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Zombies Not Working: What to Check

full game 1.009.1 · Site updated

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Is the zombie idle from the start, stopping after one batch or no longer working after the update? Pick that symptom first instead of changing tools at random. If one batch finishes and the next does not start, check the next batch’s supply and finished-output handling. For an update-related stop, check the work-tool and weapon slots separately, then follow the remaining checks.

FIND YOUR NEXT CHECK

Stopped after one batch?

Check the next task, then separate supplies and pickup from the worker’s requirements. Choose the kind of work before testing a restart.

Your own reports, saved in this browser

YOUR NEXT STEP

What kind of work has stopped?

Choose the actual task. A stationary zombie is not enough to identify a stalled automatic recipe.

Follow what you observe

Changing an earlier answer clears the later branch. Your observations guide the next check; they do not prove a single cause.

What kind of work has stopped?

Choose the actual task. A stationary zombie is not enough to identify a stalled automatic recipe.

Read all possible checks
  • Workbench or furnace: Check the next queued task before treating the stop as a supply failure. Next check
  • Automatic workbench: Check the queue and inputs. An automatic craft does not need continuous hammering; look at the recipe’s progress before calling it stopped. Next check
  • Gardening: Check the planting or gathering order, suitable seeds in the area’s storage and room for harvested items. Use the different-job checks below; the crafting supply test does not cover every garden stop. Next check
  • Gathering or mining: Check the task, assigned worker, tool and supplies, then output transport. These jobs can wait for a zombie or delivery; a tool upgrade alone does not resolve that wait. See the different-job checks below. Next check
  • Porter transport: Check that the item is enabled at that Porter station, available in its source area and has room at the destination. Porter transport is separate from local Supplier delivery. Next check
  • Not sure yet: Open the assigned station and note the exact job, next task and status. Identify the job before changing the worker or supply setup.
  • Equipment after updating: Inspect the work tool separately from the combat weapon. Next check
  • A conveyor worker after updating: Inspect the affected conveyor and whether its worker is still attached. Next check

Is there a next task selected or queued?

Inspect what should run after the completed batch. Do not assume its ingredients, tool or mastery requirement match the previous recipe.

Read all possible checks
  • Yes: Try a small manual input and output check for that next task. Next check
  • No: Select or queue the intended next task, then observe whether it starts. Completing a single selected task does not itself prove a production fault.
  • I have not checked: Open the station queue and identify the next task before changing supplies.

Does it resume after you supply inputs and collect finished products?

Inspect the next queued recipe. Supply its inputs and applicable fuel manually, then collect pending products and leave room for output.

Read all possible checks
  • It resumed: This points to delivery or pickup as useful next checks, but it does not establish a unique cause. Next check
  • Still stopped: Continue with assignment, queue and the current recipe's requirements. Next check
  • Not tried yet: Try this small manual check first, then choose the result you actually observe.

Is a Zombie Supplier assigned in this area?

Check the area's Supplier Station, assigned supplier and locally available stock. Supplier delivery is separate from Porter transport.

Read all possible checks
  • Yes: Check local stock, finished-product pickup and destination space. Watch the next batch to see which part waits. Next check
  • No: Check the area's Zombie Supplier Station and assign a supplier for local workstation delivery.
  • Not checked: Inspect the area's supplier and stock before replacing the crafting worker.

Is the intended worker assigned and eligible for the next recipe?

Confirm the assignment, required tool type and effective mastery for this particular recipe. Special jobs and star crafts have additional checks; use the work eligibility link below.

Read all possible checks
  • Those checks appear to pass: Recheck the station’s current status, pending pickup and output space. If it still stops, record platform, build, exact task, tool, mastery and status message. This does not establish a confirmed bug.
  • Assignment or a requirement is missing: Assign the intended worker and address the actual tool or mastery requirement, then observe the next task. A different tool type does not satisfy the required type.
  • I have not compared them: Check the assigned worker and the selected recipe together. Use the detailed assignment, tools and mastery checks below.

Is this item enabled at this Porter station?

Use the actual source-to-destination route, not the local Supplier menu.

Read all possible checks
  • Yes: Check where the item is stored. Next check
  • No: Enable an item supported by this Porter station before expecting transport.
  • Not checked: Inspect the item list at the assigned Porter station.

Is the item in eligible source-area storage?

Items carried by the player or left in another region are not proof of available Porter stock.

Read all possible checks
  • Yes: Inspect destination space and the current transport state. Next check
  • No: Move the required stock to the source area, then observe the next delivery.
  • Not checked: Identify the source region and check its storage.

Is there room at the destination?

A stocked source alone does not complete delivery.

