A screenshot can look perfectly normal and still be difficult to upload. A detailed PNG may be much heavier than a JPEG with the same pixel dimensions. Start with the stage shown on screen rather than repeatedly pressing Publish: preparing, uploading, and reviewing are different jobs, with different remedies.
Start with the original screenshot
Keep an untouched copy on your device. Use PNG, JPG, or WebP; changing a filename from .heic to .jpg does not convert the image. HQ accepts source screenshots up to 40 MB and prepares large images in your browser before sending them. It tries full pixel dimensions first, then reduces dimensions only if compression alone cannot fit the upload budget. The prepared copy may therefore differ from the original; HQ does not change your local file.
- 1If it stays on preparing
Leave the page open while the browser decodes and compresses the image. If preparation times out, try the same original once more with fewer heavy tabs open. If it still fails, export a separate JPG from your photo editor and choose that copy. Keep the original for your archive.
- 2If uploading or safety scanning stalls
Keep the tab open and check your connection. A timeout means the browser stopped waiting; it does not prove that the server saved nothing. Open your DreamSnap gallery or dashboard before retrying. If the entry is already there, do not submit another copy.
- 3If HQ says the challenge already has an entry
Find that challenge in your existing submissions. Use its replacement-image option if you are updating the same entry. A new submission is not the right way to preserve the entry’s existing likes, comments, and version history.
- 4If it is saved privately for review
Wait for the moderation result rather than uploading again. A safety review is separate from a failed upload, and the screenshot is intentionally not public while the review is pending.
Adding older screenshots or official rewards
For an archive upload, match each image to its original challenge before publishing. Batch uploads are processed one at a time, so one completed row does not mean the whole batch has finished. Fix any highlighted rows and retry only those that failed. You can add rewards later instead of holding up the screenshot upload.
Use the official results screenshot for the same challenge. Include the heading so the browser can read the week as well as the numbers. Review the extracted values yourself. If the challenge title cannot be verified—for example, on a translated screenshot—use the private review option where offered. A successful DreamSnap upload and pending rewards review can happen together.
What to include when asking HQ for help
- The exact message on screen and which step stopped.
- Whether you used single upload, batch upload, a replacement, or the Analyzer.
- File format, file size, and image dimensions.
- Your browser and device, plus the approximate attempt time.
- Whether the entry appeared in your gallery after refreshing.