Skip to main content

FAQ & Troubleshooting

The loading screen never goes away​

Something is still asking for it. Turn on Log Reason Every Frame in Project Settings, or run CommonLoadingScreen.LogLoadingScreenReasonEveryFrame 1 in the console, and the log shows the reason every frame. You can also show the reason in your widget, see Displaying Reason.

Common causes:

  • A Should Show Loading Screen function that still returns true.
  • A task from Create Loading Screen Process Task that was never unregistered. The task keeps the loading screen up until you call Unregister on it. Set Timeout Seconds or Unregister With Context Object on the node to make it stop by itself, see Show on Demand.
  • Minimum Display Time or Additional Hold Time is set high.
  • Force Visible is on in Project Settings.
  • No local Player Controller exists yet. The loading screen stays up until at least one does, or until all of them do in split screen.

I only see a spinning throbber instead of my widget​

The plugin could not load the Loading Screen Widget set in Project Settings, and falls back to a throbber. Check that it is included in your packaged build. The log shows Failed to load the loading screen widget.

My widget freezes while the map loads​

Loading a map blocks the game thread, so the widget can't animate. Turn on Use Movie Player During Load Map in Project Settings to keep it animating. See Keeping the widget animated.

Can I use the console while the loading screen is shown?​

Yes, in all builds except Shipping. The console keys are not blocked, and neither is typing while the console is open. The console may be drawn behind the widget, but the commands still run.

The loading screen behaves differently in the editor​

The loading screen works in PIE, with a few differences:

  • The extra hold time only applies when Hold Time Even in Editor is on. It is on by default.
  • Input is not blocked while the loading screen is shown.
  • The splash screen is never shown. Test it in a packaged or standalone game.
  • Use Movie Player During Load Map has no effect.

The splash screen does not show​

  • Check that Disable Splash Screen is off.
  • The splash screen is only shown in a packaged or standalone game, never in the editor.
  • With the IMAGE type, check that the image is a Texture 2D. The plugin's default image is used if none is set.

The loading screen shows on my main menu​

Add the map to Blocked Maps in Project Settings, or add its name to Blocked Map Names. In Blocked Map Names, use the map's asset name, for example MainMenu, not the full path.

Can I use a different loading screen for a specific map?​

Yes. Add the map to Map Overrides in Project Settings and set the widget, movies, tips, images or music you want for it. See Map Overrides.

The loading screen flickers on short loads​

Set Minimum Display Time so the loading screen stays up for a while once shown, and Fade Out Duration to fade it out smoothly.

I get a warning about a legacy config section​

Your DefaultGame.ini still has settings under [/Script/CommonLoadingScreen.CommonLoadingScreenSettings] from an older version. Move them to [/Script/CommonLoadingSettings.CommonLoadingScreenSettings] and remove the old section. See Upgrading from older versions.

Can I skip the loading screen while testing?​

Start the game with -NoLoadingScreen on the command line. This works in all builds except Shipping.

Does the loading screen work on a dedicated server?​

No loading screen is created on a dedicated server. Listen servers and clients show it as normal.