You’ve poured hours into crafting the perfect podcast, video, or transcript in Descript. You’re ready to export your masterpiece and share it with the world — but the Export button is greyed out, completely unclickable. Suddenly, your smooth workflow comes to a frustrating halt. What happened? And more importantly, how do you fix it?
If this sounds familiar, don’t worry. The greyed-out export button is one of the most common issues Descript users encounter, and the good news is it’s usually a simple fix. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned editor, this guide will walk you through the most likely causes and give you step-by-step troubleshooting techniques to get you back on track quickly.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn why this happens, how to fix it with practical solutions, what to do if none of those work, and how to prevent similar issues in the future. Let’s dive in!
Why Is the Export Button Greyed Out in Descript?
Descript is an innovative audio and video editing platform that combines transcription, editing, and exporting in one streamlined app. Its export feature allows you to output your project into a shareable file format like MP3, WAV, MP4, or text transcripts. However, for the Export button to be active and usable, certain conditions must be met.
How Exporting Works in Descript
When you press the export button, Descript performs checks to ensure that your project is ready. This involves verifying that you have selected media content or a sequence to export, that your edits have been rendered, and that your timeline is properly set up. If any of these elements are missing or incomplete, Descript disables the export function to prevent errors such as exporting an empty file or unfinished content.
This behavior is designed to protect your work and maintain file integrity, but it can be confusing when you aren’t sure what’s missing.
Common Reasons the Export Button Is Greyed Out
No Content Selected or Sequence Created:
Descript requires an active media item or sequence selection in your project. If you haven’t highlighted a clip, composition, or timeline section, the export button will remain inactive.Incomplete Project Rendering:
Your edits, effects, and transitions need to be processed before export. If the app is still rendering these changes, it won’t let you export until the process finishes.No Timeline or Screen Selected:
Export depends on what’s currently visible or active on the timeline or canvas. An empty timeline or no selection means nothing to export.Internet Connectivity Issues:
Descript relies on cloud services for syncing and some rendering functions. A spotty or lost internet connection can prevent export.Software Bugs or Outdated Version:
Running an older version or encountering temporary glitches can cause the export UI to malfunction.
Understanding these factors will help you systematically diagnose why your export button is greyed out and apply the correct fix.
Quick Fixes – Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Let’s go through each practical solution in detail so you can troubleshoot the export button problem effectively.
1. Make Sure You’ve Selected Content to Export
This is the most common cause of a greyed-out export button. Descript cannot export what isn’t selected.
Why it happens:
Descript’s export function requires you to actively select a media clip, composition, or a sequence on the timeline. If you simply open the project without selecting content, the export button will remain inactive.
How to fix it:
- Click on the desired composition in the project sidebar.
- Or select the media clip directly on the timeline by clicking it until it’s highlighted.
- Ensure that you have a selection visible on the canvas or timeline panel.
Tip:
If you’re exporting a transcript or text-based project, make sure you’ve selected the text sequence or relevant compositions.
2. Check If the Timeline Is Empty
Even if you have media files imported into Descript, the export button won’t activate unless those clips or segments are placed on the timeline.
Why it happens:
Descript exports whatever is on the timeline. An empty timeline means no active content to process.
How to fix it:
- Drag and drop your audio, video, or transcript clips onto the timeline area.
- Check for the presence of tracks with media clips and edits applied.
- Review your timeline to confirm clips aren’t muted or hidden.
Extra insight:
Sometimes users accidentally clear the timeline or work in an untitled or new sequence that has no media on it, leading to this issue.
3. Verify Project Has Finished Rendering
Descript uses real-time rendering to apply edits, effects, and transcriptions. This process must complete before export.
Why it happens:
If your project is still rendering, the export button won’t activate to prevent incomplete exports.
How to fix it:
- Look for a progress bar, spinning indicator, or message in the bottom panel.
- Wait a few minutes to let Descript finish rendering.
- Check system resource usage to see if Descript is busy processing.
Pro tip:
Large projects with multiple tracks or complex edits may take longer to render. Patience here saves you from corrupt exports.
4. Restart Descript
Minor glitches can cause the interface to freeze or malfunction.
Why it happens:
Temporary bugs, memory leaks, or UI freezes can disable export without a clear error.
How to fix it:
- Save your project first to avoid losing work.
- Fully close Descript (ensure it’s not running in the background).
- Reopen Descript and reload your project.
- Try exporting again.
Bonus:
Restarting your computer can also help clear system-related issues affecting Descript.
5. Update Descript to the Latest Version
Software updates often fix bugs and improve stability.
