even brought over files I couldn’t open on my desktop and those worked even after updating their editor versions. Unfortunately, I can’t use the laptop as a normal workspace for Unity since all of my other necessary programs and files are on my desktop. Swapping computers is also not a solution, just a work around.
This problem has proven to be more than a bug, it’s a roadblock. It’s causing trouble for quite a few people and it needs to be solved as soon as possible before even more are effected and locked out of their projects.

[RubberDragonGames]

I have just posted a second bug report with video of the bug and hub error. This video includes creation of a new project, saving the project, and attempting to reopen the project. I have also linked to this forum post in order to provide as much detail as I can on this issue. I hope this helps to solve the issue sooner.

[syncorio]

Well I’m kinda glad this isn’t just me! I’m BRAND NEW to unity and I literally can’t reopen existing projects lol. Another weird bug i’m having is with the MicroGame tutorials. Where you playtest the game and none of your inputs are working. Not fun times

[Etonix]

Yeah, this bug is… annoying. I’m thankful 1.6.0 is still operational!

[RubberDragonGames]

We have a temporary work around that should allow you to open your existing project files. This will work with Hub 2.2.1
1) You will want to find your existing Unity Project File on your computer. If you don’t know where that is, you can click the 3 dots on the right side of the project and click show in explorer. This should take you to the file location.

2) Go into your project’s file, into the assets folder, and into the scenes folder. You should see a Unity scene file. Click the Unity scene file to launch the Unity Editor with the scene loaded. The rest of your project files should open with it.

3) You should now be able to work on your project and save it without encountering the Unity Hub error.

[TheWarper]

Thanks @RubberDragonGames , I’ve turned to this solution as well. Unfortunately, I’m stuck with the standard grey skins since it can’t validate my Plus license. Also, it tries to open in the last version of the engine that was open, not great in a heavily exploratory phase where I’m making several projects a day to test out assets.

[RubberDragonGames]

@TheWarper

Thanks @RubberDragonGames , I’ve turned to this solution as well. Unfortunately, I’m stuck with the standard grey skins since it can’t validate my Plus license. Also, it tries to open in the last version of the engine that was open, not great in a heavily exploratory phase where I’m making several projects a day to test out assets.

That sounds rough… I’m still a newbie and my work flow was interrupted for 2 weeks. I barely remember what I was doing before this happened. I’m just happy to be able to open my projects again. Really hope there’s a fix ASAP though.

[TheWarper]

[Workaround]

Note 1: This allows only 1 version of Unity to be installed (Unity 2017).
Note 2: After a computer restart these steps will need repeated each time (i.e. license and opening from scene directly)

I had 3 versions of Unity installed, 2019.3.0f1, 2019.2.15f1, and 2017.4.28f1.

1. Deleted license data from the ‘c:/programdata/unity’ folder and re-entered through Hub
2. Uninstalled the 2019 versions from the Hub
3. Opened a scene file directly from my 2017 project and pointed to the 2017 install in “C:\Program Files\Unity\Hub\Editor\2017.4.28f1\Editor\Unity.exe”
4. Reapplied license info upon prompt

[RubberDragonGames]

@TheWarper

[SOLVED] : Whew I got it!

I had 3 versions of Unity installed, 2019.3.0f1, 2019.2.15f1, and 2017.4.28f1.

1. Deleted license data from the ‘c:/programdata/unity’ folder and re-entered through Hub
2. Uninstalled the 2019 versions from the Hub
3. Opened a scene file directly from my 2017 project and pointed to the 2017 install in “C:\Program Files\Unity\Hub\Editor\2017.4.28f1\Editor\Unity.exe”
4. Reapplied license info upon prompt
5. Now the hub can open projects again

I’m glad you managed to fix it but since it doesn’t work for the more recent versions of unity editor, I would consider your situation a unique case. I tried this with the newer versions and it just forces open the hub which starts the problem over again. If anyone else is using an older editor and project, maybe they can make use of it. If anyone wants to try downloading an older version and making a new project file to test it, I say go for it.

EDIT: After attempting this, I can no longer open my projects through opening the scene. Try it at your own risk!

[rricamar]

Hi @RubberDragonGames , I tried your method but it does not work, if I try to open the .unity scene file it launches always the hub, causing again the same error , hard to see that the dev team dont fix a serius bug like this

[Aksoq]

Same issue here, can’t find one in the unity issue tracker though. Can someone make it so we can vote for it getting fixed faster?

Update, the following fix worked for me:
Win10, I have 2 internet connections 1) Main one - Ethernet cable 2) Virtual one - Hamachi
Before the bug occured I turned off hamachi network. After i turned it on - everything works fine. So a possible fix for everyone - check your network connections and turn all of them on, or try cmd → ipconfig /renew

[TheWarper]

I reported this issue days ago, but it looks like their bug reporter was messed up too, can’t ever produce a retrievable link from FogBugz or whatever that is.

[TheWarper]

[FIX] : Install an older version of the hub from a rando web archive

Here is 2.0.4 and it works for me https://web.archive.org/web/20190806150530/https://public-cdn.cloud.unity3d.com/hub/prod/UnityHubSetup.exe

[TheWarper]

Also, I received a tracking response from Unity.

Please vote on resolving this issue Unity Issue Tracker - "The value of \"byteLength\" is out of range" error is thrown in the Hub logs

[rricamar]

Thanks @TheWarper , Hub 2.0.4 works like a charm, I still dont believe this kind of solutions. Dev team should at least make a quick hotfix on 2.2.1

At least I dont use Unity for professional purposes, but this is a serious problem and silence is the only response from the team

[Giraalexis]

15/02/2020
They still do not fix the problem, I am using hub 2.2.2, the good thing is that reading this forum thanks to @RubberDragonGames I can open the projects