Images Moving in Unreal Engine 5 Main Menu

Problem with Images in Unreal Engine 5 Main Menu

The issue with images in the Unreal Engine 5 main menu mysteriously moving from their specified position is usually related to screen resolution, UI scaling, or caching issues. This can occur due to mismatches between values in the widget designer and actual rendering parameters, as well as due to features of Unreal Engine’s coordinate system.

Contents

• Main causes of image positioning problems
• Checking and configuring screen resolution
• Analyzing UI element scaling
• Setting up anchors and positioning in widgets
• Solutions and correction methods
• Preventing future problems

Main causes of image positioning problems

The problem with images moving in the Unreal Engine 5 main menu can occur for several key reasons. The most common of these are:

1. Resolution mismatches - when widgets are created in one resolution but displayed in another
2. Scaling issues - especially when using different screen aspect ratios
3. Incorrect anchor configuration - improper attachment of elements to widget corners or centers
4. Bitmap caching issues - cached versions may have different sizes
5. Widget lifecycle problems - when reloading the interface

This problem is particularly common in multi-window modes or when switching between fullscreen and windowed modes. The Unreal Engine UI Documentation indicates that Unreal Engine’s coordinate system works with relative values, which can lead to unexpected results when improperly configured.

Checking and configuring screen resolution

Screen resolution is one of the most common causes of image positioning problems. To diagnose and solve the issue, you need to:

Checking current settings

• Verify if the resolution in the project (Edit > Project Settings > Engine > Rendering) matches your monitor’s resolution
• Ensure that the Default Size value in project settings matches the resolution for which the interface was created

Scaling settings

1. Open Project Settings > Engine > Rendering
2. Find the Default Size section
3. Set values corresponding to your target resolution
4. Check the Pixel Density settings and their impact on scaling

Important: When changing these settings, you may need to recreate widgets or force a refresh.

Sometimes the issue may be related to automatic scaling, which is enabled by default in new Unreal Engine projects. Disabling this parameter in Project Settings > Platforms > Windows > Scaling may solve the problem, but this will affect the entire project, not just the menu.

Analyzing UI element scaling

UI element scaling in Unreal Engine 5 works based on a relative unit system, which can lead to unexpected image movements. Let’s examine the main aspects:

Scaling system

Unreal Engine uses several levels of scaling:

• Canvas Space - absolute coordinates relative to the canvas
• Widget Space - relative coordinates within the widget
• Absolute Space - absolute coordinates in pixels

The problem often occurs when mixing these coordinate systems in a single widget.

Scaling diagnosis

1. Open your main menu widget in the Widget Blueprint Editor

2. Check all images and their properties:

   • Render Transform - scale and rotation
   • Layout - size and alignment
   • Slot - positioning within the container

3. Pay attention to the Desired Size and Actual Size values - they should match

Tip: If images move after restarting, check if there are operations in the widget’s code or logic that change element sizes or positions during initialization.

Setting up anchors and positioning in widgets

Proper anchor configuration is critically important for stable image positioning. Incorrect anchor configuration is one of the main reasons for UI element movements.

Anchor types and their purpose

In Unreal Engine, there are four main anchor types:

• Top Left - top left corner
• Top Right - top right corner
• Bottom Left - bottom left corner
• Bottom Right - bottom right corner

Step-by-step anchor setup

1. Select the image that is moving

2. In the Details panel, find the Anchor section

3. Set the desired anchors depending on the desired behavior:

   • For fixed center position, use all four anchors
   • For edge attachment, use the corresponding anchor points
   • For relative positioning, use anchor combinations

4. After changing the anchors, drag the image to the desired position

5. Ensure the Margin value is properly configured

// Example of proper anchor configuration in Blueprint
// Set all four anchors for fixed positioning
Set Anchors(FVector2D(0.0f, 0.0f), FVector2D(1.0f, 1.0f));

Important: When changing anchors, you must recalculate all related element positions to avoid overlapping or unexpected behavior.

Solutions and correction methods

There are several effective methods to solve the problem of moving images in the Unreal Engine 5 main menu. Let’s examine them step by step:

Method 1: Force widget refresh

1. In the widget code, add a forced refresh after initialization:

// In C++ widget code
void UMainMenuWidget::NativeConstruct()
{
    Super::NativeConstruct();
    UpdateLayout();
    ForceRefresh();
}

2. In Blueprint, add a Refresh node to the Event Construct event

Method 2: Reset cache and settings

1. Clear the project cache through Edit > Clear Caches
2. Delete the Saved/Config/WindowsNoEditor folder (for Windows)
3. Restart the Unreal Engine editor

Method 3: Use absolute positions

If relative positioning causes issues:

1. Set all anchor points to the same corner (e.g., Top Left)
2. Use absolute position values in pixels
3. Calculate positions for different resolutions using the formula:

Position_X = (Current_Width / Base_Width) * Base_Position_X
Position_Y = (Current_Height / Base_Height) * Base_Position_Y

Method 4: Create a custom menu manager

For complex cases, create a separate class for managing the main menu that will control the positions of all elements:

// Example of a custom menu manager
UCLASS()
class UMainMenuManager : public UObject
{
    GENERATED_BODY()
    
public:
    void InitializeMenu(UMainMenuWidget* MenuWidget);
    void UpdateMenuPositions(float ScreenWidth, float ScreenHeight);
    
private:
    UPROPERTY()
    TArray<UWidget*> MenuImages;
};

Important: Experts from the Unreal Engine Community also recommend checking if there are any UI modifiers or plugins in the project that might affect element positioning.

Preventing future problems

To avoid repeating the image positioning problem in the future, it’s recommended to implement the following practices:

UI development standards

1. Use templates - create a base menu widget template with properly configured anchors
2. Automated testing - add tests to verify element positioning at different resolutions
3. Versioning settings - save copies of working UI element configurations

Monitoring and debugging

1. Enable Verbose Logging for UI in project settings
2. Use the Widget Reflector plugin for real-time visual tracking of element positions
3. Regularly check the console for UI error messages

Project organization

1. Separate UI element logic and presentation
2. Use the MVC (Model-View-Controller) pattern for complex interfaces
3. Create documentation on UI standards for your project

Best practices: Experienced Unreal Engine developers recommend creating separate widgets for each menu screen and avoiding complex nested structures that can lead to positioning issues when changing resolution.

Conclusion

The problem with moving images in the Unreal Engine 5 main menu is usually resolved by checking and configuring several key parameters. Main takeaways:

1. Configure screen resolution and scaling according to project requirements
2. Check and correct anchors for all images, using proper attachment types
3. Use absolute positions or mathematical calculations for different resolutions
4. Implement UI development standards to prevent future problems
5. Regularly test the interface on different resolutions and devices

To quickly solve the current issue, start by checking resolution settings and anchors - this resolves most cases. If the problem persists, try resetting the project cache or creating a custom menu manager for more precise control over element positioning.

Sources

1. Unreal Engine 5 User Interface Documentation
2. Unreal Engine UI Anchor System Guide
3. Unreal Engine Widget Layout Best Practices
4. Unreal Engine Community Forum - UI Positioning Issues
5. Unreal Engine Rendering Settings Documentation