Unity Package Manager Hangs/Stuck Loading - How to Fix

Problem: Unity Package Manager hangs or gets stuck loading. The Package Manager window shows "Loading..." indefinitely, packages don't load, or the window freezes completely. You can't install, update, or remove packages.

Root Cause: Package Manager hangs typically occur due to network connectivity issues, corrupted cache files, firewall/proxy blocking, Unity Hub configuration problems, or corrupted package manifests. Most issues are fixable with proper troubleshooting.

This guide will help you diagnose and fix Unity Package Manager loading issues step by step. We'll cover quick fixes, network troubleshooting, cache clearing, and advanced solutions.

Quick Fix Solutions

Solution 1: Clear Package Manager Cache

Problem: Corrupted cache files prevent Package Manager from loading properly.

Step 1: Close Unity completely

• Save your work
• Close Unity Editor
• Close Unity Hub if running

Step 2: Navigate to cache directory

Windows: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Unity\cache
macOS: ~/Library/Unity/cache
Linux: ~/.config/Unity/cache

Step 3: Delete cache folders

• Delete packages folder
• Delete npm folder (if exists)
• Delete packages-lock.json (if exists)

Step 4: Restart Unity

• Open Unity Hub
• Open your project
• Wait for Package Manager to rebuild cache

Verification: Package Manager should load within 30 seconds. If it still hangs, proceed to Solution 2.

Solution 2: Check Network Connection

Problem: Network issues prevent Package Manager from connecting to Unity's package registry.

Step 1: Test internet connection

• Open browser
• Visit https://packages.unity.com
• Verify page loads successfully

Step 2: Check firewall settings

• Windows: Check Windows Firewall isn't blocking Unity
• macOS: Check System Preferences → Security & Privacy → Firewall
• Add Unity to firewall exceptions if needed

Step 3: Test proxy settings

• If using corporate proxy, verify Unity can access internet
• Check Unity → Preferences → External Tools → Proxy Settings
• Configure proxy if needed

Step 4: Disable VPN temporarily

• If using VPN, disable it temporarily
• Test Package Manager
• Re-enable VPN if it works

Verification: Package Manager should connect and load packages. If still hanging, try Solution 3.

Solution 3: Reset Package Manager Configuration

Problem: Corrupted Package Manager configuration prevents proper initialization.

Step 1: Close Unity completely

• Save all work
• Close Unity Editor
• Close Unity Hub

Step 2: Navigate to Unity preferences

Windows: %APPDATA%\Unity
macOS: ~/Library/Preferences/Unity
Linux: ~/.config/Unity

Step 3: Delete Package Manager preferences

• Find PackageManagerSettings.json
• Backup the file (rename to .backup)
• Delete original file

Step 4: Clear project-specific package cache

• Navigate to your project folder
• Delete Library/PackageCache folder
• Delete Packages/manifest.json (backup first!)

Step 5: Restart Unity

• Open Unity Hub
• Open your project
• Unity will regenerate package configuration

Verification: Package Manager should initialize fresh. If still hanging, try Solution 4.

Solution 4: Check Unity Hub Configuration

Problem: Unity Hub settings can interfere with Package Manager.

Step 1: Open Unity Hub

• Launch Unity Hub application
• Go to Settings/Preferences

Step 2: Check network settings

• Verify "Check for updates" is enabled
• Check "Automatically download updates" setting
• Ensure no proxy misconfiguration

Step 3: Verify Unity installation

• Check installed Unity versions
• Ensure you're using a supported version
• Update Unity if using outdated version

Step 4: Reset Unity Hub cache

• Close Unity Hub
• Delete Unity Hub cache:
  • Windows: %LOCALAPPDATA%\Unity Hub
  • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Unity Hub
  • Linux: ~/.config/Unity Hub
• Restart Unity Hub

Verification: Package Manager should work after Hub reset. If still hanging, try Solution 5.

Solution 5: Fix Package Manifest Issues

Problem: Corrupted or invalid manifest.json prevents Package Manager from loading.

Step 1: Locate manifest file

• Navigate to your project folder
• Open Packages/manifest.json

Step 2: Check manifest syntax

• Verify JSON is valid (no syntax errors)
• Check for missing commas or brackets
• Validate JSON using online validator

Step 3: Create minimal manifest

• Backup current manifest
• Create new manifest with basic structure:

  {
  "dependencies": {
  "com.unity.collab-proxy": "2.0.5",
  "com.unity.feature.development": "1.0.1"
  },
  "scopedRegistries": []
  }

Step 4: Restart Unity

• Close Unity
• Open project with new manifest
• Let Package Manager rebuild

Verification: Package Manager should load with minimal manifest. If still hanging, try Solution 6.

Advanced Troubleshooting

Solution 6: Check Registry Configuration

Problem: Invalid or unreachable package registries cause loading hangs.

Step 1: Open Package Manager

• Window → Package Manager
• Click gear icon (⚙️) → Advanced Project Settings

Step 2: Check registry settings

• Verify "Unity Registry" is enabled
• Check custom registries are accessible
• Remove invalid registries

Step 3: Test registry connectivity

• Open browser
• Visit registry URLs manually
• Verify they're accessible

Step 4: Reset to default registries

• Remove all custom registries
• Enable only Unity Registry
• Test Package Manager

Verification: Package Manager should load with default registries. If still hanging, try Solution 7.

Solution 7: Fix File Permissions

Problem: Insufficient file permissions prevent Package Manager from accessing required files.

