[Eclipse] How to Fix Error: project description file (.project) for … is missing

Details: Written by Nam Ha Minh; Last Updated on 28 October 2023 | Print Email

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This post provides a solution for resolving this error in Eclipse IDE: ‘Open Project’ has encountered a problem. The project description file (.project) for ‘ProjectName’ is missing…

This error usually occurs when you import a project from another workspace that is written by older version of Eclipse. So when you try to open such a project, the following error message appears:

If you check the project directory, the .project file is still there. But somehow Eclipse can’t understand it.

To fix this error, just delete the project from the workspace, and import again. Right click on the project, then click Delete from the context menu:

The following confirmation dialog appears. DO NOT choose Delete project contents on disk. Then click OK:

Eclipse will just remove project definition from the workspace. The actual project files are still there.

Now, click menu File > Import… Choose General > Existing Projects into Workspace:

Click Next. Click Browse button in the option Select root directory, then choose the project directory. You should see the project name appears in the list Projects:

Click Finish. The project will be opened successfully and the above error project description file (.project) for … is missing is gone.

I hope you found this short post helpful. Thanks for reading. You can also watch the following video to see ho I fixed this error in real life project:

About the Author:

Nam Ha Minh is certified Java programmer (SCJP and SCWCD). He began programming with Java back in the days of Java 1.4 and has been passionate about it ever since. You can connect with him on Facebook and watch his Java videos on YouTube.