diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 131cc96e..16cc2063 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ project("UnityHubNative")
 set(CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR})
 set(CMAKE_RUNTIME_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/$<CONFIGURATION>)
 set(CMAKE_LIBRARY_OUTPUT_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/$<CONFIGURATION>)
+set(CMAKE_XCODE_ATTRIBUTE_DEBUG_INFORMATION_FORMAT "dwarf-with-dsym" CACHE INTERNAL "")
 
 option(BUILD_SHARED_LIBS OFF "Build static")
 
@@ -101,7 +102,6 @@ INSTALL(CODE
 		EXE \"${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/$<CONFIGURATION>/${PROJECT_NAME}\"
 		NAME \"${PROJECT_NAME}\"
 		ICON \"${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/source/wxlin.xpm\"
-		DIR_ICON \"${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/source/wxlin.xpm\"
 		OUTPUT_NAME \"${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/$<CONFIGURATION>/${PROJECT_NAME}.AppImage\"
 		ASSETS \"\"
 	)
diff --git a/appimage.cmake b/appimage.cmake
index 16e79350..c8485f91 100644
--- a/appimage.cmake
+++ b/appimage.cmake
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 function(make_appimage)
 	set(optional)
-	set(args EXE NAME DIR_ICON ICON OUTPUT_NAME)
+	set(args EXE NAME ICON OUTPUT_NAME)
 	set(list_args ASSETS)
 	cmake_parse_arguments(
 		PARSE_ARGV 0
@@ -22,10 +22,13 @@ function(make_appimage)
         execute_process(COMMAND chmod +x ${AIT_PATH})
     endif()
 
-    # make the AppDir
+    # make the AppDir and icons directory
     set(APPDIR "${CMAKE_BINARY_DIR}/AppDir")
+    set(RICONDIR "usr/share/icons/hicolor/512x512/apps") # relative icon dir
+    set(ICONDIR "${APPDIR}/${RICONDIR}")
     file(REMOVE_RECURSE "${APPDIR}")       # remove if leftover
     file(MAKE_DIRECTORY "${APPDIR}")
+    file(MAKE_DIRECTORY "${ICONDIR}")
 
     # copy executable to appdir
     file(COPY "${ARGS_EXE}" DESTINATION "${APPDIR}" FOLLOW_SYMLINK_CHAIN)
@@ -42,16 +45,15 @@ cd \"$(dirname \"$0\")\";
     # copy assets to appdir
     file(COPY ${ARGS_ASSETS} DESTINATION "${APPDIR}")
 
-    # copy icon thumbnail
-    file(COPY ${ARGS_DIR_ICON} DESTINATION "${APPDIR}")
-    get_filename_component(THUMB_NAME "${ARGS_DIR_ICON}" NAME)
-    file(RENAME "${APPDIR}/${THUMB_NAME}" "${APPDIR}/.DirIcon")
-
-    # copy icon highres
-    file(COPY ${ARGS_ICON} DESTINATION "${APPDIR}")
+    # copy icon
+    file(COPY ${ARGS_ICON} DESTINATION "${ICONDIR}")
     get_filename_component(ICON_NAME "${ARGS_ICON}" NAME)
     get_filename_component(ICON_EXT "${ARGS_ICON}" EXT)
-    file(RENAME "${APPDIR}/${ICON_NAME}" "${APPDIR}/${ARGS_NAME}${ICON_EXT}")
+    file(RENAME "${ICONDIR}/${ICON_NAME}" "${ICONDIR}/${ARGS_NAME}${ICON_EXT}")
+
+    # create icon symlinks
+    file(CREATE_LINK "${RICONDIR}/${ARGS_NAME}${ICON_EXT}" "${APPDIR}/.DirIcon" SYMBOLIC)
+    file(CREATE_LINK "${RICONDIR}/${ARGS_NAME}${ICON_EXT}" "${APPDIR}/${ARGS_NAME}${ICON_EXT}" SYMBOLIC)
 
     # Create the .desktop file
     file(WRITE "${APPDIR}/${ARGS_NAME}.desktop" 
@@ -59,6 +61,7 @@ cd \"$(dirname \"$0\")\";
 Type=Application
 Name=${ARGS_NAME}
 Icon=${ARGS_NAME}
+Exec=AppRun
 Categories=X-None;"    
     )
 
