Since Animoto is a graphics-heavy website that uses a lot of data, performance issues often stem from network connectivity problems, outdated browsers or systems, or a cluttered cache that needs clearing. To quickly get back on track, start by troubleshooting your network, ensuring you're using a browser that's compatible and up to date, and clearing your cache. This article guides you step-by-step to optimize your network and system setup so you can get back to working smoothly.
Lag, server disconnection errors, and slow loading are commonly caused by network connectivity problems, outdated or incompatible browsers, or a browser cache that has become cluttered with outdated data. These issues can slow down page loading and responsiveness, causing time outs that disrupt your workflow and make it hard to finish your project. The below steps will guide you through how to resolve the most common culprits to get your system and setup running in top shape so you can get back to creating.
Clear the cache
Cached data is temporary storage, and over time it can cause your web browser to slow down. Clearing your cache removes old, unused data and can improve performance by allowing Animoto to retrieve the most up to date information. Clearing the cache does not affect stored passwords and logins, downloaded files, or any custom settings.
- Clear your cache in Chrome
- Clear your cache in Firefox
- Clear your cache in Safari (while we don't formally Safari, these steps may help you get back on track!)
Update your browser
If you're having trouble creating a video, or notice that things aren’t working quite right, make sure you're using an up to date and compatible web browser.
Animoto currently supports the following browsers:
While we don't formally support other browsers like Safari or Edge, you may be able to use some features of Animoto, although its very possible that not everything will work correctly. For best results we recommend using an up to date version of Chrome or Firefox on a computer.
You can check this page to see if your browser is up to date: https://www.whatismybrowser.com/
See also: Best Browsers for Animoto
Close the media library
Large projects with a lot of items require a lot of data, which can slow things down. If you have a lot of items in the Media Library, closing the library can help speed things up!
Break your project up into smaller pieces
If you are creating a long video (8+ minutes) breaking it up into two smaller videos and combining them might give you the boost you need while editing. You can break your project into pieces by making a copy of each video, and deleting the blocks you don't need in sections, keeping each one about 5 minutes long. Once you finish each section, download each video to your computer, and upload them as video clips in a new project. Turn off the background volume, export your video, and your projects will be combined!
Restart your computer
Restarting your computer clears temporary files and frees up memory, helping your system run more smoothly. Restarting your computer can reset processes that might be causing slowdowns, especially important for handling websites like Animoto.
Restart your modem
Restarting your modem can fix network connectivity issues that slow down the site. Power off your modem, wait about 30 seconds, then turn it back on to refresh your internet connection. This helps clear temporary network glitches that may be affecting site performance.
Close other windows and applications
Closing unnecessary browser tabs and applications reduces CPU load and frees up system resources.
Turn on hardware acceleration
Graphics issues can develop over time because they depend on available processing power. If the other steps haven’t resolved the issue, turning on hardware acceleration might provide the performance boost you need.
The Animoto Customer team is here to help! If none of those steps work, you can contact the Customer team at Help@Animoto.com.