Lovable storage

Large File Downloads Timing Out in Lovable App

Users trying to download large files (PDFs, exports, media) from your Lovable app experience timeouts, incomplete downloads, or connection resets. The download starts but never completes, or fails with a network error.

This commonly happens with generated reports, data exports, or media files that exceed a few megabytes. The download may work fine for small files but consistently fail for anything larger.

The problem is worse on mobile connections and may appear as a spinning indicator that never completes or a partially downloaded corrupt file.

Error Messages You Might See

net::ERR_CONNECTION_RESET Download failed - network error Function execution timed out Error: The operation was aborted
net::ERR_CONNECTION_RESETDownload failed - network errorFunction execution timed outError: The operation was aborted

Common Causes

  • Serverless function timeout — Edge functions have execution time limits (typically 10-30 seconds) that large downloads exceed
  • File loaded into memory — The entire file is read into memory before sending, instead of being streamed
  • No resume support — If the connection drops, the download must restart from the beginning
  • CORS on storage URLs — Direct storage URLs may not have proper CORS headers for browser downloads

How to Fix It

  1. Use signed URLs for direct download — Generate a temporary signed URL from Supabase Storage and redirect users to it instead of proxying the file
  2. Stream large files — If you must process the file, use streaming instead of loading it entirely into memory
  3. Add download progress indicators — Show users how much has been downloaded so they know the download is working
  4. Set appropriate timeouts — Increase function timeouts for download endpoints, or bypass serverless functions entirely

Real developers can help you.

Nam Tran Nam Tran 10 years as fullstack developer Tejas Chokhawala Tejas Chokhawala Full-stack engineer with 5 years experience building production web apps using React, Next.js and TypeScript. Focused on performance, clean architecture and shipping fast. Experienced with Supabase/Postgres backends, Stripe billing, and building AI-assisted developer tools. rayush33 rayush33 JavaScript (React.js, React Native, Node.js) Developer with demonstrated industry experience of 4+ years, actively looking for opportunities to hone my skills as well as help small-scale business owners with solutions to technical problems zipking zipking I am a technologist and product builder dedicated to creating high-impact solutions at the intersection of AI and specialized markets. Currently, I am focused on PropScan (EstateGuard), an AI-driven SaaS platform tailored for the Japanese real estate industry, and exploring the potential of Archify. As an INFJ-T, I approach development with a "systems-thinking" mindset—balancing technical precision with a deep understanding of user needs. I particularly enjoy the challenge of architecting Vertical AI SaaS and optimizing Small Language Models (SLMs) to solve specific, real-world business problems. Whether I'm in a CTO-level leadership role or hands-on with the code, I thrive on building tools that turn complex data into actionable value. Matthew Jordan Matthew Jordan I've been working at a large software company named Kainos for 2 years, and mainly specialise in Platform Engineering. I regularly enjoy working on software products outside of work, and I'm a huge fan of game development using Unity. I personally enjoy Python & C# in my spare time, but I also specialise in multiple different platform-related technologies from my day job. Prakash Prajapati Prakash Prajapati I’m a Senior Python Developer specializing in building secure, scalable, and highly available systems. I work primarily with Python, Django, FastAPI, Docker, PostgreSQL, and modern AI tooling such as PydanticAI, focusing on clean architecture, strong design principles, and reliable DevOps practices. I enjoy solving complex engineering problems and designing systems that are maintainable, resilient, and built to scale. Alvin Voo Alvin Voo I’ve watched the tech landscape evolve over the last decade—from the structured days of Java Server Pages to the current "wild west" of Agentic-driven development. While AI can "vibe" a frontend into existence, I specialize in the architecture that keeps it from collapsing. My expertise lies in the critical backend infrastructure: the parts that must be fast, secure, and scalable. I thrive on high-pressure environments, such as when I had only three weeks to architect and launch an Ethereum redemption system with minimal prior crypto knowledge, turning it into a major revenue stream. What I bring to your project: Forensic Debugging: I don't just "patch" bugs; I use tools like Datadog and Explain Analyzers to map out bottlenecks and resolve root causes—like significantly reducing memory usage by optimizing complex DB joins. Full-Stack Context: Deep experience in Node.js and React, ensuring backends play perfectly with mobile and web teams. Sanity in the Age of AI: I bridge the gap between "best practices" and modern speed, ensuring your project isn't just built fast, but built to last. Taufan Taufan I’m a product-focused engineer and tech leader who builds scalable systems and turns ideas into production-ready platforms. Over the past years, I’ve worked across startups and fast-moving teams, leading backend architecture, improving system reliability, and shipping products used by thousands of users. My strength is not just writing code — but connecting product vision, technical execution, and business impact. Bastien Labelle Bastien Labelle Full stack dev w/ 20+ years of experience Franck Plazanet Franck Plazanet I am a Strategic Engineering Leader with over 8 years of experience building high-availability enterprise systems and scaling high-performing technical teams. My focus is on bridging the gap between complex technology and business growth. Core Expertise: 🚀 Leadership: Managing and coaching teams of 15+ engineers, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. 🏗️ Architecture: Enterprise Core Systems, Multi-system Integration (ERP/API/ETL), and Core Database Structure. ☁️ Cloud & Scale: AWS Expert; architected systems handling 10B+ monthly requests and managing 100k+ SKUs. 📈 Business Impact: Aligning tech strategy with P&L goals to drive $70k+ in monthly recurring revenue. I thrive on "out-of-the-box" thinking to solve complex technical bottlenecks and am always looking for ways to use automation to improve business productivity.

You don't need to be technical. Just describe what's wrong and a verified developer will handle the rest.

Get Help

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the maximum file size I can serve?

There's no hard limit on file size in Supabase Storage, but serverless functions typically have a 50MB response body limit and 10-30 second execution limits. Use signed URLs for files larger than a few MB.

Why do downloads work on WiFi but not mobile?

Mobile connections are slower and more prone to disconnections. Without resume support, a brief connection drop means the entire download fails and must restart.

Related Lovable Issues

Can't fix it yourself?
Real developers can help.

You don't need to be technical. Just describe what's wrong and a verified developer will handle the rest.

Get Help