diff --git a/source/Info.plist b/source/Info.plist
index 9032b5e1..21cce0b8 100755
--- a/source/Info.plist
+++ b/source/Info.plist
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 	<key>CFBundleExecutable</key>
 	<string>$(PRODUCT_NAME)</string>
 	<key>CFBundleGetInfoString</key>
-	<string>$(PRODUCT_NAME) (c) 2022 Ravbug</string>
+	<string>$(PRODUCT_NAME) (c) 2023 Ravbug</string>
 	<key>CFBundleIconFile</key>
 	<string>wxmac.icns</string>
 	<key>CFBundleIdentifier</key>
@@ -22,13 +22,13 @@
 		<string>it</string>
 	</array>
 	<key>CFBundleLongVersionString</key>
-	<string>(c) 2022 Ravbug</string>
+	<string>(c) 2023 Ravbug</string>
 	<key>CFBundleName</key>
 	<string>$(PRODUCT_NAME)</string>
 	<key>CFBundlePackageType</key>
 	<string>APPL</string>
 	<key>CFBundleShortVersionString</key>
-	<string>1.52</string>
+	<string>1.53</string>
 	<key>CFBundleSignature</key>
 	<string>????</string>
 	<key>CFBundleVersion</key>
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 	<key>LSApplicationCategoryType</key>
 	<string>public.app-category.developer-tools</string>
 	<key>NSHumanReadableCopyright</key>
-	<string>Copyright 2022 Ravbug</string>
+	<string>Copyright 2023 Ravbug</string>
 	<key>NSPrincipalClass</key>
 	<string>wxNSApplication</string>
 </dict>
diff --git a/source/activation.cpp b/source/activation.cpp
index d34b421c..cb5efd8f 100644
--- a/source/activation.cpp
+++ b/source/activation.cpp
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ void PersonalActivationDlg::OnCreateHit(wxCommandEvent& evt)
 		wxSetWorkingDirectory(root.string());
 		wxProcess proc(wxPROCESS_DEFAULT);
 		wxExecute(cmd, wxEXEC_SYNC);
-		reveal_in_explorer(wxGetCwd());
+		reveal_in_explorer(std::filesystem::path(wxGetCwd().ToStdString()));
 		wxSetWorkingDirectory(cwd);
 	}
 }
diff --git a/source/globals.cpp b/source/globals.cpp
index a46af0f6..f68a3a61 100644
--- a/source/globals.cpp
+++ b/source/globals.cpp
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #include "globals.h"
 #include <fmt/format.h>
 #include <wx/listctrl.h>
+#include <wx/msgdlg.h>
 
 void launch_process(const std::string& command, int flags) {
 #if defined __APPLE__ || defined __linux__
@@ -16,18 +17,24 @@ void launch_process(const std::string& command, int flags) {
 #endif
 }
 
-void reveal_in_explorer(const std::string& path) {
+void reveal_in_explorer(const std::filesystem::path& path) {
 #if defined __APPLE__
-	std::string command = "open \"" + path + "\"";
+	std::string command = "open \"" + path.string() + "\"";
 
 #elif defined __linux__
-	std::string command = "xdg-open \"" + path + "\"";
+	std::string command = "xdg-open \"" + path.string() + "\"";
 
 #elif defined _WIN32
 	//do not surround the paths in quotes, it will not work
-	std::string command = "\\Windows\\explorer.exe \"" + path + "\"";
+	std::string command = "\\Windows\\explorer.exe \"" + path.string() + "\"";
 #endif
-	launch_process(command);
+	if (std::filesystem::exists(path)) {
+		launch_process(command);
+	}
+	else {
+		wxMessageBox("The project at " + path.string() + " could not be found.", "Cannot Reveal Project", wxOK | wxICON_ERROR);
+	}
+
 }
 
 long wxListCtrl_get_selected(wxListCtrl* listCtrl) {
diff --git a/source/globals.h b/source/globals.h
index b340ec84..756751fc 100644
--- a/source/globals.h
+++ b/source/globals.h
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
 static constexpr std::string_view projectsFile = "projects.txt";
 static constexpr std::string_view editorPathsFile = "editorPaths.txt";
 static constexpr std::string_view templatePrefix = "com.unity.template";
-static constexpr std::string_view AppVersion = "v1.52";
+static constexpr std::string_view AppVersion = "v1.53";
 
 struct wxListCtrl;
 struct wxWindow;
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ void launch_process(const std::string& command, int flags = 0);
 * Open system file explorer to path
 * @param path the item to show
 */
-void reveal_in_explorer(const std::string& path);
+void reveal_in_explorer(const std::filesystem::path& path);
 
