Focused reference · Unreal Engine 5.8

Diagnostic recipes

unreal-packaging-deployment/references/diagnostics-recipes.md
SymptomFirst evidenceBounded next step
black screen at startupGame Default Map and runtime logverify cooked map and staged effective config
works in PIE, asset missing packagedcook root and manifesttrace owning map/Primary Asset/rule; clean target cook
plugin module missingtarget/module/plugin descriptor and binarybuild exact target; remove editor-only/runtime mismatch
DLL/shared library missingstaged tree and OS loader logdeclare RuntimeDependencies; verify architecture/search path
wrong config in packagestaged effective ini/device profileidentify later hierarchy override; remove generated input
cook succeeds, stage failsUAT phase boundary and staging manifestinspect non-asset source path, permissions, disk, stale output
Shipping behaves unlike Developmentlogs via Test/diagnostic candidatecompare compiled flags, modules, config, timing, stripped tools
package unexpectedly hugecontainer/chunk/file size reportrank largest additions and duplicate chunk ownership
tiny change creates huge patchretained base/delta manifestsinspect resaves, compression/encryption, shader order, tool changes
crash has unreadable callstackbuild ID and symbol matchretrieve exact private symbols; never use rebuilt equivalents
clean machine will not launchOS loader/prerequisite/platform logverify prerequisites and loose runtime dependencies
device platform unavailableSDK/toolchain/platform component statusinstall supported version and re-run platform validation

After each fix, rerun the smallest failing phase, then the complete clean artifact and acceptance suite.