Hey there, let’s dive into why your standard 2D Side Scroller empty project is failing to package for iOS across these UE4 versions. I’ve troubleshooted tons of similar issues with these older UE4 builds, so here are the most likely culprits and actionable fixes based on common pain points from those releases:

1. iOS SDK & Xcode Version Mismatch #

Older UE4 versions are super picky about which Xcode/iOS SDK combinations they support. Using a newer Xcode with an older UE4 build is one of the top causes of packaging failures:

• UE4.17.2: Requires Xcode 8.3.3 (which ships with iOS 10.3 SDK) — any newer Xcode (like 9+) will break compatibility.
• UE4.18.3: Works best with Xcode 9.4.1 (iOS 11.4 SDK). Avoid Xcode 10+ here.
• UE4.19 Preview 5: Supports up to Xcode 10.1 (iOS 12.1 SDK). Newer Xcode versions may introduce unhandled API changes.

To check: Open your project’s Project Settings > Platforms > iOS and verify the "SDK Version" field matches the supported range for your UE4 build. If not, install the correct Xcode version and set it as the active toolchain in UE4.

2. Broken Code Signing Configuration #

UE4’s automatic signing feature was flaky in these versions — don’t rely on it for consistent results. Here’s how to fix it:

• First, confirm you have a valid Apple Developer account, and your project’s Bundle ID matches an App ID you’ve created in the Apple Developer Portal.
• Manually specify your provisioning profile:
  1. Open Xcode, create a throwaway iOS project, configure it with your developer account and matching Bundle ID, then export the provisioning profile.
  2. Back in UE4, go to Project Settings > Platforms > iOS > Packaging, find "Provisioning Profile Name" and select the profile you just exported.
• Double-check the "Code Signing Identity" is set correctly: use iPhone Developer for Debug builds, iPhone Distribution for Release.

3. Missing Required iOS Permissions in plist #

Apple started enforcing mandatory permission descriptions for certain APIs around this time, and older UE4 templates didn’t include these by default — even for empty projects. If your log mentions a plist key error, add these to Project Settings > Platforms > iOS > Extra Plist Data:

<key>NSCameraUsageDescription</key>
<string>Placeholder for future features (not used in this project)</string>
<key>NSPhotoLibraryUsageDescription</key>
<string>Placeholder for future features (not used in this project)</string>

This satisfies Apple’s validation checks, even if your project doesn’t actually use these features.

4. Incomplete Engine Installation #

Sometimes the iOS support components don’t install properly during the initial UE4 setup:

• Open the Epic Games Launcher, find your UE4 version, click "Options".
• Ensure iOS Support and iOS Code Signing Tools are both checked. If they were already selected, click "Verify" to let the launcher repair any missing or corrupted files.

5. Log-Specific Clues (Based on Common Errors) #

If you can share specific snippets from your 4.17.2 and 4.18.3 logs, I can narrow this down even further. But here are quick fixes for common log errors:

• error: SDK not found: Fix with the correct Xcode/SDK version (point 1).
• code signing error: no matching provisioning profile found: Double-check your signing config (point 2).
• plist error: missing required key: Add the placeholder permissions (point 3).
• linker error: undefined symbols: Repair your engine installation (point 4).

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者user9445977