# Reference Level Instance actor from Persistent Level **URL:** \ **Category:** Feedback & Requests\ **Tags:** unreal-engine, WorldPartition\ **Created:** [June 29, 2021, 9:07am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/reference-level-instance-actor-from-persistent-level/238013 "2021-06-29T09:07:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![brifsttar](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@brifsttar](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/brifsttar)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2021, 9:07am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/reference-level-instance-actor-from-persistent-level/238013/1 "2021-06-29T09:07:38Z")
In UE4, if you want to reference, from the Persistent Level, an actor that’s in a sublevel, you can just create a soft reference to it. However, this doesn’t seem to work with World Partition’s Level Instances. I’m not sure if it’s by design, not implemented yet, or broken. Below are multiple tries at this, simply by trying to reference a cube that’s in a Level Instance from the Persistent Level. First, I tried to select my cube from the soft reference variable dropdown menu. As you can see, the cube isn’t available in the dropdown. ![image](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/3X/2/9/290eaf20abe2e81795bbb4ccf54b131078f276a3.png) The second try is using the “Pick actor from scene” button. With that, I can pick the cube from the scene, which properly initializes the variable. ![image](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/3X/7/5/75705f595497b504d2f77dc908f8de1174b36d3e.png) However, at runtime, the soft reference fails to be resolved. ![image](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/3X/9/5/957bf2bc49071bedff552dd36a5430562728294b.png) The third try is by going in “Edit Mode” on the Level Instance. In such case, the cube becomes available in the soft reference variable dropdown menu. ![image](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/3X/c/c/ccf2670cbadc3fe7af73a733ca03885bf1fb6441.png) However, as soon as we exit “Edit Mode”, we get the following warning. ![image](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/3X/0/d/0d78e4d3fd0af5935e576bddca0e52580f851d05.png) And if we try to play, the soft reference also fails to resolve. ![image](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/3X/5/9/599533b56ca8b08f126dff621e31f7ef936cd01a.png) So all in all, I’m not sure if that’s expected or not, and what will be the status of that at 5.0. But being able to reference actors in Level Instance would be pretty important for us, so I hope to at least get some clarification on that. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![ShocapEnt](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@ShocapEnt](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/ShocapEnt)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2022, 5:31pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/reference-level-instance-actor-from-persistent-level/238013/2 "2022-10-03T17:31:10Z")
Any update on this? It’s still appears to be a very real issue. ---
**Author:** ![Noisegrinder](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Noisegrinder](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Noisegrinder)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2023, 12:14pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/reference-level-instance-actor-from-persistent-level/238013/3 "2023-08-25T12:14:28Z")
Using UE5.2 now but still can’t directly reference actors from a level instance. This is a very important feature as level instance is currently the only way to do the encapsulation of “Actor Composition”, which supplements blueprint class’s “Component Composition”. ---
**Author:** ![PREDALIEN](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/predalien/32/1194670_2.png) [@PREDALIEN](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/PREDALIEN)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2023, 1:03pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/reference-level-instance-actor-from-persistent-level/238013/4 "2023-10-30T13:03:10Z")
To successfully resolve a reference to an actor located inside a level instance at runtime, you need to get object path string and replace symbols from \_0. to \_1. then do make soft reference back which will now resolve successfully Apparently this is some kind of mark by which you can determine when the reference was received (editor time (0), or runtime (1)). ---
**Author:** ![Moliata](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Moliata](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Moliata)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 3:20pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/reference-level-instance-actor-from-persistent-level/238013/5 "2024-10-19T15:20:31Z")
Is this still not possible? It seems to be listed on the [public roadmap](https://portal.productboard.com/epicgames/1-unreal-engine-public-roadmap/c/1238-level-instances-soft-object-references) as implemented in UE 5.4 but I can’t seem to get it to work. ---
