Error: unreal engine missing target file

What's Causing This Error

The "unreal engine missing target file" error occurs when the Unreal Engine is unable to locate the build target file for your project. This file, usually named ProjectName.Target.cs for games or ProjectNameEditor.Target.cs for editors, contains essential information needed to compile and build the project. The absence of this target file can be caused by:

• Project Corruption: The project files may have been corrupted or inadvertently altered.
• Source Control Issues: If you're using a version control system, the target files might not have been added or they've been excluded by .gitignore or similar mechanisms.
• File Deletion: The target file may have been accidentally deleted or moved from its expected location within the project directory structure.

Solution - How To Resolve It

To resolve the missing target file issue in Unreal Engine, follow these steps:

1. Verify Source Control: Make sure all necessary files are added and checked in through your version control system. If you're not using source control, skip this step.

2. Regenerate Project Files: Use the 'Generate Visual Studio project files' option by right-clicking your .uproject file in Windows Explorer. This can help regenerate missing or corrupted files.

3. Manually Recreate Target Files: If the above steps don't work, you can manually recreate the target file by following these substeps:

   • Create a new C# script file in your project's Source directory.
   • Name the file ProjectName.Target.cs or ProjectNameEditor.Target.cs based on your project type (game or editor).
   • Copy the contents from another project's target file and modify it to match your project's name and settings.
   • Save the file and try building your project again.

4. Check Project Configuration: Ensure that your project's configuration files (like .uproject and .ini files) are correctly set up and reference the correct target files.

5. Revert to Backup: If you have a backup of your project, revert to a version of the project where the target file was present.

If none of the above solutions work, consider seeking assistance on the Unreal Engine forums or from the support team, providing details about what led to the issue.