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Slow Upload Speeds: Causes and Solutions

Common reasons uploads take longer than expected and what you can do about it.

Updated this week

Upload speed depends on your file size, internet connection, and the number of views Pirros needs to extract. Here are the most common causes of slow uploads and what you can do.

Slow File Transfer (Upload Phase)

The time it takes to transfer the file from your computer to Pirros depends on:

  • File size — large models (200MB+) take longer

  • Internet speed — upload bandwidth matters more than download bandwidth. Check your upload speed at a speed test site

  • Network congestion — uploading during peak office hours or over VPN can be slower

Solutions:

  • Upload during off-peak hours if possible

  • Use a wired connection instead of WiFi

  • Use the ACC integration — files transfer server-to-server instead of through your browser

Slow Processing (After Upload)

After the file transfers, Pirros processes it in the background — extracting views, generating thumbnails, and indexing text. Processing time depends on:

  • Number of views — a model with 500 views takes longer than one with 50

  • Complexity of views — heavily annotated details with many text elements take longer to index

  • Upload settings — extracting sheets, legends, and schedules in addition to details increases processing time

Solutions:

  • Use Upload Settings to limit extraction to sheeted details only if you don't need other view types

  • Processing happens in the background — you can close the browser and come back later. Pirros sends a notification when processing is complete

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long should a typical upload take?

A: A small model (under 50 views) processes in 2-5 minutes. A medium model (50-200 views) takes 5-15 minutes. Large models (200+ views) may take 15-30 minutes or more.

Q: The upload seems stuck at a percentage. Should I cancel?

A: Wait at least 10 minutes before canceling. Large files can appear stuck during the transfer phase. If the progress bar hasn't moved after 10 minutes, cancel and retry.

Q: Can I upload multiple models at the same time?

A: Yes, but each model is processed sequentially. Uploading multiple models at once adds them to a queue — they don't process in parallel.

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