Troubleshooting

Animation won't load

• Verify the file is a valid .riv file (not a .rev project file)
• Check the event console for error messages
• Try switching between Canvas and WebGL2 renderers
• Ensure the file isn't corrupted — try opening it in the Rive Editor first

Configuration won't apply

• Ensure you're writing valid JavaScript syntax (not JSON)
• Check the red error banner for syntax error details
• Errors auto-dismiss after 5 seconds; check the console for persistent errors

ViewModel controls missing

• The animation must have ViewModelInstances defined in the Rive Editor
• Check that autoBind: true is set (default behavior)
• Try reloading the animation

Desktop build fails

• Run rustup update to ensure latest Rust toolchain
• Check npm run tauri info for missing dependencies
• On macOS, verify Xcode Command Line Tools are installed

MCP not connecting

• Open the MCP Setup dialog to verify the sidecar path and port
• Check that RAV is running and the MCP indicator shows connected (bright indigo)
• Verify the server is registered: claude mcp list or codex mcp list
• The bridge auto-reconnects — if the client started after RAV, wait a few seconds
• Change the bridge port in the MCP Setup dialog if 9274 is occupied

Getting Help

If your issue isn't covered here, open an issue on GitHub with your OS version, RAV version, and the .riv file if possible.