can't use intended version of Unreal Enigine (Github version and Launcher Version)

General Issues and Bug Reporting
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1

Summary

Hi, I downloaded Unreal Version 5.8.X from Github but now I have to use the 5.8.4 version in Epic Launcher. But I can’t use the launcher version which cause me trouble (Installing plugins for example).

Please select what you are reporting on:

Creative

What Type of Bug are you experiencing?

Other

Steps to Reproduce

First I downloaded Unreal Files from Github and then I Type the command in Windows Power Shell. Just like This Youtube tutorials https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oudJToczmEk .
(The command is Cloning just the latest commit from a specific branch or release/tag: git clone --depth 1 --branch release https://github.com/EpicGames/UnrealEn…
Change the working directory to unreal engine: cd UnrealEngine
Running Setup.bat (–exclude parameters are optional): Setup.bat --exclude=Win32 --exclude=WinRT --exclude=Mac --exclude=MacOS --exclude=MacOSX --exclude=mac-arm64 --exclude=IOS --exclude=osx --exclude=osx64 --exclude=osx32 --exclude=TVOS --exclude=Linux32 --exclude=HTML
Generate the visual studio project files: GenerateProjectFiles.bat
If you’re unsure if your CPU has hyperthreading/SMT enabled, run this command in powershell and see if you have more logical processors than number of cores (this same information is also in Task Manager to Performance to CPU): Get-CimInstance Win32_Processor |
Select-Object Name, NumberOfCores, NumberOfLogicalProcessors

Add these three lines of text to your [Engine-Location]/Engine/Config/BaseEngine.ini file, under the section called [/Script/WindowsTargetPlatform/WindowsTargetSettings] where the version numbers correspond to what the release notes recommended and what you actually installed:
CompilerVersion=“14.38.33130”
ToolchainVersion=“14.38.33130”
WindowsSdkVersion=“10.0.22621.0” )
I can’t find the location of the files I just downloaded and I didn’t know how to undo this prompt. Please help me.

Expected Result

I want to delete the github version and use the launcher version instead.

Observed Result

I can launch vesion from github but not the launcher version

Platform(s)

Unreal Engine on WindowsPC

2

hi @nongwin666

Here is instructions use for many years to build ue5 from source

Use of this repository is without warranty, and no responsibility for the use and any subsequent problems is accepted This is for research, development, and training quality, not professional quality.

This version will require at least 170GB of Solid State Drive(SSD) NVRAM to build this.

This version has been patched to remove the 48 Gigabytes of debug PDB file not needed for LGPU Lightmass, speeding up build times

The SSD takes about 3 hours to build into a hobby PC. On a hard drive, this may not complete in at least 27 hours

Download Visual Studio 2026 Community, if you have not got this size (31GB configured on SSD)

This UE 5.8 version has support for Visual Studio 2026 (18.8 onward)

Visual Studio 2019 is no longer supported. Visual Studio 2022 Community no longer available.

Downloading Visual Studio 2026 Community - Visual Studio (microsoft.com)

Download Git Bash/Git CMD from Redirecting… for Windows 10

Legal Requirement to display next download notice

The latest Epic Source code development is always at

git clone https://github.com/EpicGames/UnrealEngine.git --depth 1 5.8
When you download this 5.8 repository using Git CMD, copy and paste the line below

git clone https://github.com/EpicGames/UnrealEngine.git --depth 1 -b release uegpu58

$ cd ue5gpu58

$ setup.bat

$ GenerateProjectFiles.bat -2026

$ REM make changes so the file looks like below

notepad Engine\Saved\UnrealBuildTool\BuildConfiguration.xml
In the file to be pasted in notice the change to VisualStudio2026

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> VisualStudio2026 false true true Right-click UE5.sln and select "Open With" -> "Microsoft Visual Studio 2026"

When the Repository has opened in VS 2026. Right Click UE5 and select “Set As Startup Project”

Right Click and Select “Build”, after successful build.

In Solution Explorer, scroll down to Programs, then UnrealLightMass, right-click and select “Build”, after a successful build.

To get full Crash dump reporting, scroll to CrashReporting, Right-click and Select “Build” after a successful build. You won’t need to do this in 5.8 preview

To start to debug from the Menu Debug → “Start Without Debugging”

When you start to run the project, the Shaders will need to compile for the first time at about 45% and the performance of your machine will affect the speed

When opening any project for the first time in the (top right) “World Settings” type in the Search Bar “Force No Precomputed Lighting” and click to turn OFF this off.