How do I troubleshoot export errors or slow rendering?
Export issues can range from error messages to very slow rendering. Here is how to diagnose and fix the most common export problems.
"Export Error"
A generic export error alert may appear if something goes wrong during rendering.
What to try:
- Cancel and retry. Sometimes the error is temporary.
- Switch export modes. If Enhanced mode is failing, try Scaled or Unscaled. If the error persists in all modes, the issue may be with the project or source file.
- Export a custom range. Try exporting a small section (e.g., 10 seconds) to see if the error is in a specific part of the video. If the small range exports fine, the issue is in a different section — try different ranges to isolate it.
- Check source file access. If your source video is reference-based (not copied), make sure the original file is still accessible. See troubleshooting import problems.
- Lower the resolution. Export at 1080p instead of 4K and see if the error goes away.
- Restart the app and try again.
Export is very slow
Slow exports are usually caused by high-resolution output, Enhanced mode, or device limitations.
Enhanced mode is slow by design
Enhanced mode uses AI upscaling to improve quality in zoomed areas. This is computationally intensive and will always be slower than Scaled or Unscaled.
Solutions:
- Use Enhanced only when you need it. If you are not zooming in significantly, Scaled mode produces excellent results and is much faster.
- Export a test section first. Use a custom range to test a short segment before committing to a full export.
- Check zoom levels. Enhanced is most beneficial when scale > 2x. If your maximum zoom is 1.5x, the quality improvement from Enhanced may not be worth the time.
High resolution output
Exporting at 4K takes significantly longer than 1080p, especially with Enhanced mode.
Solutions:
- Export at 1080p if your target platform does not need 4K (e.g., social media).
- Use Scaled mode at 4K instead of Enhanced at 4K if speed matters more than the AI upscaling benefit.
Device limitations
Older devices, devices with less RAM, or devices running other heavy applications may export slowly.
Solutions:
- Close other applications to free up memory and processing power.
- On Mac: In Preferences → Performance, you can adjust settings:
- Prefer discrete GPU (on by default) — uses the dedicated graphics card if available.
- Max concurrent exports — reduce this to 1 if you are running multiple exports.
- Clear Derived Data Cache and Clear ML Model Cache to free up space.
- Plug in your device. On battery power, some devices throttle performance.
- Let it finish. Even slow exports eventually complete. The progress bar shows it is working.
Device capability warning
You may see a warning about your device's capability for the chosen export settings:
Solutions:
- Lower the resolution or switch to a less demanding export mode.
- This warning is advisory — you can still export, but it may be slow or may fail on very constrained devices.
"Needs N fps but source is N fps"
This warning appears in Slo-Mo (Timing) mode when your slow-motion settings require a higher frame rate than your source video. For example, 0.5x speed from a 30 fps source needs 60 fps.
What it means: The app will use optical flow interpolation to create the missing frames during export. This is normal and the result will look smooth.
Solutions:
- If you want to avoid frame interpolation, reduce the slow-motion amount or increase the speed.
- The warning is informational — the export will still complete successfully.
Export completes but video looks wrong
Unexpected cropping
- Check your Output Orientation setting. You may have exported in Portrait when you expected Landscape.
- Switch to Output preview mode and scrub through the video to see exactly what will be exported.
Camera moves look different than in the editor
- The editor uses a proxy (lower-resolution version) for playback. The export uses the original full-resolution video. If the proxy and original have different aspect ratios or resolutions, the camera moves may shift slightly.
- Check Monitor preview vs Output preview — you may have been editing in Monitor mode and not checking Output preview.
Video is sideways or upside down
- Check Source Rotation in the hamburger menu. It may be set to 90°, 180°, or 270°.
Still having problems?
- Export a short custom range at lower settings. If this works, gradually increase settings to find where the problem starts.
- Create a new project with the same video and minimal edits. If the new project exports fine, the issue is with the original project's settings or complexity.
- Restart your device.
- Contact support with details about your export settings and the error message you are seeing.