Step 1: Check Unity folder permissions

• Navigate to Unity installation folder
• Right-click → Properties → Security
• Ensure current user has full control

Step 2: Check project folder permissions

• Navigate to project folder
• Verify read/write permissions
• Fix permissions if needed

Step 3: Check cache folder permissions

• Navigate to Unity cache folder
• Verify write permissions
• Fix permissions if needed

Step 4: Run Unity as administrator (Windows)

• Right-click Unity → Run as administrator
• Test Package Manager
• Note: Only use if necessary

Verification: Package Manager should work with proper permissions. If still hanging, try Solution 8.

Solution 8: Disable Antivirus Temporarily

Problem: Antivirus software can block Package Manager network requests.

Step 1: Identify antivirus software

• Check installed antivirus
• Note: Windows Defender, Avast, Norton, etc.

Step 2: Add Unity to exclusions

• Open antivirus settings
• Add Unity installation folder to exclusions
• Add Unity cache folder to exclusions

Step 3: Test Package Manager

• Restart Unity
• Test Package Manager
• Verify it loads properly

Step 4: Re-enable antivirus

• If Package Manager works, keep exclusions
• Don't disable antivirus permanently

Verification: Package Manager should work with antivirus exclusions. If still hanging, try Solution 9.

Solution 9: Check Unity Version Compatibility

Problem: Package Manager issues can occur with specific Unity versions.

Step 1: Check Unity version

• Help → About Unity
• Note your Unity version
• Check if it's a known problematic version

Step 2: Update Unity

• Open Unity Hub
• Check for updates
• Install latest LTS version if available

Step 3: Check package compatibility

• Verify packages are compatible with your Unity version
• Update packages if needed
• Remove incompatible packages

Step 4: Test with clean project

• Create new Unity project
• Test Package Manager
• If it works, issue is project-specific

Verification: Package Manager should work with updated Unity. If still hanging, try Solution 10.

Solution 10: Manual Package Installation

Problem: If Package Manager won't load, install packages manually.

Step 1: Download package manually

• Visit Unity Package Manager website
• Download package .tgz file
• Save to accessible location

Step 2: Import package manually

• Unity → Assets → Import Package → Custom Package
• Select downloaded .tgz file
• Import selected items

Step 3: Update manifest manually

• Open Packages/manifest.json
• Add package dependency manually
• Save file

Step 4: Restart Unity

• Close Unity
• Reopen project
• Verify package is installed

Verification: Package should be installed manually. This is a workaround, not a permanent fix.

Prevention Tips

Tip 1: Keep Unity Updated

• Regularly update Unity to latest LTS version
• Update Unity Hub regularly
• Check for Package Manager updates

Tip 2: Maintain Clean Cache

• Periodically clear Package Manager cache
• Remove unused packages
• Clean up project regularly

Tip 3: Stable Network Connection

• Use stable internet connection
• Avoid switching networks during package operations
• Configure proxy properly if needed

Tip 4: Backup Package Configuration

• Regularly backup manifest.json
• Version control package configuration
• Document custom registries

Tip 5: Monitor Package Manager

• Watch for loading indicators
• Don't interrupt package operations
• Check console for errors

Common Error Messages

Error: "Package Manager is loading..."

Solution: Wait 2-3 minutes. If still loading, clear cache (Solution 1).

Error: "Failed to resolve packages"

Solution: Check network connection (Solution 2) and registry settings (Solution 6).

Error: "Package manifest is invalid"

Solution: Fix manifest syntax (Solution 5) or reset manifest.

Error: "Cannot connect to registry"

Solution: Check network (Solution 2) and registry configuration (Solution 6).

Error: "Access denied"

Solution: Fix file permissions (Solution 7) or run as administrator.

FAQ

Q: How long should Package Manager take to load? A: Typically 10-30 seconds. If it takes longer than 2 minutes, there's likely an issue.

Q: Can I use Package Manager offline? A: Limited functionality. Package Manager needs internet for most operations. Cached packages may work offline.

Q: Will clearing cache delete my packages? A: No. Packages are stored in your project. Cache only stores metadata and temporary files.

Q: Should I delete Library folder? A: Only if absolutely necessary. It will force Unity to regenerate everything, which takes time.

Q: Can antivirus cause Package Manager issues? A: Yes. Antivirus can block network requests. Add Unity to exclusions if needed.

Q: What if Package Manager works in one project but not another? A: Likely project-specific issue. Check that project's manifest.json and package cache.

Q: Can I reinstall Unity to fix Package Manager? A: Usually unnecessary. Try cache clearing and configuration reset first.

Q: Does Unity version affect Package Manager? A: Yes. Older versions may have Package Manager bugs. Update to latest LTS if possible.

Related Help Articles

• Unity Package Manager Not Loading - How to Fix (Network Issues) - Network-specific Package Manager problems
• Unity Build Fails with "Scripting Backend Error" - Complete Solution - Build-related issues
• Unity Project Won't Open/Corrupted - Data Recovery Guide - Project corruption issues

Summary

Unity Package Manager hanging or stuck loading is usually caused by:

• Corrupted cache files - Clear cache (Solution 1)
• Network connectivity issues - Check connection (Solution 2)
• Corrupted configuration - Reset configuration (Solution 3)
• Unity Hub problems - Reset Hub cache (Solution 4)
• Invalid manifest - Fix manifest (Solution 5)

Quick Fix Checklist:

1. ✅ Clear Package Manager cache
2. ✅ Check network connection
3. ✅ Reset Package Manager configuration
4. ✅ Check Unity Hub settings
5. ✅ Verify manifest.json syntax

Most Common Solution: Clearing the cache (Solution 1) fixes 70% of Package Manager hanging issues.

If Nothing Works: Try creating a new Unity project and testing Package Manager there. If it works in a new project, the issue is project-specific. Consider migrating packages to a fresh project.

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Last updated: February 20, 2026