# How to strip down Unreal GitHub Source **URL:** \ **Category:** Programming & Scripting\ **Tags:** unreal-engine, question\ **Created:** [September 2, 2025, 9:56am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976 "2025-09-02T09:56:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TOYSTORYLAB](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/toystorylab/32/1194793_2.png) [@TOYSTORYLAB](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/TOYSTORYLAB)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2025, 9:56am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/1 "2025-09-02T09:56:25Z")
Not sure whether this is the correct place to ask, but IMHO it seemed to be the most obvious place. I had/have (as Launcher still does not work) quite an Odyssee the last days… See this thread: > [@Install Button 5.6 does nothing](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/install-button-5-6-does-nothing/2651168): > > As title says, when I click on 5.6.0 install button nothing happens… I have several versions installed and never had issues. Now I finally wanted to test 5.6 but it simply does not install. I deleted epic games launcher cache to no avail, I reinstalled launcher to no avail. I definitely have enough space on disk… As Support only gave me standard solutions which I already have done, such as Clear the Epic Games Launcher cache Run the Epic Games Launcher as an administrator Reinstall the Epic Games Launcher … I decided to try to install Unreal Engine with GitHub Source. As I am an animator/filmmaker, definitely not a tech nerd, this was quite challenging but I succeeded… Now I have UE 5.6.1 installed, can connect to my huge assets library on Fab and add assets to my project. So, at least I can start working again. Cons: Bloated Version 240 GB vs probably 50GB with Launcher. In Launcher this installed version is not visible ;-/ As some of my assets have never been added to Fab, one sometimes need launcher to add these to project. Unfortunately Launcher does not know where my created project is, so I can not use these assets. So my questions are: How do I strip the GitHub versions down so they don’t get that big? There are so many things in it, I clearly don’t need. And as I don’t want to make games, so I probably could strip it further down, even less than launcher version? Any idea how to make sure launcher “sees” that UE “GitHub” version? And where in the GitHub Folder would I direct my project so Launcher sees it so I can add assets from launcher (not Fab) to my project? ---
**Author:** ![TOYSTORYLAB](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/toystorylab/32/1194793_2.png) [@TOYSTORYLAB](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/TOYSTORYLAB)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2025, 4:02pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/2 "2025-09-02T16:02:02Z")
Hm, another limitation, I can not install Plugin from Launcher into engine ;-/ This is a huge limitation, so how does one install Plugins from Fab (apparently only possible via Launcher) into a UE GitHub Source version?? ---
**Author:** ![eray\_ozr](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@eray\_ozr](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/eray_ozr)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2025, 4:47pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/3 "2025-09-02T16:47:18Z")
1- you can install your marketplace plugins. Look at Epic Launcher version Engine’s installation path. You will see Plugin/Marketplace like path. Everything is in there. To use them, create a project with source version of engine, create a folder with name “Plugins” copy plugins which you want. 2- There is no straightforward way to strip modules from source code. 3- Sometimes install button doesn’t work. For me problem was about plugin’s install button, not engine’s. But if you have this problem for very long time, you should consider to format your PC because problem can be anything. Currently I don’t have any problem about installing engine versions. ---
**Author:** ![TOYSTORYLAB](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/toystorylab/32/1194793_2.png) [@TOYSTORYLAB](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/TOYSTORYLAB)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2025, 5:07pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/4 "2025-09-02T17:07:39Z")
First of all, thanx for chiming in! The problem is, I have no version of UE installed via launcher, so launcher thinks I have no UE installed… And I need a plugin that should be installed in engine, not in project folder… I just added a plugin that should be in project folder but when I launch that project I get notification that plugin should be built, and then second error, not possible… ![B](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/1/d/9/1d98073eae7873cf4723f000612e559fb32e140b.png) ![A](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/6/c/9/6c9f10a970887b80c0ff41c4ceb7e49e2829ad90.png) Damned, I’m a filmmaker/animator, not a tech nerd! 😭 ---
