Why Filmora Export Stalls at 0%—and How to Fix It Fast

Last Updated: September 8, 2025

Quick Fix Summary

When Filmora export gets stuck at 0%, it’s usually caused by overly aggressive export settings or hardware acceleration conflicts. Lower the resolution/frame rate/bitrate, turn off “GPU accelerated video encoding” in the Export window, clear Media Cache/Proxy (File → Preferences → Performance → Media Cache / Proxy), and save to a simple folder on a local drive (e.g., C:\Export). If the issue persists, update Filmora and clean-install your GPU drivers.

Identifying the Problem

Exporting stuck at 0%...
Preparing...

Export progress freezes at 0–1%
Stuck on "Exporting..." or "Preparing..." indefinitely
Preview works fine, but export fails
Common with 4K/60fps or heavy effects
More likely when saving to external/network drives

Root Cause Analysis

1. Overly Aggressive Export Settings

Excessive resolution/frame rate/bitrate pushing system beyond its limits.

→ Solution: Gradually reduce settings and test.

2. Hardware Acceleration Conflicts

GPU and driver combination fails to initialize encoder properly.

→ Solution: Disable GPU accelerated encoding in Export/Preferences and compare.

3. Corrupted Cache/Proxy Files

Outdated Media Cache/Proxy causing errors during encoding stage.

→ Solution: Delete and regenerate Media Cache/Proxy files.

4. Save Path/Permission Issues

External drives, sync folders, special characters in path, permission restrictions.

→ Solution: Save to a simple local folder.

Step 0: Update Filmora

Make sure you’re on the latest build before troubleshooting.

How to Update

Go to Help → Check for Update
Install the update and restart Filmora
Retry the export

See also: Filmora’s general export troubleshooting guide (official)

Step 1: Optimize Export Settings

Reduce encoding load to see if export proceeds.

Recommended Order

Resolution: 4K → 1080p → 720p
Frame Rate: 60fps → 30fps → 24fps
Bitrate: Reduce by ~50% and switch to VBR (1-pass)
Codec: HEVC (H.265) → H.264

✅ Check: If export moves past 1–2%, overload was the cause.

Step 2: Adjust Hardware Acceleration

Test with acceleration disabled to rule out conflicts.

Configuration Steps

In the Export window, uncheck “GPU accelerated video encoding”
Go to File → Preferences → Performance and disable acceleration options

Guide: GPU acceleration basics in Filmora (official)

✅ Check: If export completes after disabling, the conflict came from GPU acceleration.

Step 3: Clear Cache and Proxy Files

Remove corrupted temporary data and regenerate fresh files.

Cleanup Procedure

Go to File → Preferences → Performance → Media Cache and click Delete
Go to File → Preferences → Performance → Proxy and click Clean
Restart Filmora and let proxy regenerate

How-to: Clear cache (Media Cache) (official)

✅ Check: If a new project exports normally, cache was the issue.

Step 4: Change Save Location

Use a simple local path to avoid permission and speed issues.

Recommended Examples

Good: C:\Export\, D:\Videos\
Avoid: Network/external drives, sync folders (OneDrive/Google Drive), paths with special characters

Note: Ensure available storage is at least twice the expected file size.

Step 5: Update Graphics Drivers

Perform a clean install of the latest official drivers.

Clean Install Process

Download the latest driver from your GPU vendor
Choose Custom → Clean Install during setup (if available)
Restart after installation

Downloads: NVIDIA · AMD · Intel

Step 6: Close Background Programs

Temporarily disable processes that might interfere with encoding.

Real-time antivirus scanning, game overlays (Steam/Discord)
Cloud sync services (OneDrive/Google Drive, etc.)
Screen recorders, bandwidth-heavy apps
Audio enhancement tools (e.g., Nahimic/Sonic Studio)

Tip: Run Filmora as administrator to reduce permission issues.

Step 7: Check Codecs and Components

Apply these only when needed for specific environments.

Situation-Specific Guide

Windows N Edition: Install the Media Feature Pack (official)
Using HEVC (H.265): If missing, install HEVC Video Extensions or convert to H.264
Visual C++/DirectX: Reinstall only if related error messages appear

Note: Depending on your Windows build, HEVC extensions may be paid; some OEMs bundle a free variant.

Step 8: Verify Source Files

Check if corrupted or special-codec sources are causing the issue.

Verification Methods

Try exporting without the suspected problematic clips
Pre-convert problem clips to MP4 (H.264) as replacements
If footage is VFR (variable frame rate), transcode to CFR using HandBrake

Troubleshooting Checklist

☐ Update Filmora to the latest build
☐ Lower resolution/frame rate/bitrate
☐ Disable GPU accelerated encoding or use software encoding
☐ Delete and regenerate Media Cache/Proxy
☐ Save to a simple local folder
☐ Ensure storage space (2× expected file size)
☐ Clean-install GPU drivers
☐ Close background apps / overlays
☐ Run Filmora as administrator
☐ Convert/replace problematic clips (fix VFR→CFR if needed)

Frequently Asked Questions

Does software encoding reduce video quality?

It can, depending on settings. At lower bitrates, software encoders (x264) can achieve better quality than older hardware encoders, while modern NVENC/QSV are excellent for speed and stability.

Can I export directly to an external drive?

Not recommended. Export to a local drive first, then copy the file to the external drive.

4K 60fps exports keep failing. What should I do?

Test 1080p 30fps first, then raise resolution/frame rate gradually. Turn off GPU acceleration and adjust bitrate step by step.

References: Filmora – Common Solution for Video Export Issues / Microsoft – Media Feature Pack (Windows N)

Related: Filmora Crash Fix (Windows)

FixLab

Why Filmora Export Stalls at 0%—and How to Fix It Fast

Identifying the Problem