Why is my upload stuck at 0%?

3 min read · Updated 2026-11-13

Short answer

An upload that never leaves 0% almost always means your browser cannot reach our upload server. Refresh the page, try another browser or a private window, pause extensions and, if it still won't start, switch network.

You've chosen your files, the bamboo progress bar has appeared, and nothing happens. It sits at 0% and says it's waiting. This is frustrating, but it is usually quick to fix, because a stuck 0% nearly always means the first connection to our upload server never got through.

Pandafile upload card with a 2.1 GB file stuck at 0 per cent, highlighted, next to a list of four quick fixes
A bar that never moves usually means the connection was never made.

Try these fixes in order

  1. Wait 30 seconds. Very large selections, or a folder with thousands of files, can take a moment to prepare before the first byte is sent.
  2. Refresh the page and add your files again. Your weekly allowance is only counted for data that actually reaches us, so a failed start does not use it up.
  3. Open Pandafile in a private or incognito window. If it works there, one of your browser extensions is the cause.
  4. Pause ad blockers, privacy extensions and download managers for pandafile.co, then try again in a normal window.
  5. Try a different browser. Pandafile works in current versions of Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge.
  6. Switch network, for example from office Wi-Fi to your phone's hotspot. If it starts straight away, something on the first network is blocking uploads.

Other things worth checking

  • Is your browser up to date? Older versions can struggle with the resumable upload technology we use.
  • Are you on a work laptop or a VPN? Company firewalls sometimes block large uploads. See our firewall and VPN guide.
  • Have you reached your weekly limit? The meter on the upload page shows how much of your free 5 GB is left this week.
  • Is the file still where you picked it from? Files on a USB stick or network drive that gets disconnected cannot be read.

Still stuck at 0% after all of that? Email hello@pandafile.co and tell us your browser and version, your device, roughly how big the upload was and whether you're on a work network or VPN. That helps us find the cause much faster.

Related guides

Why is my upload so slow and how can I speed it up?Upload speed is mostly set by your own internet connection's upload speed, which is often far lower than its download speed. Using a cable instead of Wi-Fi, moving closer to the router and pausing other uploads or backups usually helps most.Getting an error in your browser when uploading or downloading?Most browser errors come from an outdated browser, an extension that blocks requests, a full disk or a dropped connection. Update your browser, try a private window, check your free disk space and press Try again.Can't upload at work? Company firewalls, proxies and VPNsSome company networks, proxies and VPNs block or cut off large uploads to file transfer sites. Test on another network to confirm, then ask your IT team to allow pandafile.co over HTTPS.
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