Building a Desktop App

Introduction

Unity is one of the most versatile platforms for creating interactive content, including Desktop apps for Windows. This guide will walk you through the step-by-step process of building an Desktop app using Unity.

Prerequisites:

• Unity Hub with the 2022.3.20f1 version of Unity installed.

• Windows Build Support module installed via Unity Hub.

• A Desktop Windows device for testing.

• Ensure environment scenes have “Addressable” Ticked

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Setting up the Environment:

• Launch Unity Hub and open your project.

2. Configuring the Project:

• Go to Edit > Project Settings.
• Ensure the scene “PlayerDesktopInteractor” or “PlayerDesktopObserver” is included the Build with index 0 (at the top).
• Make sure all your other scenes are added in the Build Settings.
• Under the Player section, select the Windows, Mac, Linux icon to change to Desktop.

• Use the Luminous menu to set the XR settings to “Set Desktop to Regular”. Luminous > XR > Set Desktop to Regular

Configure Player Settings

• Go to Edit > Project Settings > Player.
• Configure the Company Name, Product Name, and Package Name (in reverse domain style like com.companyname.appname).
• Set an appropriate icon, splash image, and other UI-related settings as needed.

Configure XR Plug-in Management

• Go to Edit > Project Settings > XR Plug-in Management.
• Ensure Open XR is unticked in the PC window

Build Addressables

• Go to Window > Asset Management > Groups to open the Addressables window.

• Click on Build > New Build > Default Build Script

The first time you build Addressables for your project can take a while!

6. Building the App:

Now you are ready to begin building the App.

• Go to File > Build Settings.
• Click on Build (to generate an Executable).
• Choose a directory to save your Executable, and Unity will start the build process.

7. Testing on a Device:

• Navigate to the newly built Application.
• Double click to run the application.

Congratulations on building your Application 🎉

Troubleshooting & Tips:

• If you encounter build errors, check Unity's console for specific error messages.

Conclusion:

Building a Desktop app in Unity is a streamlined process, but always pay attention to details like compatibility and performance. Regularly update your tools and test frequently to ensure your app delivers the best experience to users.