Guides Scenes Open, Save, and Switch Scenes

Scenes 2 min read Updated Apr 2026

Open, Save, and Switch Scenes

Once a project is open, scenes become the main units of authored world and UI content that you move between.

This guide covers the everyday scene workflow:

  • opening a scene
  • saving a scene
  • switching from one scene to another

Open a Scene from the Assets Panel

Scene files live in your project under Assets/Scenes.

To open one:

  1. go to the Assets panel
  2. open the Scenes folder
  3. double-click the scene you want to work on

That scene becomes the active scene in the editor.

Save the Active Scene

Use the normal save flow from the menu bar when you want to keep scene edits.

Saving writes the current authored state of the active scene back to its scene asset.

That includes changes such as:

  • object placement
  • hierarchy changes
  • component edits
  • UI layout changes
  • scene-level backdrop settings

Switch Between Scenes Carefully

When you open a different scene, the editor changes which scene is active.

That means the Hierarchy, the Scene view, and most of the Inspector now reflect the newly opened scene.

If you have unsaved work, save first before switching.

A Good Habit

Keep scenes focused by purpose.

Examples:

  • one scene for the main menu
  • one scene for a level
  • one scene for a sandbox or testbed

That makes it easier to move between them without confusion and keeps authored content easier to manage.

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