Troubleshooting

Quick fixes for the most common issues.

App Won't Start

ShootCleaner fails to launch or crashes immediately on startup.

  • Ensure your system meets the minimum requirements: Windows 10/11 64-bit, 8 GB RAM, SSD.
  • Right-click the app and select "Run as Administrator" to rule out permission issues.
  • Check that your antivirus or firewall isn't blocking ShootCleaner — add an exception if needed.
  • Re-download and reinstall the latest version from the download page.

License Validation Fails

The app shows a license error or can't verify your key.

  • Double-check your license key for typos — copy and paste it directly from your purchase email.
  • Make sure you have an active internet connection. ShootCleaner requires connectivity for the initial activation.
  • If you've exceeded your activation limit, deactivate a machine from your account page first.
  • If the problem persists, contact support with your license key and we'll resolve it manually.

Slow Performance

ShootCleaner is running slowly or taking too long to process images.

  • Ensure your images are stored on an SSD — spinning hard drives dramatically reduce throughput.
  • Close other memory-intensive applications to free up RAM for ShootCleaner's AI processing.
  • Reduce the batch size in Preferences > Performance if you're processing very large shoots (2,000+ images).
  • Check for pending Windows updates, which can consume background resources.

Import Errors

Images fail to import or aren't detected from a card or folder.

  • Verify the source folder contains supported file types: CR2, CR3, NEF, ARW, RAF, DNG, JPEG, TIFF.
  • Ensure the source drive isn't write-protected or disconnected during import.
  • Check Preferences > Import to confirm the correct watched folder paths are configured.
  • Try importing a smaller subset of images to isolate whether a specific file is corrupted.

Export Issues

Exported files are missing, corrupted, or in the wrong format.

  • Confirm the export destination folder exists and has sufficient disk space.
  • Check your export preset — ensure the correct format (JPEG, TIFF, PNG) and quality settings are selected.
  • If metadata is missing from exports, verify that "Embed Metadata" is enabled in export settings.
  • Try exporting a single image first to confirm the pipeline works before running a full batch.

Still stuck? Contact support and we'll help you directly.