📱 Unreal Engine Android Packaging Guide (UE 5.6 ~ 5.7)

📌 Overview

This guide explains the full process of packaging an Unreal Engine project into an Android APK and installing it on a Meta Quest device.
It covers environment setup, packaging, and deployment.

🧩 Requirements

✅ Unreal Engine

  • Version: 5.6 ~ 5.7

✅ Android Studio

✅ Android SDK / NDK

Component | Version Recommended SDK | 35 Minimum Compile SDK | 34 Target SDK | 34 Minimum SDK | 26 NDK | r27c (29.0.13113456) Build Tools | 35.0.1 Java | OpenJDK 21.0.3

⚙️ 1. Install Android SDK & NDK (Turnkey)

Official Guide:

Steps:

  1. Open Unreal Engine

  2. Go to Edit → Project Settings

  3. Navigate to Platforms → Android

  4. Click "Install SDK"

👉 This ensures correct versions and avoids conflicts.

⚙️ 2. Environment Variables

Verify the following:

JAVA_HOME = C:\Program Files\Android\Android Studio\jbr
ANDROID_HOME = C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk
NDK_ROOT = C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk\ndk\<NDK Version>
NDKROOT = C:\Users\<Username>\AppData\Local\Android\Sdk\ndk\<NDK Version>

Check via terminal:

echo %JAVA_HOME%
echo %ANDROID_HOME%

⚙️ 3. Configure SDK Paths in Unreal

Edit → Project Settings → Platforms → Android → Android SDK

If Unreal does not detect paths automatically, set:

  • SDK Path

  • NDK Path

  • JDK Path

🔧 Manual Config (Advanced)

[/Script/AndroidPlatformEditor.AndroidSDKSettings]
SDKPath=(Path="C:\Android\Sdk")
NDKPath=(Path="C:\Android\Sdk\ndk\r27c")
JDKPath=(Path="C:\Program Files\Android\Android Studio\jbr")

⚙️ 4. Project Settings

Project Settings → Platforms → Android

Required Settings

  • Package Game Data Inside APK → ✅ Enabled

  • Target SDK Version → 34

  • Minimum SDK Version → 26

Recommended Settings

  • Build Configuration → Shipping

  • Full Rebuild → Enabled (recommended for clean builds)

⚙️ 5. Package the Project

Method

File → Package Project → Android

or

Platforms → Android → Package Project

Output Path

<Project>/Saved/StagedBuilds/Android_ASTC/

🎮 6. Install on Meta Quest (SideQuest)

Use SideQuest to install the APK.

📦 Build Output Notes

Inside:

Android_ASTC/

You will typically see multiple APK files.

⚠️ Important Rule

👉 Always choose the largest APK file

  • ❌ Small APK → incomplete (missing assets / requires OBB)

  • ✅ Large APK → fully packaged (includes all data)

📲 Installation Steps

  1. Connect Meta Quest to PC

  2. Open SideQuest

  3. Ensure device shows as connected (green)

  4. Click "Install APK file" or drag & drop APK

  5. Select the largest APK

🚀 Run the App

On Meta Quest:

App Library → Unknown Sources → Launch

⚠️ Troubleshooting

Official Guide:
https://dev.epicgames.com/documentation/en-us/unreal-engine/advanced-setup-and-troubleshooting-guide-for-using-android-sdk?application_version=5.6

❌ SDK Not Found

  • Verify ANDROID_HOME

  • Set SDK path manually

❌ NDK Version Mismatch

  • Use NDK r27c only

  • Remove other versions

❌ Gradle Build Failure

cd <Project>/Intermediate/Android
gradlew clean

❌ Plugin Issues (MetaXR / OpenXR)

  • Disable unsupported plugins for Android

  • Especially:

    • OpenXR (conflicts sometimes)

    • MetaXR (version mismatch → crash)

❌ Java Errors

  • Ensure JDK = OpenJDK 21

  • Verify JAVA_HOME

🧠 Best Practices

  • Always use Turnkey installation

  • Lock SDK / NDK versions (no mixing)

  • Use Android_ASTC build only

  • Enable:

    Package Game Data Inside APK

    → ensures single APK deployment

📌 Final Checklist

  • Android Studio installed

  • SDK / NDK installed via Turnkey

  • Environment variables set

  • Unreal SDK paths verified

  • ASTC build selected

  • Packaging successful

  • Installed via SideQuest

🔚 Conclusion

Most Android build failures come from:

  • Incorrect SDK path

  • Wrong NDK version

  • Misconfigured environment variables

👉 Fix those three, and builds become stable and predictable.