Unity Editor & Broken or Corrupt Mesh/Object Display

Unity 3D Editor v6xxx series appears to have an issue loading asset packs that contain mesh objects and associated materials where they render only as wireframe, partially or not at all regardless of display mode; toggling between Wireframe Drawn Mode, Shaded Wireframe Draw Mode, Unlit Draw Mode and Shaded Draw Mode displays nothing, a wireframe, pink or other coloured objects, not materials or textures.

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Typically, where available, FBX files and other formatted models can be loaded directly, confirming the issue being within the package rather than source objects or material setup.

As mesh objects don’t display correctly when loaded in from an asset pack, this likely means there’s an incompatibility between older asset packs authored in legacy versions of Unity Editor, e.g. v5.x, and those similarly authored or used in new versions, e.g. v6.xxx.

Asset pack open in a legacy version of Unity Editor, displayed correctly

Solution

To fix this issue, first try using the automated conversion tools;

Render Pipeline Converter

From the Window menu option, select Rendering, then Render Pipeline Converter – Window » Rendering » Render Pipeline Converter. In the window that pops up enable at the very least;

• Renderer and Settings Assets Setup
• Material Upgrade

Then click the Initialize Converters button at the bottom of the window. A ‘save project’ warning may appear after which click the Convert Assets button now available. This should force correct the issue.

Design note: a project, or Unity Editor, restart may be necessary to force refresh any changes made by the converters.

Run the ‘converters’ as an initial attempt to fix broken materials and meshes

Once the ‘converters’ have run, some materials may need manual set up

Manual Shader Update

Any materials or meshes that still appear broken after this step may need manual correction. For that, select the broken materials and in the Inspector make sure the Shader property (very top of the panel) is set to Universal Render Pipeline/Lit.

If it’s not, click the input box and select Universal Render Pipeline from the list. In the secondary menu ensure Lit is set (should be checked/ticked) – Shader (input) » Universal Render Pipeline » Lit. The material preview will update in the asset browser. If associated images still don’t display, in the materials Surface Inputs properties (Inspector), re-assign the image assets.

After running the converters check the Shader property for persistently broken materials and set the correct (more up-to-date) property…

…before then reassigning image assets associated with the material.

Fixed.