If you're having trouble exporting images in Capture One, there are several possible causes. This article covers the most common reasons image exports fail, how to fix them, and how to prevent these issues in the future.
Contents
- Compatibility
- Why won't my images export?
- Case 1. Export Queue is paused
- Case 2. Export Queue is stuck due to a corrupt file
- Case 3. Export Recipe is corrupt
- Case 4. Export Recipe is not enabled
- Case 5. 'Edit All Selected Variants' is disabled
- Case 6. Capture One crashes when exporting
- Case 7. Why can't I export more than one image?
- Case 8. Capture One exports only .tmp files
Compatibility
This guide applies to:
- Capture One for macOS
- Capture One for Windows
Why won't my images export?
There are a few common reasons why images fail to export:
- The Export Queue is paused
- A corrupt file is blocking the Export Queue
- An Export Recipe is corrupt
- An Export Recipe is not enabled
- "Edit All Selected Variants" is not turned on
- Capture One crashes at the point of exporting images
- Only one image is exporting
- Capture One generates .tmp file instead of a JPEG/TIFF image
Case 1. Export Queue is paused
If your Export Queue is paused, export jobs won't process — even if they’ve been added to the queue. You’ll see an orange export icon on the thumbnail to indicate this.
To resume exporting:
- Go to the Tool Tabs.
- Click the '…' icon on the far right.
- Add the Export Tool Tab to your workspace.
- Scroll to the bottom of the Export Tool Tab to find the Export Queue.
- Click Start to resume processing all images in the queue based on the selected Export Recipe.
You can remove individual export jobs by selecting the image and pressing Backspace.
Case 2. Export Queue is stuck due to a corrupt file
A corrupt image or file can cause the Export Queue to hang, blocking all subsequent exports.
To clear the queue:
- Go to Export Queue>'…'>Clear Queue
- Or select the specific image and press Backspace
If that doesn't work, navigate to the following folder:
- macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Capture One/
- Windows: %LocalAppData%\CaptureOne
...and manually delete the batch queue cache folder (BatchXXX, e.g. Batch144 or Batch120, or Batch 15.0)
Then restart Capture One to reset the queue.
Case 3. Export Recipe is corrupt
Occasionally, an Export Recipe may become corrupted and cause the export to fail.
To resolve:
- Try using a different Export Recipe to test.
- If it works, recreate the original recipe from scratch.
To create a new recipe, hit plus sign at the bottom of the Export Recipe tool:
Case 4. Export Recipe is not enabled
An Export Recipe must be both ticked and highlighted in orange in the Export Recipes tool to be active.
If the recipe is highlighted but not checked, you'll see a warning. Tick the checkbox to enable the recipe and proceed with the export.
Case 5. 'Edit All Selected Variants' is disabled
If Edit All Selected Variants is not enabled, only the primary variant (the one selected in the browser) will export.
To enable:
- Go to Image>Edit All Selected Variants.
- Make sure there's a checkmark next to it.
Case 6. Capture One crashes when exporting
This may indicate an issue with the Hardware Acceleration pipeline.
-
On macOS, go to Capture One>Settings. On Windows, go to Edit>Preferences.
- In the General tab under Hardware Acceleration, set Image Processing to Never. Older versions may have Display and Processing, so disable both.
- Restart Capture One to apply the changes.
Learn more about Hardware Acceleration in this article: Troubleshooting Hardware Acceleration in case of viewing / processing / exporting problems
Tips and best practices
- You can use multiple Export Recipes and process images in one batch.
- You can drag and drop images directly into the Export Queue.
- Always verify selected variants before batch exporting.
- Restart Capture One after clearing the cache if issues persist.
- Double-check all Export Recipe settings before exporting.
- Ensure storage locations in the recipe are valid and accessible.
Case 7. Why can't I export more than one image?
Different actions like Exporting will be applied only to the primary variant unless "Edit All Selected Variants" is selected. This one should be activated by default. If that is not your case:
Go to the menu Image > Edit All Selected Variants.
If this is not ticked on, adjustments and edits will only apply for the primary selected variant.
You might have the icon in your toolbar as well. When it is orange, it is turned on and all your selected images will get exported.
If you don’t have the icon in your toolbar, you can add it by:
Customizing toolbar:
Editing primary / all selected variants
Case 8. Capture One exports only .tmp files
When Capture One exports an image, it temporarily adds .tmp to the filename. This prevents other applications from accessing the file while it’s still being processed. Once rendering finishes, Capture One should automatically remove the .tmp extension.
If the file keeps the .tmp ending and doesn’t export correctly, it usually means something is preventing Capture One from renaming or finalizing the file.
Possible causes
- A third-party app (like a backup tool, antivirus, or malware scanner) is accessing or locking the file during export.
- Folder permissions prevent Capture One from renaming, moving, or deleting the temporary file.
How to fix it
- Export or process an image to a different location where Capture One has full access, such as your desktop.
- Temporarily disable background apps like antivirus or cloud backup software.
- Verify Capture One has full disk access. For help, see: Allowing Capture One to have full access on macOS