# Fix an edit that won't save

Why Save changes is unavailable or a render fails, what each message in the clip editor means, and how to keep your edits when you leave or reload.

- Page: https://www.snipri.com/docs/fix-an-edit-that-wont-save
- By [Cihan Düzgören](https://www.snipri.com/about) · November 2, 2026 · 3 min read
- Section: Troubleshooting, in [the Snipri docs](https://www.snipri.com/docs)

An edit is saved in one step: **Save changes** sends it, and the clip renders again with it. When something stops that step, the editor says what it is.

## When Save changes is unavailable

Point at the button and it says why. Each reason has a fix:

- **Fill in the empty caption word first**: a word of the transcript has no text. **Fill in empty words before saving**, at the top of the transcript or of the tool panel, takes you to it.
- **Give every text layer some text**: a text layer on the video is empty. Type in it or delete it.
- **Uploading your media…** or **Applying your brand…**: the editor is still busy with a file or with your brand. Wait for it to finish.
- **Make an edit to save a new version**: nothing has changed since the last save.

A caption font size or stroke size outside its range holds the button too, and the message gives the range.

## While a clip renders

After you press **Save changes** the editor says **Saving…** and then **Rendering your clip…**, and **Clip updated** once the new version is in place. The tools wait while it renders.

If a render runs long, the editor says so and suggests closing and refreshing in a moment. The render goes on without the editor, and the new version takes the old one's place in My clips when it lands.

## When a render fails

The editor shows the reason, and your previous version of the clip stays in My clips. **Back to editing** returns to the editor with your edits still in it, so you can change something and save again.

A save whose render never finished shows **Render needed** beside the button, and the button reads **Retry render**: press it to render the saved edits once more.

Other messages:

- **Your session expired. Sign in again and retry**: sign in again in another tab, then save.
- **This clip no longer exists**: the clip was deleted, from this tab or another.
- **Something went wrong on our end. Please try again**: a fault on Snipri's side. Saving again usually works. If it keeps happening, [write to us](https://www.snipri.com/contact).
- **Network error. Check your connection and try again**: the save never reached Snipri. Your edits are still in the editor.

## Leaving with unsaved changes

The edits wait in the editor until you save them. If you close the editor first, it asks **Leave without saving?** and offers **Keep editing**, **Discard changes** or **Save and re-render**. Closing or reloading the browser tab while changes are unsaved makes the browser ask before it goes, because the edits would be lost.

[Edit a clip](https://www.snipri.com/docs/edit-a-clip) covers the editor's tools, and [Why a job failed, and what to do](https://www.snipri.com/docs/why-a-job-failed) covers jobs that fail before there is a clip.

Previous guide: [Why a job failed, and what to do](https://www.snipri.com/docs/why-a-job-failed)

Next guide: [Get started with the Snipri API](https://www.snipri.com/docs/get-started-with-the-api)

Still stuck? Write to [hello@snipri.com](mailto:hello@snipri.com) with the name of the video and what the screen said.