# Updating Prefabs

Prefabs can be [updated like any other game object](editor-selecting-objects), except they are edited separately from the scene and changes are applied to each instance of the prefab.

Trying to update the children of a prefab in a scene will give you this error:

![](https://3795241431-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-M8XSUYVSlHMdPUNud-2%2F-M9LYyFfu3SjnuOlbX-w%2F-M9LZjpKgWApE9BflkDZ%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=aa6fbe41-50db-4581-a353-2275c2e2ac73)

## Accessing the Prefab Editor

There are a few ways to access the editor for a prefab object:

### **Through the Hierarchy Window**

Click on the arrow to the right of the parent object's name to edit the prefab.

![](https://3795241431-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-M8XSUYVSlHMdPUNud-2%2F-M9L5W1ZiE-cbPxSHmS2%2F-M9LB-c041vhrucxvjU5%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=0476672d-5ff1-48a8-ad6f-6de3851fa7ce)

### **Through the Project Window**

Double-click on the prefab to edit.

![](https://3795241431-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-M8XSUYVSlHMdPUNud-2%2F-M9L5W1ZiE-cbPxSHmS2%2F-M9LAg2Ga9kAZsrBVM_b%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=b83a1075-7269-40f2-9595-6029de90c8a4)

### **Through the Inspector Window**

Click on the Open Prefab button to edit the selected prefab.

![](https://3795241431-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-M8XSUYVSlHMdPUNud-2%2F-M9LYyFfu3SjnuOlbX-w%2F-M9LaI2zBFfExFc7J4Of%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=72f6867a-2769-4b31-ac7a-5b31e41655f0)

## **The Prefab Editor**

When you are editing a prefab, the Hierarchy window shows the children objects and the Scene window shows a close up of the prefab with a solid background color.

![](https://3795241431-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-M8XSUYVSlHMdPUNud-2%2F-M9LYyFfu3SjnuOlbX-w%2F-M9LanVfkEwZlMEZIF2K%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=82b1b5c8-b39e-4031-a757-ddbf35da39b8)

Edit the game objects like you would any other game object.

Changes here will update all instances of the prefab when you click the back arrow in the Hierarchy window.

## Unpack a Prefab

Maybe you only want to change one of the instances and not all.&#x20;

You can "unpack" instances by right-clicking on the parent object in the prefab and clicking on an unpack option.

![](https://3795241431-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-M8XSUYVSlHMdPUNud-2%2F-M9LYyFfu3SjnuOlbX-w%2F-M9Lbi5xEDLOOeCFl5ec%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=acc61952-0e43-482d-b1ed-10e91d52b55e)

This will turn the prefab and its children gray, meaning they can be edited within the tab and without affecting other instances.&#x20;

{% hint style="warning" %}
Updating prefab assets will not update the unpacked version of the prefab.
{% endhint %}

{% content-ref url="../../create/create-prefabs" %}
[create-prefabs](../../create/create-prefabs)
{% endcontent-ref %}

