Sometimes an upload stops at Step 1 before your designs reach your Library.


That can feel frustrating, especially with a big Shop folder or a USB stick full of files. You are not alone. We will take the most common causes one at a time.


A Design Pod is the home for one design: its files, tags, notes, and thumbnail.


First: is it stuck, or just slow?


What you seeWhat to do
Step 1 stops, errors, or never movesStay on this page.
Progress keeps moving, or files arrive but take a long timeSee Why is my upload slow?


Large batches often feel slow even when nothing is wrong. A true Step 1 failure needs the checks below.


Quick checks (start here)


  1. Refresh your browser page, then try again.
  2. If you were uploading from a USB drive, copy one small design folder to your computer first. Then upload from the computer, not straight from the stick. USB uploads are often slower and less steady.
  3. Try a single small file (or one small ZIP) with the Files option.


Shop folders and other large batches (most common Step 1 fail)


Big “Shop” downloads and full USB dumps often fail at Step 1 because they hold many files, or add up to more than 100 MB.


Limits to remember:


  • Each upload can be up to 100 MB in total, not per file.
  • You can include up to 12,000 files in one upload. With All Individual files into individual design pods, the limit is 50 files.


If you see a message that a folder is too large, check its total size on your computer. If it is over 100 MB, upload it in smaller groups.


Even if uploads worked for you before, a bigger Shop batch or a larger ZIP can still fail at Step 1. That does not mean you did anything wrong.


What to try:


  1. Check the total size of the folder on your computer.
  2. If it is over 100 MB, split it into smaller groups of 100 MB or less. A huge ZIP can be split into smaller ZIPs.
  3. Upload in smaller groups, for example, one designer folder or one season at a time.
  4. When that smaller group finishes and the Design Pods look right, start the next group.


Related: File Upload Limitations · Uploading multiple designs


ZIP vs single file


Yes, you can upload ZIP files.


EEganizer automatically unzips them. You can upload one ZIP with the Files option, or a folder that contains several ZIPs with the Folder option.


Tip: A ZIP counts as one file. You can upload several ZIPs at once if together they are 100 MB or less. If one ZIP is larger than 100 MB, split it into smaller ZIPs on your computer, then upload them in separate groups.


Related: Can you upload zip files?


“Select File Formats” hid the files I need


In Step 1, the Select File Format(s) dropdown lets you include or leave out certain file types.


If you turn formats off by mistake, the files you need may not upload. It can look like the upload “failed” or came through empty.


What to try:


  1. Browse and select your files or folder as usual.
  2. Open Select File Format(s).
  3. Make sure the formats you need (for example PES, DST, JEF) are turned on.
  4. Click Upload again.


You can upload any file type except .exe and .dll. Only some types get an automatic thumbnail, including BX, ART and more. See Which file types get a thumbnail?.


Related: Select File Formats


I uploaded, but I don’t see my designs


Sometimes the upload finished, but Library filters are still hiding the new Design Pods, or they are still processing.


What to try:


  1. In your Library, click Clear Selections (near the top left). This turns off filters and search chips that may still be on.
  2. Look for an Uploading section or tab. New Design Pods can sit there while thumbnails finish.
  3. Wait a few minutes for a large batch, then refresh the Library.
  4. Search by part of the design name.


Related: What To Do After Uploading A Design


Gentle note about speed


Uploading many designs takes time. A USB stick can be slower than files already on your computer.


If an upload feels stuck for a long time (not just slow):


  1. Cancel the attempt if the screen allows it.
  2. Copy a smaller set of files to your computer.
  3. Upload that smaller set first.


You do not need to move your whole embroidery library in one go.


For expectation-setting on large batches, see Why is my upload slow?.


Still stuck?


Send us a short note with:


  • Whether you used Files or Folder
  • About how many files you tried
  • Whether the upload might be over 100 MB in total
  • A screenshot of the Step 1 screen (if you can)


We’re happy to help you get that first Design Pod into your Library.


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