So, you’re all excited to play Skyrim with mods. You’ve got SKSE and SkyUI ready to go. You launch the game, and…. BAM! Up pops a scary message saying: “SkyUI Error Code 1: The Skyrim Script Extender (SKSE) is not running.”
Don’t worry. You’re not alone. Thousands of players run into this issue. But we’re here to help you fix it step-by-step, and yes, you can do it!
What Is SkyUI, Anyway?
SkyUI is a mod that makes Skyrim’s menu look and feel better. It’s cleaner, faster, and made for mouse and keyboard players. But it needs another tool to run: SKSE — the Skyrim Script Extender.
If SKSE isn’t set up correctly, SkyUI throws Error Code 1. That’s its way of saying, “Hey! Where’s SKSE?”
Let’s Fix It!
There are a few reasons you might see this error. But don’t worry. We’ll cover everything. Grab a sweet roll and let’s get to work.
Step 1: Check Your Game Version
The first thing to check is your Skyrim version. SKSE is super picky. It only works with certain versions.
- Open your Steam Library.
- Right-click Skyrim and pick Properties.
- Go to the Updates tab.
If your game keeps auto-updating, SKSE might break each time. Solution? Disable updates.
- Under Updates, choose: “Only update this game when I launch it”.
You can also use the Skyrim Special Edition Downgrade Patcher if you got updated without meaning to.
Step 2: Install SKSE Properly
This is where most people mess up. Follow these exact steps:
- Go to the official SKSE page: skse.silverlock.org.
- Download the right version for your game.
- Open the ZIP file and extract it to a folder.
- Copy these files into your Skyrim SE folder (where SkyrimSE.exe is):
- skse64_*.dll
- skse64_loader.exe
- skse64_*.dll (there may be two)
Make sure you don’t install SKSE into the Data folder! That won’t work.
You can delete the rest of the files or read the readme for fun. But those four files are the important ones.
Step 3: Launch Using skse64_loader.exe
This is a biggie. You must launch Skyrim through skse64_loader.exe. Not the regular launcher. Not through Steam.
Here’s how:
- Find skse64_loader.exe in your Skyrim folder.
- Right-click and make a shortcut to your desktop.
- Double-click the shortcut to launch Skyrim.
If you use a mod manager like Mod Organizer 2 or Vortex, you can add this exe as a custom game or tool.
Step 4: Run as Administrator
Sometimes you need big boss energy. Running things as admin can fix permission issues.
- Right-click skse64_loader.exe.
- Select Properties.
- Go to the Compatibility tab.
- Check the box: “Run this program as an administrator.”
Click Apply and save. Try launching again. SkyUI might already be happy now.
Step 5: Use the Right Mod Manager Setup
SkyUI needs SKSE to load before the game starts. Your mod manager must know that.
In Mod Organizer 2:
- Click the gears icon (top left).
- Click Add.
- Name it something like SKSE Launcher.
- Browse and select skse64_loader.exe.
Make sure that’s selected when you launch the game. Not Skyrim.exe or Steam.
In Vortex, go to Dashboard > Add Tool > New, and do the same.
Step 6: Check for Mod Conflicts
Once you have SKSE set up correctly, conflicts are rare. But if SkyUI still complains…
Look for these types of mods:
- UI mods that change menus
- Old versions of SkyUI
- Conflicting SKSE plugins
Try disabling any recent mods you installed. Then test SkyUI again. Sometimes it just needs some space.
Step 7: Install SkyUI Manually (If Needed)
If your mod manager didn’t install SkyUI right, that might cause errors too.
You can try a manual install:
- Download the SkyUI archive from Nexus Mods.
- Unzip it into a clean folder.
- Copy everything into your Skyrim\Data folder.
Overwrite things only if asked.
Next, launch using SKSE again. If all went well, Error Code 1 should be gone!
Bonus Tips
- Make sure your firewall or antivirus isn’t blocking skse64_loader.exe.
- Some people solve it by installing SKSE through MO2’s “Mods” tab. It places things in a virtual folder.
- Check the mod load order. SkyUI should be relatively high up.
If It Still Doesn’t Work?
Don’t give up! Here are a few last-resort tricks:
- Double check you installed the proper version of SKSE for your version of Skyrim (this is often the problem!).
- Use the latest version of SkyUI — preferably 5.2 SE for SSE.
- Join a Skyrim modding Discord. The people are nice. Usually.
Still stuck? Try a fresh reinstall of Skyrim. Start clean. Then:
- Install SKSE first.
- Then install SkyUI.
- Then test before any other mods.
Wrap-up
SkyUI Error Code 1 sounds scary. But it’s really just a missing file… or an eager launcher using the wrong path. With the steps above, you should be back to dragon-slaying in no time!
So go forth, Dovahkiin! Your quests await — this time with a beautiful inventory screen.
Happy modding!
