DesktopDesign
Design troubleshooting
Fixes for designs that won't open or save, agents that stop or can't see the canvas, Inspiration that won't search, and layers that don't look right.
Opening and saving
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| This design can't be opened | The folder moved, or design/design.json is missing or broken. | Click Try again, or Choose another folder. If an agent or editor broke design.json, undo that change in the file or ask an agent to fix it. |
| This artboard can't be shown | One artboard's file is broken or missing. The others still work, and Design never writes over a broken file. | Ask the agent to fix it. If an agent just changed it, a red line in the chat offers Fix it. |
| Not saved in the top bar | A save failed, often because another program is holding the file. Design keeps your change and tries again on its own every few seconds. Not saved stays until every change is written, even if other artboards save in the meantime. | Point at Not saved to see why. Close programs that may have the file open; it turns back to Saved once the change lands. Keep Machine open until then. |
| is a link to another folder; Machine won't save through it | A folder inside design/ (or design/ itself) is a shortcut link to somewhere else on your computer. Design only saves inside the folder you picked. | Replace the link with a real folder (move the files into it), then make a small change to save again. |
| A design is missing from Recent designs | Its folder was moved, renamed or deleted. | Click Choose a folder and pick it where it is now. |
| That artboard is too large to save | An artboard's file is over 2 MB, usually from a big picture pasted into it. | Use an Image layer for big pictures (they're saved in design/assets), or ask the agent to slim the board down. |
Agents
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| No models are listed, or Design settings › Chats says Starting Machine Code… | Machine Code starts in the background the first time. Wait a moment, then open the menu again. |
| "Install Claude Code on this computer to prompt here…" | Machine Code isn't available, so Design has no agent to run. Update Machine Desktop, or install Claude Code. Any agent can still edit the design's files directly. |
| The chat says Waiting for you | The agent asked something. Scroll the chat to the card and answer it, or turn on Auto so it doesn't ask. |
| No change for 60s (or longer) | The agent may be on a big step. Wait, click Nudge to have it carry on, or Stop. |
| The agent took too long. | Design stops following a turn after 30 minutes. The agent may still be running in Machine Code: check there, or ask it to carry on, one board at a time. |
| Generate an image… says Pixio isn't connected | Connect Pixio to your Machine project (Design settings › Connections shows what's connected), then try again. |
| Claude Code or Cursor can't see the design | Machine Desktop must be open. If you clicked Reset key, copy the new setup from Design settings › Connect another agent and add it again. Design chats from before the reset need a New chat. |
| A board the agent built looks broken (text cut off, things off the edge) | Ask it to "check the board with canvas_view and fix what's off". It sees the same problems Design does. |
| Credits ran out | Add credits in Usage and billing, or switch to a model on your own Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor plan. |
Inspiration
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| Sign in to Machine to search | You're not signed in. Sign in to Machine Desktop, then open Inspiration again. |
| Couldn't search Mobbin with "Too many searches. Wait a minute and try again." | You searched a lot in a short time. Wait a minute. |
| Couldn't search Mobbin with another reason | Mobbin didn't answer. Click Try again in a minute. |
| Nothing matched | Try other words, or switch between iOS and Web. |
How things look
| What you see | What to do |
|---|---|
| A font looks wrong | Fonts from Google Fonts load by name when you're online: check the spelling against fonts.google.com, or pick it from the font list. Other fonts must be installed on your computer. Install the font, or pick one you have. |
| A picture doesn't show | A link may have stopped working. Upload the picture instead, or drop it onto the artboard. |
| Shift+1 or Shift+2 don't zoom | These follow a US keyboard layout. Click the zoom percentage to fit everything, or right-click and choose Zoom to selection. |
| I deleted an artboard by mistake | Press Ctrl+Z (⌘Z on Mac). |
| "That page didn't load" when importing a website | Check the address in a browser. Some sites block automated visits; try another page of the site, or import your own copy running on this computer (such as localhost:3000). |
| An imported website looks a little different | The website's own fonts and animations aren't brought over, and what scripts draw (charts, maps, videos) is left out. Edit the layers, or ask the agent to tidy the board. |
| I want an earlier version back, and undo doesn't reach it | Open Version history (the clock in the top bar), pick a version, and click Restore this version, or copy just one board back. See Version history. |
| Couldn't restore | Design couldn't read that version or save the design first. Try again, or try an earlier version. Your design hasn't changed. |
| This version can't be shown | That version's files are damaged, often from changes made by hand in design/.history. Pick another version. |
| No versions yet | Versions are saved as you work. Make a change, or click Save a version…. |
Still stuck?
- Make sure Machine Desktop is up to date. See Updates.
- Check the general Troubleshooting page.