How can I fix my UE4 stuck in initializing 18%?

How can I fix my UE4 stuck in initializing 18% Im using the version 4.20.1

What OS are you using?
Blueprints, C++ or both?

I have the same problem in version 4.21.

I’m using Mac OS version 10.14

After Installation of Unreal Engine, Launch and it just stuck at 18%.

Unreal engine likes to recompile shaders often, specially when changing the Engine version, adding a new shader-related plugin or just changing the shader targets for packaging on the project settings, in case of Mac OS, it also varies on the Metal version you use as a target (also defined on the project settings)

But let’s go down to the point:
At 18%, Unreal Engine checks for uncompiled shader systems, if so, it will retarget all shaders, in order to prevent future errors, and this process may take a while, so it will look like it’s stuck, but it’s actually retargeting shaders, just leave it some time, maybe 1 or 2 hours (as maximum) for a very big project.

Even so, if the problem still continues after leaving the editor at 18% for a long time, consider replying.

If succeeded, please let me know too.

will this problem occurred even a totally new installation?

i have the same problem my mac is fully up to date and im using the latest version of the engine, another question i have though is, will the problem persist after opening it this time (first time launching the application) cause i dont want to wait an this long everytime i launch the editor?

I had the same problem in a totally new installation, without any project. I just wanted to start one and it got stuck at 18%. I gave it few (10-15) minutes more and went up to 45% and got stuck again. Then after 1 or 2 minutes, it started working and asking questions, finishing the installation. I use a macbook pro. It’s an old one, from 2012. So I guess I will stop using it because I’m afraid it will fry it’s graphic card, as happened with other programs to my previous macbook. I will have to invest in a desktop computer to play with this.

you should install the Xcode on your mac

Me to I am using a Mac Book Pro 2017 and it is stuck at 18 percent how can I fix it please help (this is my first time using Unreal)

Me too same thing is happeninig

I just Updated my MacOS and right after installing Unreal Engine, at first it took a few minutes for UE4 Editor to even show up and start initializing and then just like for the others it was stuck at 18% and I just left it alone and after 8 minutes it had jumped to 45% and then went a bit smoother after that. So I would say just be patient and wait especially if its the first time.

Hmmm. Tried running the editor about 10 times and got stuck at 18%. Left it for an hour and still stuck at 18%.

Googled and found this post and now it works, thanks for this post.

P.S. I didn’t do anything with my system apart from reading this post on my phone. 6th sense stuff going on :smiley:

On a fresh install of Catalina on a Mac Pro 2013, with Xcode properly installed and xcode-select pointed this way:

sudo xcode-select -s /Applications/Xcode.app/Contents/Developer

and a fresh install of UE 4.26…

I tried launching Epic Games Launcher for the first time to create a new project, so not a big project at all. It stuck at 18% and the load average went to 25, with about 10 copies of ShaderCompil running. After a few minutes, it continued the “initializing” status and eventually the Unreal Editor status window disappeared.

I found the Unreal Project Browser popped-under my Chrome window, but the Load average stayed at 25 and the ShaderCompil instances continued running.

Well yeah, Just needed to wait.

Me too. 2020 M1 MacBook Pro. after few minutes it works normally.

Try to delete UE4 folders in C:/User/AppData/Local and Roaming

NEVER Upgrade your xcode to the version 14. I swear I spent 10 hours looking for the issue. Stay in Xcode 13.3 THATS IT

1 Like

What’s the longest you’ve had to wait? Mine keeps getting stuck on 18%. I left it and went to bed and this morning it’s still on 18% loading. It’s been well over 10 hours now.

Hi ! I have the same issue, it crashes at 18% in the initializing process. But what i have noticed, is that when i check “problems resolution” in the parameters in the epic launcher, it says that my OS is outdated wheras I am in Monterey 12.6.5 ? Can someone help me ?

I have a macbook pro 2019 (Intel)

Thank you