Read all possible checks
  • Yes: Record the station, source, destination, enabled item and worker status if transport still does not start. This does not confirm a bug.
  • No: Make room at the destination, then observe delivery again.
  • Not checked: Inspect destination storage before replacing the worker.

Is there a planting or gathering order?

This path covers gardener orders; it does not promise every tree, hive or peat source can be automated.

Read all possible checks
  • Yes: Check the inputs for that order. Next check
  • No: Set the intended garden order, then observe whether it is assigned.
  • Not checked: Inspect the garden order and exact target first.

Are the order inputs and the worker’s tool available?

For planting, check suitable seeds in the area. Check the gardener’s shovel and task requirements.

Read all possible checks
  • Yes: Now inspect harvested products and storage. Next check
  • No: Supply the seeds or correct the tool requirement for this order before testing again.
  • Not checked: Read the order, seed stock and equipped tool together.

Can the gardener put away the harvest?

Check room in the relevant storage and whether products are waiting to be put away.

Read all possible checks
  • Yes: If still idle, record the order, target plot and displayed status. These checks do not establish all pathfinding or save-specific causes.
  • No: Make room for the harvest and observe the same order again.
  • Not checked: Inspect the harvest and destination before adding more workers.

Is the worker assigned to the intended gathering task?

Mining and gathering have their own job and output states.

Read all possible checks
  • Yes: Compare the actual task with the worker’s tool and supplies. Next check
  • No: Assign the worker and choose the intended job.
  • Not checked: Identify the job at the gathering station.

Do the tool, supplies and output handling match that job?

A tool upgrade alone does not resolve a delivery wait.

Read all possible checks
  • They appear to: Observe the station status and output transport; record both if it still waits.
  • Something is missing: Correct that specific requirement and watch the same job again.
  • Not checked: Check the job’s required tool and inputs, then its output destination.

Is the required work tool equipped in the tool slot?

A combat weapon does not replace a work tool. The old-save transfer only moves a non-tool weapon from the former hand slot when the weapon slot is empty. Existing sword restrictions remain.

Read all possible checks
  • Yes: Check assignment and mastery for the actual next recipe. Next check
  • No: Equip the correct work tool, then inspect the same job again. Do not replace an occupied weapon slot merely to restore the work tool.
  • Not checked: Open both equipment slots and compare the tool with the selected job.

Does eligible local storage contain the exact requested item?

Supplier source selection requires a positive count of that item. Owning it elsewhere or having an empty nearby chest is insufficient.

Read all possible checks
  • Yes: Observe delivery, finished-product pickup and destination space separately. If the job still waits, record its actual status.
  • No: Put the requested item in eligible storage in the same area, then observe delivery again.
  • Not checked: Check the exact item and its count at the source. Do not count player inventory elsewhere as local supply.

Is the conveyor worker still attached to the intended conveyor?

During some older-save updates, conveyor transporters with no valid attachment can be returned to the world. This is separate from Porter routes and does not repair every logistics problem.

Read all possible checks
  • Yes: Check the selected recipe’s input and output connections, stock and free destination space. Attachment alone does not prove delivery can start.
  • No: Locate the affected worker in the world and inspect the conveyor before assigning it again. Do not assume every missing worker has been recovered.
  • Not checked: Inspect the conveyor’s assigned worker and displayed state first.

Progress controls need JavaScript.

Reset this task?

This clears this guide's checks, quantities, observations and history.

Start with your situation

The worker never starts · Stops after one batch · Stopped after updating

Check the station assignment and queue, equip the required tool, meet the recipe's mastery requirement, supply the next batch, and clear finished products.

Does nothingConfirm assignment and queue, then equip the required tool and meet the recipe's mastery requirement.Stops after one batchCheck the next queued recipe, replenish its inputs and applicable fuel, and clear finished products.Cannot get ingredientsCheck the area's Zombie Supplier and available stock; load the needed materials manually to isolate delivery problems.Products are not carried awayCheck pickup, destination storage space and the transport system assigned to this station.

Assignment, tools and mastery

  1. Check that the zombie is assigned to the intended workstation and that a task is actually selected or queued. After a batch, inspect the next recipe rather than assuming the previous requirements still apply.
  2. Check the tool type required by that task. Equipping a tool of another type does not satisfy the requirement.
  3. Compare effective mastery with the recipe requirement. Matching tools can add mastery; zombie talent upgrades can also help. Star crafts and specialist jobs have additional checks, described in the work eligibility rules .

the work eligibility rules

Check equipment after updating

Open the zombie’s equipment and check the working tool separately from the combat weapon. Match the tool to the next queued job, then compare that job’s mastery requirement. A weapon visible in the new weapon slot does not satisfy a missing work tool. The old-save transfer has conditions; inspect the result instead of assuming every item moved.

