Import Not Working?

If a recipe import isn’t working — it fails, takes too long, or gives an error — here’s how to troubleshoot the issue and get your recipe saved.

Common Issues and Solutions

”Could Not Find a Recipe”

This error means Cookonut processed the page but couldn’t identify recipe content.

Possible causes:

• The URL doesn’t point to a recipe page (it might be a homepage, category page, or search results)
• The website blocks automated access
• The recipe is behind a paywall or login wall

Solutions:

1. Make sure the full recipe is open on screen — open the actual recipe page, not a search results or category page
2. Use Search the web — browse to the page in Cookonut’s built-in browser and tap Save from there
3. Copy the recipe text and use Paste text as an alternative
4. If the site requires a login, sign in inside Search the web, open the recipe, then Save — or copy the recipe text and use Paste text

Import Takes Too Long

If the import has been loading for more than 30 seconds:

1. Check your internet connection — imports need a stable connection
2. Cancel and retry — sometimes a second attempt works
3. The source website may be slow or temporarily down
4. Try again later if the site seems unresponsive

Import Produces an Error

If you see an error message:

1. Try again — transient errors sometimes resolve on a retry
2. Check if the URL is complete and correct — a truncated URL won’t work
3. Make sure you have credits remaining — go to Settings to check your balance
4. Try a different import method — if a web import fails, try Paste text or browse the page again with Search the web

Social Media Links Not Working

Instagram, TikTok, and other social media imports can be trickier:

1. Make sure you copied the correct link — it should be the direct post/video link
2. Private accounts can’t be imported — the content needs to be publicly accessible
3. Try copying the recipe text from the post caption and using Paste text instead
4. Some platforms change their link formats — if a link doesn’t work, try getting a fresh one

Photo Import Not Working

If scanning a photo fails:

1. Check that the photo is clear and well-lit — blurry or dark photos are hard to read
2. Make sure the text is visible — too small or too far away won’t work
3. Try cropping the photo to just the recipe before importing
4. For handwritten recipes, make sure the handwriting is legible

Quick Troubleshooting Checklist

Before doing anything else, run through this checklist:

• Is your internet connection working?
• Do you have import credits remaining?
• Is the URL correct and complete?
• Is the content publicly accessible (not behind a login)?
• Have you tried a different import method?

Workarounds

When a direct import fails, you have backup options:

Copy and paste the text: Open the recipe page in your browser, select and copy the recipe text, then use Paste text in Cookonut. This bypasses most website access issues.

Use Search the web: Browse to the recipe page in Cookonut’s built-in browser and tap Save from there. This sometimes works when other methods don’t.

Create it from scratch: If the recipe is short, typing it manually using Create from scratch is fast and uses no credits.

Try the share sheet: From your phone’s browser or a social app, use the share button to send the recipe straight to Cookonut.

Reporting Import Issues

If a specific website or recipe consistently fails to import:

1. Note the URL that isn’t working
2. Contact support (see the Contact Support article)
3. Include the URL and a description of the error
4. Our team investigates reported issues and improves import compatibility over time

Does a Failed Import Use a Credit?

Yes, a credit is used when the processing starts, even if the import fails. This is why we recommend checking the URL and your connection before importing, and using the workarounds above if an import fails rather than retrying the same method multiple times.