Unity-Technologies/UnityCsReference · critical · InvalidImportException

Failed to find in .

Error message

Failed to find {path} in {location}.

What it means

RenderPipelineResourcesEditorUtils.Load throws InvalidImportException when a ProjectPath asset cannot be resolved to a GUID, meaning the asset does not exist at the given project path. This occurs during render pipeline resource loading when a required shader or asset is missing from the project.

Solutions

1. Verify the asset exists at the given path using AssetDatabase.LoadAssetAtPath or AssetDatabase.AssetPathToGUID.
2. Ensure the correct render pipeline package (URP/HDRP) is installed via Package Manager.
3. If upgrading, re-import render pipeline resources or reset them via Edit > Project Settings > Graphics.
4. Check that the path uses forward slashes and is relative to the project (e.g., 'Packages/com.unity.render-pipelines.universal/...').

Example fix

// before
var shader = resource.Load("Packages/com.unity.render-pipelines.universal/Shaders/Lit.shader", typeof(Shader), SearchType.ProjectPath);
// after
var guid = AssetDatabase.AssetPathToGUID(path);
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(guid))
    var shader = resource.Load(path, typeof(Shader), SearchType.ProjectPath);
else
    Debug.LogError($"Render pipeline asset missing at: {path}. Reinstall the package.");

var guid = AssetDatabase.AssetPathToGUID(path);
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(guid))
    var asset = resource.Load(path, type, SearchType.ProjectPath);
else
    Debug.LogError($"Asset not found at project path: {path}");

static bool ProjectAssetExists(string path) => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(AssetDatabase.AssetPathToGUID(path));

try
{
    var asset = resource.Load(path, type, SearchType.ProjectPath);
}
catch (InvalidImportException ex)
{
    Debug.LogError($"Render pipeline asset missing: {path}. Reinstall URP/HDRP package.");
}

When it happens

Trigger: Loading a render pipeline resource at a ProjectPath where AssetDatabase.AssetPathToGUID(path) returns an empty string, indicating no asset exists at that path.

Common situations: Render pipeline resources (SRP, URP, HDRP) reference shader/material paths that don't exist because the package isn't installed, the asset was deleted, or a version upgrade changed asset locations. Common after upgrading Unity or switching render pipelines.

Related errors

• Host type is not matching any asset type at Path
• Cannot load. Path is correct but AssetDatabase cannot load…
• A shader ' ' cannot depend on the 'srp/default-shader'…
• Given rpAssetType must derive from RenderPipelineAsset
• renderingLayerNames is null or empty

AI-assisted analysis of Unity-Technologies/UnityCsReference@225b0fbdb5 (2026-08-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/464e02c3b08bd602. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at Editor/Mono/RenderPipelineResourcesEditorUtils.cs:180

            bool SetAndLoadIfNull(Array array, int index, string path, SearchType location)
            {
                var element = array.GetValue(index);
                if (IsNull(element))
                {
                    array.SetValue(Load(path, array.GetType().GetElementType(), location), index);
                    return true;
                }

                return false;
            }

            UnityEngine.Object Load(string path, Type type, SearchType location)
            {
                // Check if asset exist.
                // Direct loading can be prevented by AssetDatabase being reloading.
                var guid = AssetDatabase.AssetPathToGUID(path);
                if (location == SearchType.ProjectPath && String.IsNullOrEmpty(guid))
                    throw new InvalidImportException($"Failed to find {path} in {location}.");

                UnityEngine.Object result = type == typeof(Shader)
                    ? LoadShader(path, location)
                    : LoadNonShaderAssets(path, type, location);
                
                if (IsNull(result))
                    switch (location)
                    {
                        case SearchType.ProjectPath:
                            CheckTypeMismatch(path, type);
                            throw new InvalidImportException($"Cannot load. Path {path} is correct but AssetDatabase cannot load now.");
                        case SearchType.ShaderName: throw new InvalidImportException($"Failed to find {path} in {location}.");
                        case SearchType.BuiltinPath: throw new InvalidImportException($"Failed to find {path} in {location}.");
                        case SearchType.BuiltinExtraPath: throw new InvalidImportException($"Failed to find {path} in {location}.");
                    }
                    
                return result;
            }

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