troubleshooting · how to

Media is required before saving or previewing

Diagnose and recover when media is required before saving or previewing needs attention.

Use this guide when the Create modal or Choose Media blocks save, preview, or submit because the selected format needs images or video that are not attached yet.

Symptoms

You see one or more of these while creating a post:

Save, preview, or submit is blocked with a media-required message.
The media summary in the Create modal shows zero attachments for a format that needs images or video.
Choose Media closes but the Create modal still reports missing media.
Preview fails even though you thought a file or library asset was attached.
A generation or render status banner stays in progress and preview stays unavailable.

You need access to Slash Social in the affected workspace and brand. Asset Library picks require the content library on Starter, Team, or Scale plans.

Likely causes

The format requires media (image post, short video, carousel, or reel-style output) and nothing is attached.
Choose Media was opened but nothing was selected before submit.
A link or upload failed validation and the draft has no usable asset.
Generation or rendering is still running for AI-produced media.
Archived or disabled library assets were selected.
A format change cleared incompatible media and you submitted before re-attaching files.
Carousel count is outside the allowed range (two to ten items).

Checks

Read the media summary in the Create modal for the format name and required count.
Open Choose media and confirm whether Upload, URL, or Asset Library has a selection.
For carousels, confirm you selected between two and ten items.
For single-image or video formats, confirm exactly one file or asset is attached.
Check whether a generation or render status banner is still in progress.
If you used Asset Library, confirm the asset is active and not archived.
Review inline validation in Choose Media for missing files, invalid links, or wrong file types.

Fix it

Open Choose media from the Create modal.
Attach media using one path:
- Upload a file (up to 10 MB per file in Choose Media).
- Enter a URL with a direct link to the image or video.
- Asset Library to pick existing brand assets when your plan includes the content library.
Submit Choose Media and fix any inline validation (missing file, invalid link, wrong file type for the format).
Wait for generation or rendering to finish when the format depends on AI media, then reopen preview.
Replace archived assets with active library items or a fresh upload.
Re-select media after a format change if the previous attachment was cleared.

If generation fails while producing media, open failed jobs from Create home and retry when offered. See Retry a failed generation.

Confirm the fix

The Create modal shows the selected source and count. Preview loads without a media-required error, and you can save or send the post for review. The draft reaches a saved, queued, or pending approval state without repeating the same block.

Prevent it next time

Select platform and format before you attach media so requirements stay clear.
Complete Choose Media submit before you save or preview the parent Create modal.
Keep active assets in the library instead of relying on archived items.
Wait for generation or rendering to finish on AI-dependent formats before you open preview.
Match carousel count to format rules (two to ten items) before submit.

Contact support

Escalate when media is attached, preview still fails, and the error repeats after re-uploading or picking a different library asset. Send support the workspace name, brand, platform, format, media source you used (upload, URL, or library), and the exact message shown in the modal.