How to easily change panel on button click in Unity 6 2025

Creating a smooth and interactive UI in Unity 6 is essential for enhancing user experience in any game or application. Managing UI panels efficiently ensures a well-structured interface, allowing users to navigate seamlessly. In this guide, we will explore how to use a simple UIPanelManager script to control Canvas UI elements like buttons and panels efficiently.

Understanding the UIPanelManager Script

The UIPanelManager script for Unity 6 provides three essential functions:

• ShowPanel(GameObject panel): Activates the panel, making it visible.
• HidePanel(GameObject panel): Deactivates the panel, hiding it from view.
• TogglePanel(GameObject panel): Toggles the panel’s visibility (shows it if hidden, hides it if visible).

This script can be attached to a GameObject in your scene and used to control any UI panel dynamically.

using UnityEngine;

public class UIPanelManager : MonoBehaviour
{
    public void ShowPanel(GameObject panel)
    {
        panel.SetActive(true);
    }

    public void HidePanel(GameObject panel)
    {
        panel.SetActive(false);
    }

    public void TogglePanel(GameObject panel)
    {
        panel.SetActive(!panel.activeSelf);
    }
}

Setting Up UI Panels in Unity 6

Step 1: Create a UI Canvas and Panels

1. Open Unity 6 and create a new scene.
2. In the Hierarchy, right-click and select UI → Canvas to create a new Canvas.
3. Inside the Canvas, right-click and create UI → Panel.
4. Rename the panel (e.g., SettingsPanel) for better organization.

Step 2: Attach the UIPanelManager Script

1. In the Hierarchy, create an empty GameObject and rename it UIPanelController.
2. Attach the UIPanelManager script to UIPanelController by dragging it into the Inspector.

Step 3: Create UI Buttons to Control Panels

1. Inside the Canvas, create UI → Button.
2. Rename the buttons appropriately (e.g., OpenSettingsButton, CloseSettingsButton, ToggleSettingsButton).
3. Position them as needed using the Rect Transform component.

Step 4: Assign Button Functions

1. Select the OpenSettingsButton, navigate to the Inspector, and locate the OnClick() event.
2. Click the + button to add a new event.
3. Drag the UIPanelController into the event slot.
4. Click No Function, then select UIPanelManager → ShowPanel.
5. Drag the SettingsPanel into the parameter slot.
6. Repeat the process for CloseSettingsButton and ToggleSettingsButton, assigning HidePanel() and TogglePanel() respectively.

Testing the UI Panel Functionality

1. Click Play in Unity.
2. Press OpenSettingsButton to show the panel.
3. Press CloseSettingsButton to hide it.
4. Press ToggleSettingsButton to toggle its visibility.

Expanding Functionality

Adding Animations to Panel Transitions

To improve UI aesthetics, consider adding animations to panel transitions:

1. Select the SettingsPanel.
2. Add an Animator Component in the Inspector.
3. Create an animation for fading in and out.
4. Modify the ShowPanel and HidePanel methods to trigger animations instead of just setting SetActive(true/false).

Using Panels for Game Menus

This script can also be used for:

• Pause Menus
• Inventory Screens
• Settings Pages
• Dialogue Boxes

Conclusion

The UIPanelManager script provides a simple yet powerful way to control UI panels in Unity 6. By integrating this script with Canvas UI elements and buttons, you can easily manage user interactions. Whether building a main menu, settings page, or inventory system, this approach helps streamline UI management effectively.

Beyond the basic functions, expanding this script with additional features can enhance user experience further. Adding smooth animations, sound effects, and transition effects can make UI interactions more immersive. For instance, incorporating fade-in/fade-out animations when opening or closing panels makes the UI feel more polished and responsive. Similarly, adding audio feedback when a panel appears or disappears can improve engagement by providing clear user feedback.

Another important aspect is scalability. The UIPanelManager script is highly reusable and can be adapted for multiple UI elements. If your game includes multiple menus, pop-ups, or modal dialogues, you can centralize panel management using this script, reducing redundancy and improving maintainability. Additionally, combining this system with Unity’s Event System allows for more dynamic interactions, such as opening different panels based on game state changes or user input.

For developers working on larger projects, integrating the UIPanelManager script with UI frameworks like Unity UI Toolkit or extending it with data-driven UI management can further enhance UI workflows. This approach ensures that your UI remains modular, efficient, and adaptable to future design changes.

Mastering panel control using scripts like this ensures better usability, keeping players engaged with a seamless UI. Whether you’re creating a mobile game, a VR application, or a desktop experience, understanding how to efficiently manage UI panels will elevate your development skills. Start implementing this in your Unity projects today and take your UI design to the next level!