Why Am I Stuck at the "Thinking" Phase?

The "Thinking…" status appears only when using generative AI features in CapCut—such as AI Script-to-Video, AI Image Generation, "Magic Design," or chat-based creation tools. This phase indicates that your request is being processed by CapCut's cloud AI models in real time.

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stuck at the thinking phase
CapCut
CapCut
Jan 6, 2026
3 min(s)

The "Thinking…" status appears only when using generative AI features in CapCut—such as AI Script-to-Video, AI Image Generation, "Magic Design," or chat-based creation tools. This phase indicates that your request is being processed by CapCut's cloud AI models in real time.

Below is a platform-by-platform breakdown.

Table of content
  1. 🌐 CapCut Online
  2. 💻 CapCut Desktop (Windows / macOS)
  3. 📱 CapCut Mobile App (iOS / Android)
  4. General Tips to Avoid "Stuck Thinking"

🌐 CapCut Online

Does this issue occur? → Yes

Why Does It Happen:

  • High server load or regional traffic spikes.
  • Your prompt is too vague, overly complex, or contains unsupported requests.
  • Unstable internet interrupts the streaming response from the AI server.
  • You've hit daily usage limits (common for free accounts).

How to Fix:

    1
  1. Wait 30–60 seconds—occasional delays are normal during peak hours.
  2. 2
  3. Refresh the page and rephrase your prompt with more detail (e.g., "Generate a 4K vertical video of a cat cooking ramen in Tokyo, anime style" ).
  4. 3
  5. Use a desktop browser like Chrome or Edge; avoid mobile browsers for AI tasks.
  6. 4
  7. Ensure a stable, high-speed internet connection.
  8. 5
  9. If stuck repeatedly, try an incognito window or log out and back in to reset session data.

💻 CapCut Desktop (Windows / macOS)

Does this issue occur? → Yes

Why Does It Happen:

CapCut Desktop does support cloud-based AI features that trigger the "Thinking…" state—such as AI Image Animation, Text to Video, and cloud-enhanced Smart Cutout. When these tools are used, the app communicates with CapCut's AI servers, and a persistent "Thinking…" message may appear during processing. If it gets stuck, the cause is typically:

  • Unstable or blocked internet connection (e.g., by firewall/VPN),
  • Outdated app version using deprecated AI endpoints,
  • High server demand during peak hours,
  • Or an unsupported AI template imported from mobile/web.

⚠️ Note: Unlike rendering or timeline playback—which show "Processing" or progress bars—only AI-driven actions display "Thinking…" on Desktop.

How to Fix:

    1
  1. Check your internet connection.
  2. 2
  3. Update CapCut Desktop.
  4. 3
  5. Restart the app and retry, fully close CapCut, reopen it, and run the AI feature again.
  6. 4
  7. Try again later.
  8. 5
  9. Check template compatibility. Some AI templates from mobile or web may not be fully supported on Desktop.
  10. 6
  11. Recreate the project if needed. Start a new project and reapply the AI feature if the issue persists.

📱 CapCut Mobile App (iOS / Android)

Does this issue occur? → Yes

Why Does It Happen:

  • Weak or fluctuating network (Wi-Fi/cellular) breaks the connection to AI servers.
  • Device memory is low, causing the app to freeze during background processing.
  • Rapid successive AI requests trigger rate-limiting.
  • The AI service is temporarily under maintenance or overloaded.

How to Fix:

    1
  1. Close background apps to free up RAM.
  2. 2
  3. Switch to a stronger Wi-Fi network.
  4. 3
  5. Simplify your request—break complex ideas into smaller steps.
  6. 4
  7. Force-close and restart the CapCut app.
  8. 5
  9. Update to the latest version via App Store or Google Play.
  10. 6
  11. Wait a few minutes before retrying—server-side issues often resolve automatically.

📍 Tip: For full access to generative AI features (e.g., AI avatars, script-to-video), Mobile and Web offer the most complete experience. Desktop excels at precision editing with AI-assisted refinement, but some advanced generative models remain mobile-first.

General Tips to Avoid "Stuck Thinking"

  • Write clear, specific prompts with visual details (e.g., "cyberpunk style, 9:16 vertical, 1080p" ).
  • Avoid uploading >10 images at once or sending >3 rapid AI requests in succession—this can trigger rate limits.
  • Keep your app or browser updated; older versions may fail to connect to current AI APIs.
  • Use JPEG instead of HEIC, and compress input images to under 10 MB for faster, more reliable AI processing.

📍 If problems persist, contact CapCut Support.

Thank you for your patience—and happy creating!

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