TikTokers, vloggers, and social media magic-makers–we’ve all been there. You finish editing your perfect video in CapCut, go to export… and then it stops. At 99%. You stare, you wait, maybe even pray. Yet nothing. Is your phone cursed? Is it CapCut? Fear not—there’s a simple reason and an even simpler fix!
TL;DR:
CapCut sometimes gets stuck at 99% during export because of corrupted assets—like a clip, audio, or sticker that’s not playing nice. The fix? Remove or replace the problem file and try again. It’s like finding the bad apple in the basket. Do a bit of detective work, and your masterpiece can finally go live!
Why Does CapCut Freeze at 99%?
It’s super frustrating, but there’s a clear cause behind this annoying glitch. Exporting a video uses a lot of power. CapCut needs everything to be perfect—videos, audios, effects, texts—everything! If just one piece is corrupt, the app chokes right at the finish line.
Think of CapCut as a puzzle. If one puzzle piece is bent or doesn’t fit right, you can’t finish the picture. That broken piece? It’s called a corrupted asset.
So… What Is a Corrupted Asset?
It might sound fancy, but it’s really simple. A corrupted asset is a file that’s damaged, broken, or unreadable by the app. In CapCut, that could be:
- A video file that didn’t download correctly
- A stuck audio clip
- An animation effect that failed to load
- An image or sticker that was deleted or moved
CapCut doesn’t always tell you something’s wrong. That’s why it exports almost the whole thing… and then BAM! 99% and stuck forever.
Real Talk: How I Found My Broken File
Let me tell you how I solved this mystery myself. I was editing a birthday video with music, transitions, cake clips, and even fireworks. Everything looked perfect in preview. When I hit export—99% and stuck. For 10 minutes. Then 20. Nothing.
I tried everything—restarting the app, restarting my phone, praying to the video gods. Still stuck. I almost gave up.
Then I had a light bulb moment: “Maybe one part of the video is broken.” I looked at my timeline and noticed one image had a red exclamation mark. Hmm… suspicious!
I deleted it and tried the export again. It finished in 15 seconds. Boom. Problem solved.
Steps to Fix the Problem
Here’s a simple guide to help you save your own video from the dreaded 99% freeze.
- Check for Weird Symbols or Errors
Go through your timeline carefully. Look for warning icons (like ⚠️ or ❌) on clips, audio, or stickers. - Delete and Replace
If something looks off, delete it. You can always import it again from your gallery or use a different asset. - Test Export Small Sections
Still not sure? Try exporting just a few seconds of your video. If it works, keep expanding the length until it breaks. That tells you where the issue is hiding. - Clear Your Cache
Go to CapCut settings and clear the cache. It helps the app run smoothly and gets rid of junk data. - Update the App
Old versions can have bugs. Go to your App Store or Google Play and update CapCut if needed.
Like a digital doctor, you’re curing your video with these simple treatments.
What Files Are Most Likely to Be Corrupted?
Not all files are equally risky. Some are more likely to cause a stuck export:
- Downloaded audio from shady websites
- GIFs or stickers copied from external apps
- Videos sent via social apps like WhatsApp—they often get compressed
- Images with very high resolution or rare formats
If you often use these types of files, make sure you test them before building a big project around them.
What If I Can’t Find the Corrupted File?
Try the Blender Method!
Just kidding—no smoothies here. The Blender Method is what I like to call “chopping and testing.” Do this:
- Split your video into two parts.
- Export the first part and see if it works.
- If yes, the problem is in part two. If no, focus on part one.
- Keep dividing the glitchy part further until you find the exact spot.
- Delete or replace that tiny part—and breathe a sigh of relief.
Keeping Your Projects Safe in the Future
Now that you’re a CapCut problem-solving champ, here are a few habits to keep your exports running smoothly in future:
- Save your project step-by-step
- Use original media files (i.e., not copies that were sent over social apps)
- Limit using too many effects on one clip
- Preview the entire video before final export
- Back up important files before you delete or move them
Like flossing for your video editing life—do it often, and save yourself the pain later.
Bonus Tips That Might Help
Some users on Reddit and Discord suggested extra steps that helped them:
- Switching Export Settings: Lower your export resolution or turn off Smart HDR.
- Freeing Up Storage: If your phone is nearly full, CapCut can’t breathe! Delete apps or photos you don’t need.
- Turning Off Background Apps: Too many apps running can slow CapCut’s brain. Give it space.
Last Resort: Rebuild It (Painful but True)
If you’ve tried everything and it’s still stuck… it might be time to rebuild the project. Yes, it hurts. But sometimes a fresh start is what CapCut needs.
Before rebuilding, try exporting in different formats (like MP4, 720p, etc). If even those don’t work, take a deep breath and start again—this time using only clean, working files.
Wrapping It Up
That final 1% at export is a small number—but wow, it can cause big headaches. Luckily, the fix is often simple. Corrupted asset? Out it goes! Replace it, refresh CapCut, and enjoy your exported masterpiece.
Now go ahead, post that video. Make those likes rain down. And if CapCut ever freezes again? You’ve got the skills to unfreeze it like a pro.
Happy editing!