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Slow or failed export

Why an export takes time, what each message means, and what to do when your file wasn't made.

Written by Ben (Founder) · Updated November 6, 2026

Why it takes the time it takes

Where you are Who makes the file What to know
Chrome, Edge or Brave on a computer Your browser The fastest on the web. In our tests, Chrome made a 56-second video in under 40 seconds. Keep the page open.
Safari, Firefox, a phone Montage Montage makes your video in 8 parts at once, its sound beside them, then joins and checks them. You can close the page.
Mac app Your computer’s video chip Made from your original files. A video added on the web first brings its original down from your account.

In Safari or Firefox? Montage says « Montage works best in Google Chrome »: you can keep working, but in Chrome your videos export faster.

The messages, and what to do

Message What it means What to do
Starting The export is getting ready Wait: the bar comes next.
Your video wasn’t made. Something went wrong on our side. Your video is safe. Press Try again.
Your Mac is full (or Your computer is full) The app needs more free space than your computer has; it says how much. Free up some space, then press Try again.
On the disk « … » An original is on a disk that is not plugged in. Plug the disk in: the export goes on by itself.
Moved or deleted An original is no longer where it was. Press Find the file: the export goes on by itself.

When it fails again

  1. Press Try again once.
  2. If you are in Safari or Firefox, try the same export in Chrome, Edge or Brave on a computer.
  3. Still not made? Contact support. We are told of every failed export, with what it was making.

Questions

I closed the page while Montage made my video. Is it lost?

No. When Montage makes it, it goes on without you, and your video will be there when you open it again.

What does Stop do?

It closes the window. When your browser or the app makes the file, the export is dropped. When Montage makes it, it goes on, and the window comes back when you open the video again.

Is a broken file ever given to me?

No. When Montage makes the file, it checks it first; a wrong file is never given, you see « Your video wasn’t made. » instead.

That was the last article of Export
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