Common errors and what they mean
The messages you might see in the Studio, what each one means, and how to fix it.
Messages show up in two places. A gold box under the main button means a check stopped the run before it started — nothing was charged. A run card marked ⚠ means the run was sent, then refused or failed. You never pay for a run that didn’t deliver: anything taken comes back on its own. Close a card with ✕.
Something’s missing
These stop the run before it starts. Nothing is charged.
“Type a prompt first.”
This model needs words, and the prompt box is empty. Tools that run without a prompt: the picture upscalers, FLUX Erase, Ideogram Reframe, Bria Expand (its prompt is optional), the video upscalers, lip sync, and models that animate a picture.
“Upload a photo or generate an image first, then animate it.”
This video model animates a picture, and none is set. Press Upload a photo or Library, or make a picture first.
“Upload a photo or generate an image to edit first — or name an @entity to build from.”
The Edit lane has no source picture. Upload one or press Library. Edit models you describe a change to can also build a new picture from an @entity alone.
“Paint over the area to remove first.”
FLUX Erase needs you to paint over what should go.
“Upload or pick a face photo first.”
A talking photo needs a Face.
“Pick a voice track from your Library, or type a script.”
Give the face something to say: a saved voiceover, or a script typed in the box.
“Pick a video clip and a voice track first.”
Lip sync needs both: a Clip and a Voice.
“Upload a clip or pick one from your Library first.”
Clip tools need a Clip to work on.
“… makes the video from your entities’ pictures — type @ in the prompt and pick at least one.”
The two · Entities video models build the clip from your saved entities. Type @ and pick one.
“@… has no description, and … can’t take reference pictures.”
This model only reads words, and the entity has none. Add a description in your Library (✨ Describe writes one), or pick a model that takes pictures.
“Add a picture or type rough notes first, then press ✨ Direct.”
✨ Direct needs something to work from: a source picture, a few words, or both.
Too long or too big
“Voiceover scripts are capped at 1000 characters — this one is N.”
Shorten the script, or split it into two runs.
“Scripts for talking photos are capped at 450 characters (about 30s of speech) — this one is N.”
Talking photos speak for up to 30 seconds. Shorten the script.
“That script came out at Ns of speech — talking photos take up to 30s.”
The voiceover was made and charged, and it’s in your Library. The talking part wasn’t charged. Shorten the script and try again.
“… takes clips of … seconds — this one is Ns. Nothing was charged.”
Some clip tools take shorter clips than the upload limit. Trim the clip, or pick another tool. See Upload limits.
“This clip is already …p — the smallest upscale is 1.5×, so choose a higher output tier.”
FLUX Video Upscale can’t make this clip the size you picked. Choose a bigger Output.
Upload messages
File type, size and length limits for pictures and clips are in Upload limits and problems.
Credits
“Not enough credits — this needs N, you have N. To top up, click your balance at the top of the page.”
The run costs more than your balance. Nothing was charged. Your balance opens Credits & billing; Home’s See plans & credits opens the full shop. Or pick a cheaper model. On a run card it reads “Not enough credits. Top up to keep creating.”
“… of your plan credits are paused until your plan is active again”
Added to the message above when your plan has ended. Those credits are kept and come back when you renew. See How credits work.
“This run uses N of your N credits — N left after.”
A heads-up, not an error: the run takes half your balance or leaves you under 50. If you can’t afford it, it reads “This run needs N credits — you have N.” Top up → opens Plans & credits.
“You’ve used your 3 free ✨ Direct runs for today.”
Each free press comes back 24 hours after you used it. Buying credits raises the allowance to 25 a day.
Busy, paused or cancelled
“… is paused for now — please pick another model.”
This model is switched off for a while. Its row is greyed out with a Paused tag, and the button won’t press. Pick another model.
“Busy right now — … runs are waiting about … to start.”
Shown before you press the button: this model’s runs are queuing. You can still go ahead. If it can’t start in time, you’re refunded.
“Busy right now — waiting for a free slot”
On a run card: your run is in line. If it can’t start in time, it’s refunded automatically.
Cancel · refund
Shows on a run card while the run is waiting in line. Press it and the card reads “Cancelled — your credits are refunded.” Once a run has started it can’t be cancelled; it finishes into your Library.
The run failed
These show on the run card. The full charge is already back in your balance — see Refunds for failed or cancelled runs.
“Blocked by the model’s safety filter — your credits are refunded.”
The model refused the prompt or the picture. Reword the prompt, or try a different picture.
“The model couldn’t make anything from this — your credits are refunded.”
Reword the prompt and try again.
“The AI service was too busy to start your run in time — your credits are refunded.”
Too many runs were waiting. Try again in a few minutes.
“This model took too long to respond. Your credits have been refunded.”
Try again, or pick another model.
Any other message ending in “— your credits are refunded” is the model’s own reason, passed on as it came. Rewording the prompt or trying again usually fixes it.
Other messages
“Please log in first.”
Your session ended. Log in again and retry.
“Couldn’t reserve credits — … Please try again.”
A brief hiccup on our side. Nothing was charged. Press the button again.
Credits from a purchase haven’t appeared
Refresh the page first. Credits land as soon as Stripe confirms the payment, which is normally right away.