Unity-Technologies/UnityCsReference · error · FileNotFoundException

The template file "{templatePath}" could not be found.

Error message

The template file "{templatePath}" could not be found.

What it means

ProjectWindowUtil.CreateScriptAssetFromTemplateFile throws a FileNotFoundException when the template file at templatePath does not exist on disk. The method verifies File.Exists(templatePath) before proceeding with script generation.

Source

Thrown at Editor/Mono/ProjectBrowser/ProjectWindowUtil.cs:751

            action.onComplete = onRenameComplete != null ? (id) => onRenameComplete(id) : null; // Wrap to obsolete int version
            StartNameEditingIfProjectWindowExists(EntityId.None, action, filename, icon, null);
        }

        public static void CreateAssetWithTextContent(string filename, string content, Texture2D icon = null, Action<EntityId> onRenameComplete = null)
        {
            var action = ScriptableObject.CreateInstance<DoCreateAssetWithContent>();
            action.filecontent = content;
            action.onComplete = onRenameComplete;
            StartNameEditingIfProjectWindowExists(EntityId.None, action, filename, icon, null);
        }

        [RequiredByNativeCode]
        public static void CreateScriptAssetFromTemplateFile(string templatePath, string defaultNewFileName)
        {
            if (templatePath == null)
                throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(templatePath));
            if (!File.Exists(templatePath))
                throw new FileNotFoundException($"The template file \"{templatePath}\" could not be found.", templatePath);

            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(defaultNewFileName))
                defaultNewFileName = Path.GetFileName(templatePath);

            Texture2D icon = null;
            switch (Path.GetExtension(defaultNewFileName))
            {
                case ".cs":
                    icon = EditorGUIUtility.IconContent("cs Script Icon").image as Texture2D;
                    break;
                case ".shader":
                    icon = EditorGUIUtility.IconContent<Shader>().image as Texture2D;
                    break;
                case ".asmdef":
                    icon = EditorGUIUtility.IconContent<AssemblyDefinitionAsset>().image as Texture2D;
                    break;
                case ".asmref":
                    icon = EditorGUIUtility.IconContent<AssemblyDefinitionReferenceAsset>().image as Texture2D;

View on GitHub (pinned to 225b0fbdb5)

Solutions

1. Verify the file exists with File.Exists(templatePath) before calling.
2. Use absolute or AssetDatabase-relative paths rather than relative filesystem paths.
3. If using package templates, check the package is installed: PackageUtility.CheckForInvalidPath or Directory.Exists on the package folder.
4. For built-in templates, use the correct Unity version's template path.

Example fix

// before
ProjectWindowUtil.CreateScriptAssetFromTemplateFile("Assets/Templates/Missing.cs.txt", "NewScript.cs");
// after
var templatePath = "Assets/Editor/Templates/ScriptTemplate.cs.txt";
if (!File.Exists(templatePath))
    Debug.LogError($"Template not found: {templatePath}");
else
    ProjectWindowUtil.CreateScriptAssetFromTemplateFile(templatePath, "NewScript.cs");

if (templatePath != null && File.Exists(templatePath))
    ProjectWindowUtil.CreateScriptAssetFromTemplateFile(templatePath, defaultName);
else
    Debug.LogError($"Template file not found: {templatePath}");

static bool TemplateExists(string path) => !string.IsNullOrEmpty(path) && File.Exists(path);

When it happens

Trigger: Calling CreateScriptAssetFromTemplateFile with a path to a template file that doesn't exist on the filesystem.

Common situations: Custom template files that were deleted or moved, package templates where the package was updated/removed, or hardcoded relative paths that resolve incorrectly depending on working directory. Common when upgrading Unity versions that changed template locations.

Related errors

• templatePath
• No such file or directory.
• The SerializedProperty '{0}' is not supported by BeginProper
• The MaterialProperty '{0}' should be of type 'Texture' (its
• List of materials contains null

AI-assisted analysis of Unity-Technologies/UnityCsReference@225b0fbdb5 (2026-08-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/db3bd596340b3a83. Report an issue: GitHub.