"Failed to open descriptor file" error with Android target SDK 29

Hi! I have a mobile game in development. It works fine with Android target SDK 28, but due to Google restrictions, I need to update the target SDK version to 29.

I can successfully build a game, but after deploy when I open the game I see an error message “Failed to open descriptor file …/…/…/GameName/GameName.uproject”.

I tried to disable plugins or package project first and then launch it, but no luck, the same error.

My building params:
Building Java with SDK API level ‘android-29’
LogPlayLevel: Building with Build Tools version ‘29.0.3’
NDK toolchain: r21b, NDK version: 21, GccVersion: 4.9, ClangVersion: 9.0.8
LogPlayLevel: Compiling Native 32-bit code with NDK API ‘android-21’
LogPlayLevel: Compiling Native 64-bit code with NDK API ‘android-21’

What I’m doing wrong? Am I missing something?

plus 1 to this, also run into this issue

+1, facing same problem on UE 4.25.3

Same here.
If you build with target 29 and install with abd, is your game working? Because for me, even if I make a fresh project using target sdk 29 it’s crashing with signal 11 log error

Try this.

Adding this tag in application node, Working on UE 4.24.

android:requestLegacyExternalStorage="true"

Ref:
[Android storage use cases and best practices  |  Android Developers][2]

I helped to me, thanks!

Glad I could help!

Unfortunately, your advice didn’t help me. Do you have any other ideas how to fix this?

1 Like

In my case works only when launch on my mobile adding :
android:requestLegacyExternalStorage=“true”,
but if I upload the shipping files to google play console to internal tests the app doesn´t open up and close. I dont know what to do… I´m using UE 4.25.3

I’m using UE4.24 default codework too.

Check things:

  1. API-29 SDK install?
  2. Using other Android SDK folder install by Android Studio ,Must install API-29 SDK
  3. Clean all temporary folder like “intermediate”, “Saved”… , And package project again.

My friend meets same problem, using methods above, and solve it (in my memory).

hello, in UE 4.24 which ndk and sdk do you use?,
if I add the tag in extra tags from node android:requestLegacyExternalStorage=“true”
I can pack the project unreal throws me these errors:

LogPlayLevel: Error: Output: Z:\app\build\intermediates\merged_manifests\debug\processDebugManifest\merged\AndroidManifest.xml:26: AAPT: error: attribute android:requestLegacyExternalStorage not found.
LogPlayLevel: Error: error: failed processing manifest.

I´m using sdk and ndk codeworks which are in UE4.24 by default, is this the problem?

Hi Rotis, I followed your intructions and now I can pack the game in UE4.24. Thank very much!!.

This did not work for me… 4.25.3

me too :frowning:

1 Like

I found the way, refer this link and install SDK 29

Please can you help me , I did what you say but my game still close on splash screen , without any message , i followed this

can you help me.

Look like worked for me, thanks

Did you manage to find the solution?

Adding android:requestLegacyExternalStorage=“true” did not work for me either at 4.26

No way to make it work…same situation here…

4.26.2 + SDK 29…

Anyone of you guys got it working? 4.25 and I too haven’t gotten this to work in distribution build, uploaded to closed Alpha on Google Play.
Added the ExternalStorage didn’t work, I also tried changing the name of the AAB (removing the “-android-shipping” from the name).