Can't resolve build warning "Unable to find package, Instigator: { StartupSoftObjectPath }."

Development Platform & Builds
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TLDR: How do you fix build warnings about missing packages that mention “Instigator: { StartupSoftObjectPath }” ?

I’m getting these missing package build warnings that aren’t resolved by the usual recommended methods:

Packaging (Windows): LogCook: Warning: Unable to find package for cooking /Game/FirstPerson/Input/MobileControls. Instigator: { StartupSoftObjectPath }.
Packaging (Windows): LogCook: Warning: Unable to find package for cooking /Game/ABlueprints/BP_MagnetizerProjectile. Instigator: { StartupSoftObjectPath }.
Packaging (Windows): LogCook: Warning: Unable to find package for cooking /Game/ABlueprints/BP_MagneticObject. Instigator: { StartupSoftObjectPath }.

The MobileControls thing was deleted. The other two were moved to a different folder. All the above was done a few weeks ago so the editor/project has been saved, reloaded, and fixed redirectors many times since.

Some recommended fixes from other posts that did not work:

  1. Fixing up redirectors
  2. Checking for ghost versions of those files in the project folder in Windows Explorer and manually deleting them. Found no files anywhere in the project to delete in the first place.
  3. Deleting DerivedDataCache folder and rebuilding
  4. Enabling “Full Rebuild” in project settings
  5. Searching through .ini files in order to update paths manually. I found no references to these assets anywhere in the .ini files.

I previously had some of the more common “missing package” type warnings earlier that were resolved by these suggestions.

Now only these warnings that included “Instigator: StartupSoftObjectPath” remain, which feels significant, but I can’t find any posts about this specifically.

Looking for further suggestions and info. What is this “StartupSoftObjectPath” referring to?

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Hello there @carrot_soup!

Checking with my peers, the warnings you are receiving should be tied to references looking for old, starter content that has been removed from your project. And even though those packagers were either deleted or moved, the project is still trying to reach them, and their references were not repaired even with redirector fixing.

The thing is, you have already covered most of the methods available to resolve this problem.

My first suggestion would be to redo the .ini files checkups, and include Config files to the search for broken references ( Config/DefaultEngine.ini, Config/DefaultGame.ini, Config/DefaultInput.ini, etc.).

Next, since you deleted DerivedDataCache, I would also add folders Saved and Intermediate to the deletion, then restart UE and allow it to rebuild.

Finally, in order to isolate references for any problematic assets, try creating a simple, test project, migrate all your essentials to it, and check for any warnings popping off. Hope this helps!