Unreal Engine Crashing

Development Platform & Builds Debugging, Optimization, & Profiling
1

Unreal Engine crashes for any Project I open and for any Pronject I create no matter the version:

This is the code I get after it hits’ about 30-40% loaded

LoginId:4ab17a124ffc6d1ed6cc02bd21dcff0f
EpicAccountId:419eef449ec7443dbbc971ec9ffd372d

Unhandled Exception: EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION reading address 0x0000008abc0027e4

UnrealEditor_Core
UnrealEditor_Core
UnrealEditor_Core
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor
UnrealEditor_ShaderCompilerCommon
UnrealEditor_ShaderCompilerCommon
UnrealEditor_RenderCore
UnrealEditor_RenderCore
UnrealEditor_RenderCore
UnrealEditor_Engine
UnrealEditor_Engine
UnrealEditor_Engine
UnrealEditor_Engine
UnrealEditor_Core
UnrealEditor_Core
UnrealEditor_Core
UnrealEditor_Core
UnrealEditor_Core
UnrealEditor_Core
UnrealEditor_Core
kernel32
ntdll

I have updated my Window drive. I have removed all files from

c:\Users\/AppData/Unreal Engine

I have verified the latest version.

2

Hello there @Buckeye2015!

Considering that the crash is happening on any project, be it new or old, and you have tested with different versions of UE, then the issue is most likely outside the platform, nor related to the projects themselves.

Your crash log is aiming at shader related elements (UnrealEditor_ShaderPreprocessor, UnrealEditor_ShaderCompilerCommon, UnrealEditor_RenderCore), suggesting a graphic conflict, which could be about GPU drivers, active overlays, corrupted caches, or the shader compilation itself. Let’s cover these, one by one:

  • I would start with the most common solution, a GPU driver clean up. Use DDU to clear your current install, then replace them with the latest set from your provider. If you are working with nVidia, I strongly suggest testing the Developer drivers, as those are best suited for engine work

  • Another simple test, is to run UE with DirectX 11. To do so, use the -d3d11 tag in your shortcut, and test if the issue remains active

  • Next, check your system for any active overlays running, specially the one from Discord. That overlay has been particularly difficult to work with UE in the last few months. Still, try to disable any other overlays as well (XBOX Bar, MSI Afterburner, GeForce Experience, etc). Same goes for any active overclocking tech in your GPU

  • One more factor that could affect every single version of UE, would be a faulty install or missing component for VS Studio elements. To review all componets required, please check the Epic guide below: