You tried to generate project files with a newer VS. Go to Epic Games Launcher > Settings > Unreal Engine > Find 4.18 and click "Options" . Re-check the "Visual Studio 2017" component. If that fails, install VS 2017 manually.

In the fast-paced world of game development, where Unreal Engine 5 now dominates headlines with Nanite and Lumen, it is easy to overlook the older versions that built the foundation of a generation. Yet, the search term remains surprisingly popular. Why?

Make sure you have not filtered your library by "Installed Only." Also, ensure you actually own a UE4 license (any Epic account does). If you created an account after 2022, some users report older UE4 versions being hidden. In that case, contact Epic Support and ask them to add UE 4.18 to your "Legacy Products" page.