**Author:** ![zoe\_wxq](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@zoe\_wxq](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/zoe_wxq)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2025, 8:43pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/5 "2025-09-02T20:43:07Z")
hi , you can delete the hidden folder (.git ) to save around 30Gb space. you can clean and recompile the whole source code with disabling debug info (not generate .pdb files) to save huge space , almost like release version downloaded from EPIC Launcher , but after disabling debug info, all built Dlls should copy to a proper location (just like Launcher version) , otherwise you may not run unrealeditor.exe properly. (maybe there is a shell script for copying all built files to a proper location , but i haven’t found it yet….) ---
**Author:** ![TOYSTORYLAB](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/toystorylab/32/1194793_2.png) [@TOYSTORYLAB](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/TOYSTORYLAB)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2025, 8:56pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/6 "2025-09-02T20:56:39Z")
Thanx for chiming in! I doubt I will be able to understand and execute what you wrote but I will check tomorrow as soon I am in the studio… ---
**Author:** ![nande](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/nande/32/1057698_2.png) [@nande](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/nande)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2025, 9:51pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/7 "2025-09-02T21:51:14Z")
i think it could help to just make an “installed build” of the engine from your source build (it’s not that hard). then you can throw away your source build. [Installed Build Reference Guide for Unreal Engine | Unreal Engine 5.6 Documentation | Epic Developer Community](https://dev.epicgames.com/documentation/en-us/unreal-engine/installed-build-reference-guide-for-unreal-engine) but please make sure your installed build covers your needs before deleting the source one. ---
**Author:** ![TOYSTORYLAB](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/toystorylab/32/1194793_2.png) [@TOYSTORYLAB](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/TOYSTORYLAB)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2025, 8:33am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/8 "2025-09-03T08:33:06Z")
Thanx for chiming in… I just checked that link and felt, well, overwhelmed 😁 I doubt I can pull this off… ---
**Author:** ![nande](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/nande/32/1057698_2.png) [@nande](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/nande)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2025, 8:40am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/9 "2025-09-03T08:40:26Z")
Yeah it certainly looks overwhelming. But if you successfully built a source version of the engine youre 90% there. All you ned to do is run one (or two ) commands. Look for the section thats actually named “moke installed build” Im on wy phone so i cant give more details just now. Good luck anyways. ---
**Author:** ![TOYSTORYLAB](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/toystorylab/32/1194793_2.png) [@TOYSTORYLAB](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/TOYSTORYLAB)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2025, 8:42am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/10 "2025-09-03T08:42:19Z")
I’m just trying to make the needed lines… 🦾 ---
**Author:** ![TOYSTORYLAB](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/toystorylab/32/1194793_2.png) [@TOYSTORYLAB](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/TOYSTORYLAB)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2025, 8:57am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/11 "2025-09-03T08:57:23Z")
What I have now: G:\EPIC\GIT\_5.6.1\UnrealEngine-5.6.1-release\Engine\Build\BatchFiles\RunUAT.bat BuildGraph -target=“Make Installed Build Win64” -script=“Engine/Build/InstalledEngineBuild.xml” -clean Hm, not sure where to put this: -set:HostPlatformOnly=[true] (as I want Win64 only) And would I need “DDC”? Also not sure what to do with “Registering an Installed Build”… ---
**Author:** ![TOYSTORYLAB](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/toystorylab/32/1194793_2.png) [@TOYSTORYLAB](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/TOYSTORYLAB)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2025, 10:21am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/12 "2025-09-03T10:21:24Z")
Hm, I asked Chat GPT… This is what it gave me… Any issues with this? @echo off REM ------------------------------- REM Settings REM ------------------------------- set SOURCE\_ROOT=G:\EPIC\GIT\_5.6.1\UnrealEngine-5.6.1-release set INSTALL\_ROOT=G:\EPIC\UE\_5.6.1\_INSTALLED REM ------------------------------- REM Step 1: Make Installed Build (Win64-only, no DDC) REM ------------------------------- echo. echo ===== Building Installed Build (Win64-only, no DDC) ===== “%SOURCE\_ROOT%\Engine\Build\BatchFiles\RunUAT.bat” ^ BuildGraph ^ -target=“Make Installed Build Win64” ^ -script=“%SOURCE\_ROOT%\Engine\Build\InstalledEngineBuild.xml” ^ -set:HostPlatformOnly=true ^ -set:WithDDC=false ^ -clean if %ERRORLEVEL% neq 0 ( echo Build failed! Exiting. pause exit /b %ERRORLEVEL% ) REM ------------------------------- REM Step 2: Copy to clean folder (excluding DDC) REM ------------------------------- echo. echo ===== Copying Installed Build to %INSTALL\_ROOT% ===== if exist “%INSTALL\_ROOT%” ( echo Existing folder found. Removing… rmdir /s /q “%INSTALL\_ROOT%” ) xcopy “%SOURCE\_ROOT%\Engine\Saved\Build\InstalledBuilds\Win64” “%INSTALL\_ROOT%” /E /H /C /I REM Remove any leftover DDC folder if it exists if exist “%INSTALL\_ROOT%\Engine\DerivedDataCache” ( echo Removing leftover DDC folder to save space… rmdir /s /q “%INSTALL\_ROOT%\Engine\DerivedDataCache” ) if %ERRORLEVEL% neq 0 ( echo Copy failed! Exiting. pause exit /b %ERRORLEVEL% ) REM ------------------------------- REM Step 3: Register Installed Build REM ------------------------------- echo. echo ===== Registering Installed Build ===== “%INSTALL\_ROOT%\Engine\Binaries\Win64\UnrealVersionSelector.exe” /register if %ERRORLEVEL% neq 0 ( echo Registration failed! Exiting. pause exit /b %ERRORLEVEL% ) echo. echo ===== Done! ===== echo Your UE 5.6.1 Installed Build is now in “%INSTALL\_ROOT%” and registered with Epic Games Launcher. pause ---
**Author:** ![TOYSTORYLAB](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/toystorylab/32/1194793_2.png) [@TOYSTORYLAB](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/TOYSTORYLAB)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2025, 10:46pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/13 "2025-09-03T22:46:51Z")
After a long day, with the help from Chat GPT, several failed attempts, AutomationTool errors, installing Windows 10 SDK with Debugging Tools, I finally have my “installed build” 😉 Thanx for pushing me in the right direction. Too tired to check launcher connection now, will be for tomorrow! ---
**Author:** ![TOYSTORYLAB](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/toystorylab/32/1194793_2.png) [@TOYSTORYLAB](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/TOYSTORYLAB)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2025, 10:52pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/14 "2025-09-03T22:52:33Z")
UE 5.6.1 GitHub → Installed Build Log (Day 1) 1. Starting point - Installed Unreal Engine 5.6.1 from GitHub Source. - Problem: Source folder = 240 GB, Launcher doesn’t see this build, hard to use Marketplace/Fab assets. - Goal: Create a slim “Installed Build” so it works like the Launcher version. * * * 1. Preparation - Confirmed .NET SDK 9.0.304 installed. - Installed Windows 10/11 SDK with Debugging Tools → pdbcopy.exe found in path. - Verified git version 2.51.0.windows.1. - Rebuilt AutomationTool with dotnet build to avoid warnings-as-errors problem. * * * 1. Installed Build attempt - Created .bat script to run RunUAT.bat BuildGraph -target=“Make Installed Build Win64” … - First run failed due to missing pdbcopy.exe. - After SDK install, build ran 3+ hours and created content in LocalBuilds\Engine\Windows. * * * 1. Results - Found full build output here: - Copied these into: * * * 1. Cleanup & Reorganization - Suggested moving to clean path for Launcher compatibility: - Copied everything there → confirmed UnrealEditor.exe works. - Plan to later remove: * * * 1. Next steps (tomorrow) - Register installed build so Epic Games Launcher detects UE 5.6.1 in G:\EPIC\Engines\5.6.1. - Test whether Launcher can add Marketplace/Fab assets into projects using this build. - Decide what can safely be deleted to reclaim disk space. * * * ✅ Current safe entry point: G:\EPIC\Engines\5.6.1\Engine\Binaries\Win64\UnrealEditor.exe ---
**Author:** ![nande](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/nande/32/1057698_2.png) [@nande](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/nande)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2025, 10:59pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/15 "2025-09-03T22:59:39Z")
sorry i wasn’t at the pc when you posted. that missing pdb is a classic issue. there are posts in the forum here for that. awesome work man! i don’t trust gpts, i usually rather search the forums or online, but im glad you made it work. that summary seems good to me. thanks for sharing. ---
**Author:** ![TOYSTORYLAB](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/toystorylab/32/1194793_2.png) [@TOYSTORYLAB](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/TOYSTORYLAB)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2025, 12:24pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/16 "2025-09-04T12:24:06Z")
No problem… Unfortunately Launcher does not recognize my build… So I still can’t use assets that need launcher instead of Fab and I can not install plugins to engine ;-/ ---