 /**
  Gets the first selected item in a wxListCtrl. If the wxListCtrl is set to single selection, this method will retrive the only selected item.
diff --git a/source/interface_derived.cpp b/source/interface_derived.cpp
index bc1f2c3c..1e2d7011 100644
--- a/source/interface_derived.cpp
+++ b/source/interface_derived.cpp
@@ -203,27 +203,10 @@ void MainFrameDerived::LoadProjects(const std::string &filter){
         vector<string> erroredProjects;
         //load each project (each path is on its own line)
         while (getline(in, line)){
-            try{
-                project pr = LoadProject(line);
-                AddProject(pr,filter);
-            }
-            catch(runtime_error& e){
-                //remove project
-                erroredProjects.push_back(line);
-            }
-        }
-        //alert user if projects could not be loaded
-        if (erroredProjects.size() > 0){
-            //build string
-            string str;
-            for (const auto& s : erroredProjects){
-                str += s + "\n";
-            }
-            //message box
-            wxMessageBox("The following projects could not be loaded. They have been removed from the list.\n\n"+str, "Loading error", wxOK | wxICON_WARNING );
-            
-            //save to remove the broken projects
-            SaveProjects();
+
+            project pr = LoadProject(line);
+            AddProject(pr,filter);
+
         }
     }
 }
@@ -243,7 +226,7 @@ void MainFrameDerived::OnAbout(wxCommandEvent& event)
 {
 	wxAboutDialogInfo aboutInfo;
 	aboutInfo.SetName("Unity Hub Native");	
-	aboutInfo.SetCopyright("(C) Ravbug 2022");
+	aboutInfo.SetCopyright("(C) Ravbug 2023");
 	aboutInfo.SetDescription("Developed with wxWidgets in C++");
 #if defined __linux__
 	aboutInfo.SetWebSite("https://github.com/ravbug/UnityHubNative");
@@ -365,7 +348,7 @@ void MainFrameDerived::OnRevealProject(wxCommandEvent& event){
 	long selectedIndex = wxListCtrl_get_selected(projectsList);
 	if (selectedIndex > -1){
 		project& p = projects[selectedIndex];
-		reveal_in_explorer(p.path.string());
+		reveal_in_explorer(p.path);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -472,33 +455,33 @@ string MainFrameDerived::GetPathFromDialog(const string& message)
  */
 project MainFrameDerived::LoadProject(const std::filesystem::path &p_as_fs){
 	//error if the file does not exist
-	if (!filesystem::exists(p_as_fs)){
-		throw runtime_error(p_as_fs.string() + " does not exist.");
-	}
+	
 	
 	//the name is the final part of the path
 	string name = p_as_fs.filename().string();
-	
+	string version = "??";
+
 	//Load ProjectSettings/ProjectVersion.txt to get the editor version, if it exists
 	std::filesystem::path projSettings = p_as_fs / "ProjectSettings" / "ProjectVersion.txt";
-	if (!filesystem::exists(projSettings)){
-		throw runtime_error("No ProjectVersion.txt found at " + p_as_fs.string() + "\n\nEnsure the folder you selected is the root folder of a complete Unity project.");
+	if (filesystem::exists(projSettings)){
+		//the first line of ProjectVersion.txt contains the editor verison as plain text
+		ifstream inFile;
+		inFile.open(projSettings);
+		getline(inFile, version);
+		version = version.substr(17);
 	}
 	
-	//the first line of ProjectVersion.txt contains the editor verison as plain text
-	string version;
-	ifstream inFile;
-	inFile.open(projSettings);
-	getline(inFile,version);
-	version = version.substr(17);
-	
 	//get the modification date
-	struct stat fileInfo;
-	if (stat(p_as_fs.string().c_str(), &fileInfo) != 0) {
-		throw runtime_error("Cannot get modification date. Ensure this program has access to "+p_as_fs.string());
+	string modifyDate;
+	struct stat fileInfo {};
+	if (filesystem::exists(p_as_fs)) {
+		if (stat(p_as_fs.string().c_str(), &fileInfo) == 0) {
+			modifyDate = ctime(&fileInfo.st_mtime);
+		}
 	}
 	
-	project p = {name,version,ctime(&fileInfo.st_mtime),p_as_fs,};
+	
+	project p = {name,version,modifyDate,p_as_fs,};
 	return p;
 }
 
diff --git a/source/interface_derived.hpp b/source/interface_derived.hpp
index d1b694e8..9ebf8d40 100644
--- a/source/interface_derived.hpp
+++ b/source/interface_derived.hpp
@@ -139,10 +139,10 @@ class MainFrameDerived : public MainFrame{
 			editor& e = editors[id];
 			std::filesystem::path path = e.path / e.name;
             if (!std::filesystem::exists(path)){
-                reveal_in_explorer(e.path.string());
+                reveal_in_explorer(e.path);
             }
             else{
-                reveal_in_explorer(path.string());
+                reveal_in_explorer(path);
             }
 		}
 	}
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ class MainFrameDerived : public MainFrame{
 	void OnRevealInstallLocation(wxCommandEvent& event){
 		int id = installsPathsList->GetSelection();
 		if (id != wxNOT_FOUND){
-			reveal_in_explorer(installPaths[id].string());
+			reveal_in_explorer(installPaths[id]);
 		}
 	}
     void OnOpenHub(wxCommandEvent& event);