When you are moving files between your computer and your Air workspace, you might occasionally encounter a hiccup. Instead of leaving you with a generic unknown error screen, Air Flow provides specific transfer error states to help you quickly identify and resolve the problem.
Common transfer errors
Transfer errors typically happen when there is a disconnection during an active transfer or if a file becomes temporarily unavailable. If an upload fails, you will see an "Upload failed" message next to the specific file in your status window.
You can click the three-dot menu next to any failed upload to cancel the transfer or open the file's location in Finder.
Similarly, if a download is interrupted, Air Flow will display a "Download failed" message with options to cancel the download or view the file.
How to recover an interrupted transfer
If you experience a transfer error, follow this step-by-step recovery flow to get your files moving again:
Check your connectivity: Ensure your computer is connected to a stable internet network. Disconnections are the most common cause of transfer errors.
Reopen Air Flow: Sometimes a quick restart of the app can refresh your connection to the cloud.
Retry the transfer: Click the Retry button at the bottom of the Air Flow status window to attempt the upload or download again.
Manage persistent errors: If a file repeatedly fails to upload after multiple tries, Air Flow will pause your sync to prevent data loss. You will be prompted to either delete the local file or save a copy to your computer.
Save a backup: If you choose to save a copy, Air Flow will safely place the file in your computer's Downloads folder so your work is preserved, and your sync will continue.
Only escalate to a full app reinstall or workspace reset if these steps do not resolve the issue and the transfer continues to fail.
Is it a transfer error or a broader issue?
It is important to clarify when an issue is specific to a file transfer versus a larger application problem. If you see specific files flagged with red error icons in your Uploads and downloads tab, this is a transfer-specific issue. Follow the recovery steps above.
If Air Flow is completely unresponsive, stuck on "Syncing" indefinitely, or not loading your workspace at all, you should use the broader Air Flow is not working troubleshooting and reset process.
Now that your transfers are back on track, you can review our comprehensive guide on Working with Air Flow to master the upload and download workflows.