Add an Existing Project

Add a project that is already on your computer without moving its files. To clone a public Git or connected GitHub repository first, see Import a Git Repository.

When your Projects view is empty, use From this computer from the welcome screen to start this workflow. You do not need an editor installed before you add the project.

Add the project

Use either method to add one or more projects:

• Select Add > From this computer in the Projects view, then select the project's project.godot file.
• Drag one or more project.godot files onto the Projects view.

Godot Launcher adds the project without moving its files.

Review names and editors

If one or more selected projects need a decision before they can be added, the launcher shows one review for the affected selection. Review each project's name in Godot Launcher and its Godot editor choice before continuing. You can change a conflicting name in the review or clear its selection to skip that project.

Changing a name changes only the name shown in Godot Launcher. The launcher keeps that choice for a later import when it can save the project metadata. It does not rename project.godot or the project folder.

An already registered project folder cannot be added again. Clear that project's selection and continue with the others.

Choose the Godot editor

The launcher reads project.godot to identify the Godot major.minor version and checks for C# project files to choose the Standard or .NET flavour. When it can identify that version and the project has no saved editor metadata, it offers matching official stable editors that are installed or available to download for your platform. The newest stable option is recommended. If no stable option is available, it offers only the newest matching prerelease. Registered matching custom editors appear below a divider after the official options.

Choose an installed editor to use it immediately, or choose a downloadable editor to add the project first and download the editor in the background. The launcher retains the exact editor you chose if the download fails, so you can retry or repair it later.

If the project includes a .godotlauncher file, the launcher keeps its requested editor unless you explicitly choose a different available editor. You can also select Add With Missing Editor or Cancel. Adding with a missing editor does not change project.godot.

See Troubleshooting if the project cannot find a compatible editor.

Choose the code editor

The code editor choice applies only on this computer.

If the project clearly uses Visual Studio Code or VSCodium, the launcher selects it. Otherwise, the project is added without a code editor choice.

After import, open the project's settings button and use Code Editor to choose or change the selection. See Project Settings and Code Editor Settings.

Keep or add Git

The launcher keeps an existing Git repository unchanged, including one that contains the project.

To create a repository for the project, open Project settings > Source Control and select Initialize Git. This does not add Git template files or create a commit.

See Using Git With Godot Launcher before creating a repository for a project that is already inside a larger one.

See Manage Projects for project groups, search, pins, and project actions.