Hi, I'm having trouble downloading a local copy of my Figma Make file called "Build Portfolio."The problem:When I go to File → Save local copy, it just shows "Downloading contents..." and never finishes. The only options I get are "Cancel" or "Save partial file."What I've already tried:Tried downloading again several times on a stable internet connection Waited over 10 minutes without touching anything Made a copy of the file first, then tried downloading that copy — same problem Tried "Save partial file" — it opened in Figma Make, but the preview was blank and the code tab was empty, so it didn't actually save my work Checked if I could restore just one version instead of the whole history — but "Restore" just adds it back into the same file, it doesn't create a smaller separate copyWhy I think it's related to file size:I have another Figma Make file with only 47 versions, and that one downloads perfectly within seconds. My "Build Portfolio" file has 91 versions, and that's the one that keeps failing.What I need:Please help me either fix this download, or let me know why files with a lot of versions fail to export like this.Thank you!

Hi, @Mattam Bhahula. Thanks for your post - seems like you’ve made a lot of effort to resolve this yourself.Are you using a web browser or the desktop app? Could you try switching to whichever you were not using, and let me know what happens? In addition to switching, one other thing you could try, too:Download the code of your project. At the top of the preview, click on the < > button, then click the download button.Create a new Make file, then upload all of the files you downloaded - you may need to replace some of those that already exist in the new Make project.This was an issue that came up a month ago and was fixed, so I think you’re on the right track as far as the cause. Once we’ve confirmed that switching doesn’t resolve it, I’ll help create a ticket for you with our Technical Quality team if you’d prefer that to creating a whole new Make file.Edit: One additional solution offered by @ColoredStrategieswas to reduce the number of background fills, as their file had more than 100 and reducing that number solved the issue. You can also review our article on reducing memory usage for additional steps you can take.

Mattam Bhahula

New Member

Solved

"Save local copy" (.make export) fails / gets stuck on high-version-count file

14 replies
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Hi, I'm having trouble downloading a local copy of my Figma Make file called "Build Portfolio."

The problem:
When I go to File → Save local copy, it just shows "Downloading contents..." and never finishes. The only options I get are "Cancel" or "Save partial file."

What I've already tried:

Tried downloading again several times on a stable internet connection
Waited over 10 minutes without touching anything
Made a copy of the file first, then tried downloading that copy — same problem
Tried "Save partial file" — it opened in Figma Make, but the preview was blank and the code tab was empty, so it didn't actually save my work
Checked if I could restore just one version instead of the whole history — but "Restore" just adds it back into the same file, it doesn't create a smaller separate copy

Why I think it's related to file size:
I have another Figma Make file with only 47 versions, and that one downloads perfectly within seconds. My "Build Portfolio" file has 91 versions, and that's the one that keeps failing.

What I need:
Please help me either fix this download, or let me know why files with a lot of versions fail to export like this.

Thank you!

Figma Make

adamsmasherSolution

Figmate

Hi, @Mattam Bhahula. Thanks for your post - seems like you’ve made a lot of effort to resolve this yourself.

Are you using a web browser or the desktop app? Could you try switching to whichever you were not using, and let me know what happens? In addition to switching, one other thing you could try, too:

Download the code of your project. At the top of the preview, click on the < > button, then click the download button.
Create a new Make file, then upload all of the files you downloaded - you may need to replace some of those that already exist in the new Make project.

This was an issue that came up a month ago and was fixed, so I think you’re on the right track as far as the cause. Once we’ve confirmed that switching doesn’t resolve it, I’ll help create a ticket for you with our Technical Quality team if you’d prefer that to creating a whole new Make file.

Edit: One additional solution offered by @ColoredStrategies was to reduce the number of background fills, as their file had more than 100 and reducing that number solved the issue. You can also review our article on reducing memory usage for additional steps you can take.

