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Connecting Cargo to Unreal

How to activate the Cargo plugin within Unreal Engine and common troubleshooting steps

Maxx Burman avatar
Written by Maxx Burman
Updated this week

Initial Setup

To connect Cargo to Unreal, first, make sure you're using a supported version of Unreal before attempting software setup.

Supported 3D software and render engines

You can view a step-by-step video of connecting Cargo to Unreal HERE.

Ensure Unreal is completely shut down and follow the Basic Software Setup guide:

  1. Go to Cargo > Account > Software Settings, click Add New Software.

  2. Select Unreal from the dropdown menu

  3. Select the Unreal version you wish to connect to Cargo

  4. Allow Cargo to install the plugin behind the scenes

  5. When you see the message below (Activate Your Plugin) Open Unreal, enable the plugin, then activate it within your project.

Step 1

Step 2 & 3

Step 4
After you have selected your version of Unreal, Cargo will install all necessary files to your computer and prompt you to activate your plugin within Unreal.
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Enabling the Cargo Plugin in Unreal

When you see the window above, please move over to Unreal to enable the Cargo plugin

From the main menu in Unreal, go to Edit > Plugins ti open the Plugins menu


Find the Cargo plugin using the list on the left of the screen.
Alternatively, enter Cargo in the Search box to search for all plugin names and descriptions that contain this term.


​To enable the plugin, click the checkbox next to it

Please note the location of the Cargo plugin in the toolbar.

You can connect/disconnect the project plugin by clicking the Cargo icon in your toolbar.

And that’s it!

Unreal is connected to Cargo. You can now import assets directly to your scene.
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⚠️ Cargo does not support versions of Unreal installed using source.

Unreal Troubleshooting

Unreal Not Detected by Cargo

If Unreal is still not detected by Cargo, run “Verify” on your installs of Unreal in the Epic Games launcher.
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Once complete, connect Cargo to Unreal using the steps above. That should resolve the issue.

Cargo plugin installation can't find Unreal

Ensure your version of Unreal is supported : Cargo Supported Software

Try Advanced Setup and help Cargo locate your UnrealEditor.exe

If the Cargo Plugin does not show up in the Unreal Toolbar

If the Cargo Plugin does not show up in your toolbar, ensure that the plugin is enabled.

You can access the Plugins settings in Unreal by accessing these menu actions:

Edit > Plugins > KitBash3D

Connecting Cargo to a different Project

If you would like to change which project Cargo is connected to, you can disconnect Cargo from the currently connected project and connect it to a new one.

Please ensure at any given time that only one project is connected, otherwise Cargo may not correctly send models and materials into the right project.


How to delete the Cargo plugin from Unreal

  1. Close Unreal Engine

    • Make sure Unreal Editor is not running before deleting any plugins.

  2. Find Your Unreal Installation Folder

    • This is typically located in these locations:
      ​

      Windows Example

      C:\Program Files\Epic Games\UE_5.3\Engine\Plugins\Marketplace\Cargo

      macOS Example

      /Users/Shared/Epic Games/UE_5.4/Engine/Plugins/Marketplace/Cargo
      ​

  3. Navigate to the Plugin Path

  4. Right-click the Cargo folder and choose Delete. Confirm when prompted.

  5. Restart Unreal Engine

    • When Unreal reopens, it will no longer reference the deleted plugin.

Cannot import assets into Unreal

If you've successfully enabled the Cargo plugin within Unreal but are receiving an error message after attempting to import an asset, please review the below steps.

First, ensure you're using a supported version of Unreal.

Completely removing all associated Cargo files will ensure that a reinstallation of Cargo is successful at resolving your issue.

Remove Cargo application files - Windows

  1. Navigate to: C:\Users\<YourUsername>\AppData\Roaming

  2. Delete kitbash3d folder

  3. Delete Cargo by KitBash3D folder

  4. Empty Recycle Bin

Uninstall Cargo

  1. From the Start menu, run the Window Uninstaller to uninstall Cargo

  2. Ensure the app has been cleared from your Recycle Bin

Reinstall Cargo

  1. Verify your version of UE through the Epic Launcher (shown above)

  2. Ensure your UE is shut down

  3. Install the latest version of Cargo from https://kitbash3d.com/pages/cargo-download
    (note the file name of the Cargo application is NOT the version number)

  4. Log into Cargo

  5. ACCOUNT > SOFTWARE SETTINGS > ADD NEW SOFTWARE > UNREAL

  6. Allow Cargo to install the plugin into UE

  7. Open UE and enable the Cargo plugin in all locations

  8. Select an asset to import

Retrieve Cargo Logs

If the above steps do not allow you to import an asset into Unreal after a reinstallation, locating and sending our support team the logs will be helpful for the team to see what's going on behind the scenes.
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Windows OS

Take the below steps

  1. In the File Explorer, navigate to: Windows: C:\Users[username]\AppData\Roaming\kitbash3d\Logs\cargo.log
    There are two logs here: cargo.log and cargo-platform-services.log.

  2. Zip up this folder and attach the it to your email (info@kitbash3d.com)

We'll get back to you as soon as our team is able to review the logs.

macOS

  1. In Finder, use CMD+SHIFT+. to reveal hidden folders

  2. In /Users locate the /kitbash3d/ folder

  3. In /kitbash3d/ folder, locate the logs folder

  4. Please email us the cargo.log and cargo-platform-services.log (info@kitbash3d.com)
    ​

Email info@kitbash3d.com

Once our team is able to review the logs, we'll get back to you with more information about the issue you experienced.


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