**Author:** ![nande](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/nande/32/1057698_2.png) [@nande](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/nande)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2025, 8:28pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/17 "2025-09-04T20:28:21Z")
Ohh. I see. I thought that by registering it, it would show up on the launcher. You can try this one. I use it on linuk, it works on windows too. If it doesnt detect the engine it can still dowload tte plugins. But im sure it can detect the engines as it detects my source build. > **[Asset Manager Studio](https://assetmanager.studio/)** ---
**Author:** ![TOYSTORYLAB](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/toystorylab/32/1194793_2.png) [@TOYSTORYLAB](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/TOYSTORYLAB)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2025, 12:03pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/18 "2025-09-05T12:03:59Z")
Sorry for seeing your reply so late… Resignation made me do some work at home that urgently had to be done 😉 I don’t know why nobody pointed me to this Manager. As it probably would have saved me a ton of work. It recognizes my build though at the moment I am a bit sceptic as a first test to install plugin to that engine took quite long but I saw no progress and aborted. Now I am trying to install another Engine Version… Download is very slow (I have fast internet) but at least I see it growing which was not the case with Epic Launcher. And what makes me wonder is that it only shows the initial versions (5.6, 5.5, 5.4, …) but no in-between versions. The same behaviour as Epic Launcher does. Though in a video about the Manager I can see it normally does show those in-between versions. I really have no idea why and Epic support has been silent for days… Anyway, thanx for pointing to that alternate launcher. I will report! ---
**Author:** ![nande](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/nande/32/1057698_2.png) [@nande](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/nande)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2025, 9:51pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/19 "2025-09-05T21:51:45Z")
> [@TOYSTORYLAB](#): > > I don’t know why nobody pointed me to this Manager. the manager is well known in linux spheres, but not so much on windows. it took me a while to realize you can install it on windows (lol, sorry). kudos to the dev to make it multiplatform. > [@TOYSTORYLAB](#): > > As it probably would have saved me a ton of work. sorry about that, i didn’t realized it would solve your issue. i got “anchored” (bias) by the question title and hyper-focused on how to make github work. also recommending AMS was a spark of inspiration really. as i don’t use it to install the engine, but only install plugin, so it only occurred to me when you mentioned plugins. > [@TOYSTORYLAB](#): > > Download is very slow (I have fast internet) yeah that’s sometimes something that happens. the dev is working on it afaik. > [@TOYSTORYLAB](#): > > it only shows the initial versions (5.6, 5.5, 5.4, …) but no in-between versions not sure what you mean by that. this is what i see in my install. if it only shows you the base number. it means the latest for that number. so 5.6 would mean 5.6.1 iirc. since epic only provides the latest one of each. ![image](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/a/9/c/a9cbbc28fc297b4d864d7c422a28da655f6e384d.png) > [@TOYSTORYLAB](#): > > Though in a video about the Manager I can see it normally does show those in-between versions. maybe it shows all versions for linux, but not for windows. anyway, try installing a version then running the editor and go to Help\>About. and check the version. it’s not clear to me ho much you’ve tried, but do keep trying. hopefully you’ll get it solved soon. pd you’re not the only one who can’t install from epic’s launcher, i’ve seen that qjuestion at least 2 more times here in the forums. so it’ll epic could be fixing it atm. ---
**Author:** ![TOYSTORYLAB](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/toystorylab/32/1194793_2.png) [@TOYSTORYLAB](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/TOYSTORYLAB)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2025, 8:54am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976/20 "2025-09-06T08:54:09Z")
Sorry, this “I don’t know why nobody pointed me to this Manager.” should not sound as a rant against you, I meant this esp. for my initial call for help (see link at top of this thread…). I only see the “full” versions, 5.6.0 not 5.6.1 / 5.5 not 5.5.4 …) ![UE](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/1/4/c/14c17f9704065f71ec30ecd62034c7b2cf09ba57.jpeg) I just installed Launcher on my Laptop for the first time, the same behaviour, and it also won’t install Unreal… So this clearly is something within my account, blocking the process, not an issue with my PC. Epic support still remains silent. And the downloading process via Asset Manager Studio is still running (48%) 😅 I even could not install Fab Plugin to my build with AMS. So, I am really desperate, I spent so much money on Marketplace/Fab in the last 5 years, and Support seems not willing to help me… [Next page](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/how-to-strip-down-unreal-github-source/2652976.md?page=2)