My upload failed or stalled

One click recovers a failed file, finished files never re-send, and the tab rule that prevents most failures in the first place.

A failed upload is recoverable in one click: the file stays listed in the upload panel with a Retry button, and nothing that already finished needs to be sent again. The one rule that prevents most failures in the first place: keep the browser tab open until the panel says everything is done.

What you're seeing

A file in the upload panel sits at the same percentage for a long time, or its status flips to Failed and the summary reads something like "6 uploaded, 2 failed." Or the upload refuses to start at all, with a message that the file exceeds the upload limit for your plan.

Why it happens

Uploads run in your browser, so anything that interrupts the browser interrupts them: a Wi-Fi drop, a laptop going to sleep, a VPN reconnect, or the tab closing. Momentary network blips retry themselves invisibly; a file is marked Failed only when that quiet retry could not save it. You can move around HoldFast freely while uploading (the panel follows you from page to page), but closing the tab stops whatever has not finished.

Size refusals are different. Each plan has a per-file ceiling (2 GB on Free, 10 GB on Pro, 25 GB on Team), and a file over yours is refused up front with a clear message instead of dying at 99%.

Fix it

Screenshot: upload-panel-retry-1
Failed files stay in the panel with a one-click Retry; finished files are already safe.

1. Click Retry next to the failed file, or Retry All in the panel header. The file re-sends from your machine. Expected result: the bar runs to 100% and the status flips to done.
2. If the same file fails repeatedly, your connection is the usual suspect: pause other heavy traffic, or export a lighter file. An H.264 export at a fraction of the size of a full-resolution master looks identical once it is streaming.
3. If the file was refused for size, upload a lighter export under your ceiling, or upgrade the plan.
4. For big batches you cannot babysit, point a Local Watch Folder at your export directory instead of dragging files in. It keeps a memory of exactly which files already made it, so after any interruption it resumes with what is missing and nothing uploads twice. New renders keep landing automatically while the tab is open.

Still stuck

Upload failures report themselves to us automatically, so if Retry will not go through, contact us from the help button in the bottom-right corner of HoldFast (the Support tab) with the file name and size, and we can see the failure from our side.