**Author:** ![PREDALIEN](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/predalien/32/1194670_2.png) [@PREDALIEN](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/PREDALIEN)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2024, 4:34pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/reference-level-instance-actor-from-persistent-level/238013/6 "2024-10-19T16:34:49Z")
My workaround. It worked in 5.1, probably works in later versions too. ![image](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/b/3/e/b3e4f30d82282ff7a09dd33e0162915bbbbb69c2.png) ---
**Author:** ![Moliata](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Moliata](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Moliata)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2024, 2:37am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/reference-level-instance-actor-from-persistent-level/238013/7 "2024-11-02T02:37:14Z")
This is a great hacky workaround but something like this should be natively supported. Even more so, when it’s supposedly “already implemented” (unless I’m somehow misreading the 5.4 roadmap’s description) ---
**Author:** ![PREDALIEN](https://d1ap1mz92jnks1.cloudfront.net/user_avatar/forums.unrealengine.com/predalien/32/1194670_2.png) [@PREDALIEN](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/PREDALIEN)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 7:24am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/reference-level-instance-actor-from-persistent-level/238013/8 "2024-11-05T07:24:46Z")
I was sure that it was done, but I didn’t check it personally (I work on 5.1). I thought maybe Epic meant a new structure with choosing an actor reference. But it seems that it is not there either (although a structure for choosing a level has appeared) 🙄 ![image](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/5/a/3/5a3a69146a9a70d6acd4cc311913d568e970561c.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![user\_4d9b0a58e88575d4b40f7e7f518ed36a0f7de0e6d464be8ce8a73c](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@user\_4d9b0a58e88575d4b40f7e7f518ed36a0f7de0e6d464be8ce8a73c](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/user_4d9b0a58e88575d4b40f7e7f518ed36a0f7de0e6d464be8ce8a73c)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2025, 10:21am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/reference-level-instance-actor-from-persistent-level/238013/10 "2025-03-14T10:21:14Z")
In UE5.4, they can refer to it by enabling the CVar **Editorpaths.Enabled**. ---
**Author:** ![Andrea\_Buttarini](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Andrea\_Buttarini](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Andrea_Buttarini)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2025, 1:16pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/reference-level-instance-actor-from-persistent-level/238013/12 "2025-03-25T13:16:46Z")
Can you explain how to use it? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![user\_4d9b0a58e88575d4b40f7e7f518ed36a0f7de0e6d464be8ce8a73c](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@user\_4d9b0a58e88575d4b40f7e7f518ed36a0f7de0e6d464be8ce8a73c](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/user_4d9b0a58e88575d4b40f7e7f518ed36a0f7de0e6d464be8ce8a73c)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2025, 3:41am UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/reference-level-instance-actor-from-persistent-level/238013/13 "2025-03-26T03:41:26Z")
After adding the following section to DefaultEngine.ini, it will take effect when you start the editor. ```auto [ConsoleVariables] EditorPaths.Enabled=1 ``` Referencing an actor while in Edit mode for a level instance can be resolved at runtime. However, the reference does not seem to resolve if WorldPartition is enabled… ---
**Author:** ![Andrea\_Buttarini](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Andrea\_Buttarini](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Andrea_Buttarini)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2025, 8:53pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/reference-level-instance-actor-from-persistent-level/238013/15 "2025-03-28T20:53:42Z")
Interesting. Thank you for the explanation! I’ll try it. ---
**Author:** ![Skypunk\_Dev](https://d3kjluh73b9h9o.cloudfront.net/original/4X/2/8/5/28502927f1d97ba1051b3b47ccfe17233bf41ef0.png) [@Skypunk\_Dev](https://forums.unrealengine.com/u/Skypunk_Dev)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2025, 11:20pm UTC](https://forums.unrealengine.com/t/reference-level-instance-actor-from-persistent-level/238013/16 "2025-09-05T23:20:33Z")
This plugin supports world partition > **[Level Instance Actor Resolver](https://www.fab.com/listings/41cd5c60-e1e6-4cfb-bc3a-a169a25d1544)** > > Level Instance Actor ResolverExample Video HEREEasily resolve actors within a loaded Level Instance at runtime with the Level Instance Actor Resolver plugin. Eliminate the need to break Level Instances to reference their owned actors, even when...