# Troubleshooting

> Common symptoms and their fixes: install, agents, media, Local AI and export.

Formats Studio docs · Reference · https://formats.app/docs/troubleshooting · Updated 2026-09-28

## Install and updates

| Symptom | Fix |
| --- | --- |
| Updates never install | Move Formats Studio into **Applications**; updates only install into that copy |
| **Formats Studio is already open from Applications** | Quit that copy, then open the new one again to replace it |
| The update service could not be reached | Check your connection, then choose **Check for Updates…** from the app menu |

## Your agent

| Symptom | Fix |
| --- | --- |
| Claude Code or GitHub Copilot is not listed | Install Claude Code 2.1.259 or later, or GitHub Copilot CLI 1.0.81 or later, then reopen the agent picker |
| The agent asks you to sign in | Finish sign-in once in the agent's own flow; Formats never stores those credentials |
| An edit shows **Timeline changed** | The timeline moved on since the agent proposed it. Ask again and it works from the current state |
| Your own skills are ignored | Personal and project skills load with **Full access**; the built-in skills load in every mode |

## Media and import

| Symptom | Fix |
| --- | --- |
| Missing Media | Relink with **Locate**, **Locate Folder** or **Browse Another Folder** |
| Import failed or unsupported codec | Try another format, or transcode the file first |
| Import from URL fails | Make sure the link points at the media file itself, not a page that embeds it |
| Stale previews or waveforms | Regenerate thumbnails or proxies, or clear the project cache in Storage settings |

> **Warning:** Use **Work Offline** only when you mean to relink the files later; clips stay as broken references until then.

## Local AI

| Symptom | Fix |
| --- | --- |
| A model download is slow or fails | Open **Local AI** in the **Media** tab and retry on a stable connection; files already downloaded are kept |
| Scene search only matches keywords | Download Local AI; searching by meaning and by what the footage shows needs it |

## Export

| Symptom | Fix |
| --- | --- |
| A codec is unavailable in the checks | Choose another codec or format, or lower the resolution or quality |
| A large export is slow | Lower the resolution or quality, and free disk space first |
| Export will not start | Clear any blocking check, then try a lower resolution to confirm everything works |

## Related

- [Install Formats Studio](https://formats.app/docs/install): What your Mac needs, installing the app, signing in, where projects live, and staying up to date.
- [Work with your agent](https://formats.app/docs/agent): Choose Claude Code, Codex or GitHub Copilot, ask for edits in plain words, and review, apply or undo what it does.
- [Workspaces and storage](https://formats.app/docs/workspaces): Where your projects live on your Mac, switching workspaces, missing media and cache maintenance.
- [Export](https://formats.app/docs/export): Render video or audio on your Mac, choose the format and sequence, and clear any blocking checks.