iOS build fails to display TextMeshPro sprites/emojis due to unpacked sprite warnings in clean CI build

[KonStg]

Description

During a clean CI build (without Library folder), the build log shows repeated warnings:

Failed to process 'some_sprite' sprite because it is not packed

Result: TextMeshPro sprites and emojis do not render on iOS devices.
Note: Android builds from the same commit work as expected.

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Steps to Reproduce

1. Trigger CI headless build without Library folder (clean environment).
2. Check logs for sprite packing warnings.
3. Deploy the build to an iOS device.
4. Observe missing TextMeshPro sprites/emojis.

---

Expected Behavior

• No sprite packing warnings in clean builds.
• Sprites/emojis render correctly on iOS.

---

Actual Behavior

• Warnings about unpacked sprites in CI logs.
• iOS build displays missing sprites/emojis (Android works).

---

Environment

Property	Details
Unity Version	2022.3.60f1
TextMeshPro	3.0.9
CI Platform	GameCI
Build Target	iOS (❌ Fail) / Android (✅ Pass)

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Additional Context

• 🔄 Reproducibility:

  • Occurs only in clean builds (no cached Library).
  • Local builds with cached data might not show the issue.

• 🛠 Suspected Causes:

  • Sprite atlas generation failing for iOS in CI environment.
  • Platform-specific texture compression/processing differences.

---

Related Configuration

• Sprite Atlas Settings:
  Project Settings > Editor > Sprite Packer (Mode: Sprite Atlas V2 - Enabled?)
• Texture Importers:
  Check Sprite Mode and Include in Build for affected assets.

[vanifatovvlad]

Hi,
Unfortunately, I can't test the build on CI for iOS. A possible solution is to re-import the plugin assets as a pre-build step. Can you try this?
Sample code:

public static void PreBuildMethod() {
  var paths = Directory.EnumerateFiles("Assets/", "*.tmpspriteatlas", SearchOption.AllDirectories);

  foreach (var tmpAtlasPath in paths) {
    var text          = File.ReadAllText(tmpAtlasPath);
    var atlasGuid     = JsonUtility.FromJson<TextMeshProSupportAssetData>(text).atlasGuid;
    var iconAtlasPath = AssetDatabase.GUIDToAssetPath(atlasGuid);

    AssetDatabase.ImportAsset(iconAtlasPath, ImportAssetOptions.ForceUpdate | ImportAssetOptions.ForceSynchronousImport);
    AssetDatabase.ImportAsset(tmpAtlasPath, ImportAssetOptions.ForceUpdate | ImportAssetOptions.ForceSynchronousImport);
  }
}

[Serializable]
public class TextMeshProSupportAssetData {
  public string atlasGuid;
}

[KonStg]

Thank you for your fast response!
Your solution works perfectly for this use case and effectively addresses the issue.

Here's the slightly modified version I'm using (with additional build preprocessing):

#if UNITY_IOS
using System.IO;
using UnityEditor;
using UnityEditor.Build;
using UnityEditor.Build.Reporting;
using UnityEngine;

/// <summary>
/// Ensures TMP sprite assets are properly updated before build
/// </summary>
public class TmpPreBuild : IPreprocessBuildWithReport
{
    public int callbackOrder => -1000;

    static bool IsHeadlessMode => SystemInfo.graphicsDeviceType == UnityEngine.Rendering.GraphicsDeviceType.Null;

    public void OnPreprocessBuild(BuildReport report)
    {
        var logLabel = $":: {nameof(TmpPreBuild)}.{nameof(OnPreprocessBuild)}";
        if (IsHeadlessMode) {
            Debug.Log(logLabel);
        } else {
            Debug.Log($"{logLabel} - skipped");
            return;
        }

        var paths = Directory.EnumerateFiles("Assets/", "*.tmpspriteatlas", SearchOption.AllDirectories);

        foreach (var tmpAtlasPath in paths) {
            var text = File.ReadAllText(tmpAtlasPath);
            var atlasGuid = JsonUtility.FromJson<TMPro.TmpSpriteAssetData>(text).atlasGuid;
            var iconAtlasPath = AssetDatabase.GUIDToAssetPath(atlasGuid);

            AssetDatabase.ImportAsset(iconAtlasPath, ImportAssetOptions.ForceUpdate | ImportAssetOptions.ForceSynchronousImport);
            AssetDatabase.ImportAsset(tmpAtlasPath, ImportAssetOptions.ForceUpdate | ImportAssetOptions.ForceSynchronousImport);
        }
    }
}
#endif