Equipment slots and old-save transfer

Supplies and finished products

Check ingredients for the next batch, the station's fuel where applicable, and space for its output. A stocked nearby chest alone does not prove a zombie has received its materials. The game's tutorial distinguishes a crafting zombie from a Zombie Supplier that delivers materials and loads automatic workbenches.

For local workstation supply, build a Zombie Supplier Station in the area and assign a zombie to it. Check that the necessary stock is available in that area. As a diagnostic step, provide the required inputs manually and collect the output: if the next batch proceeds, inspect delivery and pickup before replacing the worker.

Finished work can wait for worker pickup or output clearance. Collect pending products and make room in the destination inventory. A conveyor is not a universal requirement for every crafting station; use the supply or transport path appropriate to the station.

Checks for different jobs

  • Gathering and mining: check tools, supplies and output transport. In 1.009.1 sawmill, mine, clay and sand workers handle delivery before starting the next craft. An assigned worker still needs a valid task and destination capacity; upgrading a tool alone cannot solve a delivery wait.
  • Gardening: check the planting or harvesting order, suitable seeds and room for harvested items. Version 1.009.1 returns a gardener from an invalid harvesting task to its station. After repeated failed attempts it can leave harvesting for you to finish manually; this is separate from the crafter’s supplier path.
  • Kitchen and automatic workbenches: inspect queued inputs and applicable fuel, and use the local supplier for loading. Automatic recipe timing is separate from manual zombie crafting; a lack of hammering is not by itself proof that an automatic recipe has stopped.
  • Porter transport: check that the intended item is enabled at that transport station, present in its source area's storage, and has room at its destination. The nine configured Porter station lists apply to those routes; they are not a universal whitelist for Zombie Suppliers.

Factory and storage problems

For a conveyor setup, follow one iron supply line . To distinguish player inventory, local Suppliers and Porter routes, use storage and transport checks . An item owned elsewhere is not proof that this station is supplied.

one iron supply line · storage and transport checks

Status hints and version issues

Update 1.006 also fixes kitchen zombies consuming ingredients without producing a dish. If this happened on an older build, update the game before treating it as a supply problem. If it persists, check the queued recipe, finished products and supplier, then use the Steam PC in-game bug report with the affected save. The inspected work logic pauses while finished output awaits pickup; a stopped animation alone does not prove missing ingredients.

The official 1.005 announcement, dated 24 September 2026, reports improved low-skill indication for pending zombie crafts and corrected craft-lock / wait-delivery icons. Those interface changes are documented by the announcement; they do not mean every stalled job has the same cause. The announcement does not establish a particular icon shape.

Players in the 23 September Steam discussion reported confusion between player material fetching and zombie supply. Those reports identify useful symptoms; the checks above are based on game behavior research. If the checks do not explain the stop, record the platform, build, task, tool, mastery and status message when reporting the issue.

For a population penalty, use PR Machine and zombie capacity . For slower progress, read mastery and tool effects . Return to all troubleshooting topics .

PR Machine and zombie capacity · mastery and tool effects · all troubleshooting topics

This diagnosis is for an existing worker. If the body has not become a zombie, follow resurrection preparation and the separate device action first; PR penalties are not a missing-liquid test.

Zombie resurrection: prepare the corpse, then use the device

Keep production running

Use this sequence on the ordinary workbenches and iron factory line described here. The Peat page separates compost crafts from the configured toilet source. These checks do not establish automatic helper collection, farmer Peat pickup or compost restart.

  1. Supply: identify who brings the next recipe’s ingredients. For a local workbench, check the assigned Supplier and eligible stock in the same area. For the reviewed factory line, inspect its input connections. If the delivery path is unclear, supply the required inputs manually as a diagnostic check.
  2. Start: check the selected or queued recipe and the assigned worker’s required tool and mastery. Automatic station timing is a separate path; assigning a zombie does not establish that every recipe or operation is automatic.
  3. Collect: inspect finished products before diagnosing missing ingredients. Pending output can pause work. Collect it manually for the check, or inspect the pickup arrangement appropriate to that station and available destination space.
  4. Restart: inspect the next queued task, its ingredients and applicable fuel after collection. Pickup and starting the next batch are separate checks; do not assume that clearing output alone guarantees a restart.
  5. Store: follow the finished item to its actual destination. A Porter follows its station’s item list; a factory conveyor needs the appropriate connection. Stock in another area, or in the player’s inventory, is not proof that the intended destination has received it.

Factory input and output example · Storage and transport checks · Peat sources and collection

Sources

Current rules

The current rules on this page were checked against the Steam Windows game files and behavior rules for the version shown in the page header. This is file-based verification, not a live-save playthrough; save progress can affect the result.

Historical fix records

These announcements document when specific fixes were introduced. Current instructions follow the applicable version shown above.

How we check our guides