Mattam BhahulaAuthor

New Member

Hi,

I'm not able to download a local copy of my Figma Make file.
When I click File → Save local copy, it just shows "Downloading contents..." and never finishes. I only get options to "Cancel" or "Save partial file." When I click File → Save local copy, it just shows "Downloading contents..." and never finishes, only giving me options to "Cancel" or "Save partial file." I've already tried downloading it again several times on good internet, waited 20+ minutes without touching anything, made a copy of the file and tried again with the same issue, tried "Save partial file" which opened but had a blank preview with no code inside, and tried restoring an older version, but that just adds back to the same file instead of making a separate smaller copy. I think this is related to file size, since my other Figma Make files with 21 and 47 versions download in seconds, but this one has 91 versions and keeps failing. Please help me fix this, or let me know why files with a lot of versions fail to download. Thank you!

adamsmasherSolution

Figmate

Hi, @Mattam Bhahula. Thanks for your post - seems like you’ve made a lot of effort to resolve this yourself.

Are you using a web browser or the desktop app? Could you try switching to whichever you were not using, and let me know what happens? In addition to switching, one other thing you could try, too:

Download the code of your project. At the top of the preview, click on the < > button, then click the download button.
Create a new Make file, then upload all of the files you downloaded - you may need to replace some of those that already exist in the new Make project.

This was an issue that came up a month ago and was fixed, so I think you’re on the right track as far as the cause. Once we’ve confirmed that switching doesn’t resolve it, I’ll help create a ticket for you with our Technical Quality team if you’d prefer that to creating a whole new Make file.

Edit: One additional solution offered by @ColoredStrategies was to reduce the number of background fills, as their file had more than 100 and reducing that number solved the issue. You can also review our article on reducing memory usage for additional steps you can take.

Mattam BhahulaAuthor

New Member

Hey, thank you so much for your advice! I was using Figma in the browser, and the Make file wasn’t downloading. I followed your suggestion and downloaded the desktop app, and I was able to download the local copy successfully.

Thank you so much for your help! 😊

adamsmasher

Figmate

Awesome - glad to hear that, @Mattam Bhahula!

Radhika Thacker

New Member

Hi, I am experiencing the same issue. Not able to download the file “save as local copy” from both Local desktop application as well as browser. Please help, thank you!

adamsmasher

Figmate

Hi, @Radhika Thacker. Thanks for your reply!

Were you able to try the steps from my previous reply that creates a new Make file using the files from your existing file? I can help make a ticket for you with our Technical Quality team, but I wanted to see if you had tried that as a solution in the meantime. For reference, here is what I mean:

Download the code of your project. At the top of the preview, click on the < > button, then click the download button.
Create a new Make file, then upload all of the files you downloaded - you may need to replace some of those that already exist in the new Make project.

Rather than duplicating the file (which includes chat and version history), this will get you a copy without all of that. I can still make a ticket for you either way but wanted to make sure you saw that as a solution to try.

Radhika Thacker

New Member

Hi, @adamsmasher
thank you for the quick reply.

My bad, I think I didn’t communicate well enough. Apologies. When I said same problem, I’m experiencing it in Figma Design file and not the Make file. Also, there is no code involved for me. Now, I’m wondering, does the process look different if its not Make.

Yet drawing parallels from what you recommended:
I do need chat and version history for a matter of record.

For context:
I’ve joined a new work, new team. And before i start working on their existing Figma file, i was looking to download a copy that preserves whatever dates back to this point in time as a record if any mix up happen later then there is a copy to cross check with.

Radhika Thacker

New Member

I have windows. But this I could not locate- “You can also find the application in your Applications folder, then right-click and get more info.”
Although, from control panel > Programs to uninstall > lists the current software and their current version so from there I could confirm I have latest version installed, the version number matched that you have mentioned.

Thank you so much for the support!

ColoredStrategies

New Member

For me the solution was switching background image fills of the layers to color. I had more than 100 layers and they all had image fills. I guess they fill up the RAM while preparing the local copy.

I tried duplicate, reset, reinstall, export cleanup, browser to app switch trick but none worked.

adamsmasher

Figmate

Thanks for sharing that, @ColoredStrategies! I edited my answer to include this since it worked for you. To expand on this, it’s probably not just that they are image fills, but the size of the image used with each fill as well. A quick review of our article on reducing memory usage can provide some additional steps that can help, too.

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