Beginner’s Guide to Unity: How to Download and Install Unity

Unity Engine is a free game engine software most often used for game
development, interactive simulations and AR/VR experiences. Besides
Unreal Engine,
Unity is one of the main choices for beginner developers who want to build
real-time 2D or 3D games or applications for smartphones, desktops or XR
headsets.

Unity is using C# as a primary programming language which is easier to grasp
for beginners due to forgiving syntax than Unreal. To create your first
project in Unity we’ll need to install Unity Hub, Unity Editor and Visual
Studio.

One of the best parts of Unity is that you can extend its use for multiple
platforms and uses. You can develop for mobile (Android and iOS), tablets,
desktops, consoles and AR/VR headsets and different operating systems
(Windows, MacOS, or Linux).

For a quick video guide, check out Mitchell’s walkthrough:

In this mini guide, we’ll be installing Unity and Visual Studio on your
desktop/laptop and start our first project. Depending on your project needs
you can always extend the functionality of Unity by downloading plugins
(SDKs or APIs). For example, if you’re building an AR game for iPhones
you’ll need to install ARFoundation and ARKit SDKs.

Note:
In the guide, we are assuming that you are a complete beginner to Unity
and you’re installing the software for the first time. The following steps
are our recommendations to get it up and running as fast as possible.
Whenever you’re downloading a new Unity version, make sure it’s an “LTS”
version which might be different from the latest version.

Unity System Requirements

The system requirements for running Unity are fairly low so you should be ok
with most laptops and desktops released in the last three to five years.
However, if you’re going to run graphically intensive simulations, develop
3D games, or AR/VR experiences, you might want to check the
hardware recommendations
before you start the development process.

Most modern applications are going to demand strong CPU and GPU processing
power which can be restricted to people with gaming PCs and laptops. Mac
computers can run Unity and support application development but there’s a
reason why most games are made for PC due to OS infrastructure and plain
hardware performance and modular upgrade optionality.

Minimum requirementsWindowsmacOSLinux (Support in Preview)Operating system versionWindows 7 (SP1+), Windows 10 and Windows 11, 64-bit versions onlyHigh Sierra 10.13+Ubuntu 20.04, Ubuntu 18.04, and CentOS 7CPUX64 architecture with SSE2 instruction set supportX64 architecture with SSE2 instruction set supportX64 architecture with SSE2 instruction set supportGraphics APIDX10, DX11, and DX12-capable GPUsMetal-capable Intel and AMD GPUsOpenGL 3.2+ or Vulkan-capable, Nvidia and AMD GPUs.Additional requirementsHardware vendor officially supported driversApple officially supported drivers
Gnome desktop environment running on top of X11 windowing system, Nvidia
official proprietary graphics driver or AMD Mesa graphics driver. Other
configuration and user environments have provided stock with the
supported distribution (Kernel, Compositor, etc.)

For all operating systems, the Unity Editor is supported on workstations
or laptop form factors, running without emulation, container or
compatibility layer.

Note: For special project needs check out
Unity’s system documentation.

10 Steps to Install Unity on Your Computer (Technical Steps)

1. Go to Unity.com and click on Get Started button on the
   top right side of the navigational menu
2. Under Plans and Pricing choose
   “Individual” plan and either Student or
   Personal option
3. Download Unity Hub for your OS
4. Download a version of Unity Assistant Installer — we
   always recommend downloading the latest Long Term Support
   (LTS) release. You’ll find them on
   here
5. Go through the Unity Installer prompt checks like Terms and Services,
   Licenses, Components and location on your hard drive where you want to
   install it. At the minimum you’ll have to install
   Unity Editor (Unity 2020.3.28f1 – your version might look
   different) and Visual Studio for Mac/Windows.
   Note: If you’re on Windows you’ll have to start the
   UnityDownloadAssistant[unity version].exe file. If you’re on Mac you’ll
   have to double-click on the UnityDownloadAssistant.dmg file.
   Note: You can install the Unity Editor and/or Visual Studio from
   your Unity Hub at any point. Just click the Add Button and select it from
   the menu.
6. Open a Unity Hub and Create an Account.
   You will receive a confirmation email. Confirm your new Unity Account.
7. You’ll be redirected to the id.unity.com window where
   you’ll create a unity id.. Sign in into your Unity Hub with your Unity ID
   (email and password).
8. Launch Unity Hub and click on the
   Sign in button.
9. In the Unity Hub you’ll be prompted to install the
   Unity Editor. Make sure it’s the LTS version. You’ll be
   prompted with another License Agreement.
10. Once Installation is complete, click on Projects and
    New Projects. That’s it! You’ve just installed Unity!

Now that you’ve successfully installed Unity, you should get familiar with
the Unity Editor and its Interface. With your first run of Unity, the
program will recommend a couple of templates to start with already.