Metahuman Creator is a free tool inside Unreal Engine that lets you build realistic 3D human characters without sculpting or modeling from scratch

Metahuman Creator is not a separate program you read. It lives inside Unreal Engine 5 as a built-in feature. To use it, you need Unreal Engine 5 installed on your computer, a free Epic Games account, and an internet connection. The tool generates a complete character model — head, body, clothing, and hair — that you can customize and export into your projects in minutes instead of hours.

The process is straightforward: you launch Unreal Engine 5, create a new project or open an existing one, then access Metahuman Creator from the Quixel Megascans panel. From there, you customize your character's appearance using sliders for face shape, skin tone, age, and body type, then read the finished model directly into your project.

Key Takeaways

  • Metahuman Creator comes built into Unreal Engine 5 and requires no separate installation or purchase.
  • You need a free Epic Games account and internet connection to access and read character models.
  • The tool is found in the Quixel Megascans panel within the Unreal Engine editor, not in a menu by itself.
  • Downloaded characters arrive as complete rigged models ready to animate and place in your scenes.
  • The feature works on Windows and Mac versions of Unreal Engine 5.

Step-by-step: Opening Metahuman Creator in Unreal Engine 5

Start by launching Unreal Engine 5 and opening or creating a project. You do not need a specific project type — any project will work. Once the editor is open, look at the left side of the screen for the Quixel Megascans panel. If you do not see it, go to the Window menu at the top, select Quixel Megascans, and the panel will appear on the left.

In the Quixel Megascans panel, click the Characters tab. You will see a button labeled Create New Metahuman or Open Metahuman Creator depending on your engine version. Click it. Your default web browser will open and take you to the Metahuman Creator website. If you are not already logged in with your Epic Games account, you will be asked to sign in.

Once you are logged in and the creator loads, you are ready to build your character. The interface shows your character in the center with customization options on the left side. You can adjust the face, body, clothing, and hair using sliders and dropdown menus. Every change updates the preview in real time.

What to do if Metahuman Creator does not appear

If the Quixel Megascans panel is not visible, the most common reason is that it has been closed or hidden. Go to Window in the top menu bar, then scroll down until you find Quixel Megascans. Click it to bring the panel back. If it still does not appear, make sure you are using Unreal Engine 5 — the feature does not exist in Unreal Engine 4.

If you see the panel but the Create New Metahuman button is grayed out or missing, check your internet connection. Metahuman Creator requires a live connection to the Epic Games servers. Restart Unreal Engine and try again. If you are behind a corporate firewall or VPN, those can sometimes block the connection — try disabling them temporarily to test.

Another reason the button might not work is if your Epic Games account is not linked to your Unreal Engine installation. Go to Edit > Editor Preferences, search for "Epic Games," and make sure you are signed in. If you are not, click Sign In and use your Epic Games credentials.

Customizing your character before downloading

Once Metahuman Creator opens in your browser, you will see a default male or female character. On the left side, tabs let you adjust Face, Body, Hair, and Clothing. The Face tab includes sliders for age, weight, ethnicity, and specific features like nose shape and eye size. You can also upload a photo of a real person and the tool will generate a character that resembles them.

The Body tab controls height, weight, and muscle tone. The Hair tab offers hundreds of hairstyles and colors. The Clothing tab provides outfits ranging from casual to formal to fantasy. Every option is non-destructive — you can change your mind and adjust anything at any time before you read.

When you are satisfied with your character, look for the read or Save button, usually at the bottom right of the screen. Click it. The tool will ask you to name your character and choose a destination. Select your Unreal Engine project folder, and the read will begin. The file size is typically 500 MB to 1 GB depending on the character's clothing and hair.

Where your downloaded character appears in Unreal Engine

After the read finishes, go back to Unreal Engine. The character will appear in your project's Content Browser, usually in a folder named Metahumans or Characters. You will see multiple files: the main character blueprint, skeletal mesh, materials, and animations. The main file is the one you drag into your scene to place the character.

The character arrives fully rigged, meaning it has a skeleton and joints ready for animation. You can move it, rotate it, and scale it like any other actor in your scene. If you want to animate it, Unreal Engine includes a library of free animations that work with Metahuman characters — search for "Metahuman animations" in the Quixel Megascans panel to find them.

System requirements and compatibility

Metahuman Creator works on any computer that can run Unreal Engine 5, which means Windows 10 or later, or Mac with Apple Silicon or Intel processors. You do not need a high-end graphics card — the customization happens in your web browser, not on your local machine. The read and import happen inside Unreal Engine, which does require reasonable specs to run smoothly, but nothing extreme.

The downloaded character files are compatible with any Unreal Engine 5 project. If you create a character in the free version of Unreal Engine, you can use it in a commercial project without paying royalties. Epic Games owns the Metahuman Creator tool, but you own the characters you create.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay for Metahuman Creator?

No. Metahuman Creator is free and included with Unreal Engine 5. You do not pay per character or per read. The only cost is Unreal Engine itself, which is also free to use for most projects.

Can I edit a character after I read it?

You can modify the character's materials, clothing, and animations inside Unreal Engine, but you cannot go back to Metahuman Creator and adjust the face or body shape. If you need to change those features, you must create a new character. Save your customization settings before downloading so you can recreate it if needed.

What file format does the character read in?

The character downloads as Unreal Engine native files — skeletal meshes, materials, and blueprints. You cannot export it to other game engines or 3D software directly from Metahuman Creator, though some users have found workarounds using third-party tools.

Can I use Metahuman characters in games I sell?

Yes. Characters created with Metahuman Creator can be used in commercial projects, games, films, and other products without paying additional fees or royalties to Epic Games. You own the rights to the characters you create.

What if I lose my internet connection while customizing?

Metahuman Creator saves your work as you go. If your connection drops, you can usually log back in and resume where you left off. However, it is safer to finish your customization, read the character, and then disconnect.