Why it happens:
Older versions may contain known bugs or lack compatibility with your OS or hardware.
How to fix it:
- Open Descript and navigate to Help > Check for Updates.
- If an update is available, download and install it.
- Alternatively, uninstall and reinstall the latest version from the official Descript website.
Why this matters:
Keeping your software up to date ensures you have the latest features and bug fixes that may resolve your export problem.
6. Log Out and Back In
Session or account-related issues can cause UI anomalies.
Why it happens:
Descript uses cloud syncing tied to your login session. A stale or corrupted session can cause export features to malfunction.
How to fix it:
- Log out of your Descript account through the profile or settings menu.
- Close the app entirely.
- Reopen Descript and log back in with your credentials.
- Attempt export again.
7. Check Your Internet Connection
Because Descript performs rendering and syncing in the cloud, your internet status matters.
Why it happens:
A weak or disconnected internet can block cloud syncing or exporting capabilities.
How to fix it:
- Verify that you’re connected to a reliable network.
- Try visiting a website or running a speed test.
- Switch to wired ethernet if possible.
- Restart your modem/router to refresh your connection.
Note:
Some Descript export features require internet access, especially if you’re using cloud rendering or collaboration.
8. Try Exporting from a Different Device
Testing your project on another device can help isolate whether the problem is with your machine or the project file.
How to do this:
- Log into your Descript account on a different computer with the app installed.
- Open the same project or composition.
- Attempt export from there.
What this tells you:
- If export works on another device, the issue is likely local to your original machine (software, OS, hardware).
- If export fails everywhere, the problem might be with the project file or your account.
What to Do If Nothing Works
If you’ve tried every step and the export button is still greyed out, it’s time to dig a little deeper.
Test Exporting a Different Composition
Create a new project or open a different existing one. Try exporting a simple audio or video file there.
- If export works, the issue is isolated to your original project.
- If export still doesn’t work, the problem might be app-wide or account-related.
Contact Descript Support
Descript offers responsive customer support and a comprehensive help center.
How to get help:
- Visit the Descript Support Page.
- Use the in-app help widget to chat or submit a ticket.
- Provide as much detail as possible: your OS, Descript version, project type, and screenshots or screen recordings of the problem.
- Include any error messages and a description of what you’ve already tried.
The support team can analyze logs, identify bugs, and provide personalized solutions.
Pro Tips to Prevent This in the Future
To keep your Descript projects running smoothly and avoid export frustrations, try these expert tips:
Regularly Save and Backup Projects
- Use Descript’s autosave feature.
- Manually save versions periodically, especially before major changes.
- Export backup files regularly to avoid losing work.
Keep the App Updated
- Set reminders to check for updates monthly.
- Enable auto-update if your system supports it.
- Updated apps have fewer bugs and better export stability.
Use Clear Naming Conventions
- Name your compositions, clips, and sequences clearly.
- Organize assets in folders for easier selection.
- This reduces confusion when selecting content to export.
Review Timeline Before Exporting
- Double-check your timeline for active clips.
- Verify that edits and transitions are complete.
- Ensure your timeline isn’t accidentally muted or hidden.
Maintain a Stable Internet Connection
- Use wired connections for reliability during long edits or exports.
- Avoid exporting during times of high network usage.
Monitor Rendering Status
- Always wait for rendering completion.
- Avoid interrupting renders to prevent corrupted exports.
Additional Insights: Why Export Issues Matter
Exporting is the final and crucial step of your editing workflow. Problems here can delay your projects, impact deadlines, and cause frustration. By understanding the root causes, you not only fix immediate issues but also develop habits that ensure consistent, error-free exporting.
Descript, like many cloud-enabled creative tools, depends heavily on:
- Proper content selection
- Complete rendering
- Stable network syncing
- Up-to-date software
Ignoring any of these can lead to hiccups that appear mysterious but are easily avoidable with the right knowledge.
Conclusion
The greyed-out export button in Descript is a common but fixable issue. In most cases, it boils down to one or more of the following:
- No active media or sequence selected
- Empty timeline with no clips
- Project still rendering
- App glitches or outdated software
- Internet connectivity problems
By following the step-by-step troubleshooting guide—checking your selection, timeline, rendering status, restarting and updating the app, verifying your internet, and testing on another device—you can quickly restore your ability to export your projects.
If all else fails, don’t hesitate to contact Descript support with detailed information about your issue. With a bit of patience and methodical troubleshooting, you’ll be exporting your audio and video projects again in no time.
Thanks for reading! If you found this guide helpful, share it with your fellow editors or bookmark it for future reference.