Why Is Canva So Slow? (Reasons, Fixes)

One of the top services that have unlocked the ability to produce high-quality graphics is Canva.

Unfortunately, there are times when Canva tends to run slow.

Knowing why Canva is running slowly can help you avoid potential issues that might impact your productivity.

Why Is Canva So Slow? (Reasons, Fixes)

1. Large File Sizes

Graphics take up a lot of memory.

Because of that, you might find that your final design on Canva is quite large.

Canva typically tells you how large your image is when you’re ready to share or download it.

It might even give you a warning that your graphic is large.

When you download it, you may notice that it’s taking forever to download.

The large file size is likely to blame.

The larger a file is, the more time it takes for Canva to transmit the information and for your computer to read it.

There may be a number of other variables at work, too, but the large file size is mostly to blame.

You can end up with a large file size for many reasons.

The most common is making a large graphic.

Canva allows you to make graphics of several different sizes.

If you’re making a full-page graphic, or a project that has several pages, then it’s going to be quite large.

The number of elements you use in the graphic can also impact the file size.

The more graphics you’re using, the more text you have, or other elements, the larger the file size is.

Fix: Reduce Size By Optimizing Resolution

It can be difficult to fix the file size of your graphic if you’re unsure of how image processing works.

The good news is that Canva does give you a few options to help reduce your file size.

The first is to choose the appropriate resolution.

The bigger the resolution numbers are, the bigger your file is going to be.

As such, you might want to choose something that doesn’t have quite as large a resolution.

The graphic may not be as clear, but it also won’t take minutes to download.

Another option is to choose a web-optimized resolution.

You’ll see this as one of the options for downloading on Canva.

It basically auto-corrects your resolution to ensure it works well on the web while also being efficient to download.

Play around with the resolution settings to try and reduce the size of your file.

Finally, you can always eliminate certain elements.

You may find that less is more.

By removing unnecessary elements, you can reduce how much data needs to transmit.

As a result, your download will be a lot faster.

2. Unstable Internet Connection

Besides the speed of your download, you may find that actually working with Canva is slow.

For example, you may be using its search function to try and find a particular photo or graphic.

However, it’s taking forever for the pictures to load.

You may be trying to type text onto your project only to find that there’s a significant lag between what you’re typing and when it appears on the project.

These are problems that can make using Canva extremely frustrating.

One of the primary reasons why you might be seeing that problem is due to an unstable internet connection.

Since Canva is an online platform, it requires a stable internet connection.

When the connection isn’t stable, it interrupts the flow of data.

The data has to keep pausing until the internet connection becomes stable again.

Basically, any time the connection isn’t there, all progress becomes stopped.

Canva uses a good deal of internet, too, since it’s trying to process images.

Images are expensive, and if your internet connection isn’t stable, then it can take Canva a long time just to show one image let alone several.

There are many reasons why your internet connection may be struggling, too.

Depending on the internet that you have, even something like a cloudy day might be impacting your connection.

While some aspects are out of your hands, there are some things you can do to help establish a better connection.

Fix: Restart Router Or Use Ethernet Cable

One of the easiest methods to try and establish a better internet connection is to restart your router.

Sometimes you might need to let everything reset.

There may be a glitch occurring that the reset can fix.

While this can delay your progress, restarting your router is a good method to try and establish a better connection.

Another option is to use an ethernet cable.

Ethernet cables tend to provide faster connections than WIFI.

It provides a physical means of transferring data instead of sending those signals through the air.

WIFI can always experience interruptions from other signals which can interfere with the connection.

Ethernet cables have better protection against interruptions.

You might find that your computer or laptop runs a lot faster when connected to an ethernet cable.

Ethernet cables are also relatively cheap, so it’s a great way to stabilize your internet connection and enjoy faster internet speeds.

Once your connection is secure and fast, you’ll notice that Canva runs a lot faster, too.

3. Slow Computer

Sometimes a slow-running program like Canva is due to an internet connection problem.

The problem might be your computer.

Most people don’t realize that having several tabs open on your computer can reduce its speed.

That’s because the computer is idling those tabs.

They may not be open, exactly, but the computer still has them in its memory.

Whenever you click on that tab, it’s able to quickly load the page because it remembered what page it was.

Certain tabs be more expensive than others.

For example, a YouTube page is going to be more expensive to remember than a simple Search page.

It’s playing audio and video.

If you have several of these tabs open, then you’re using your computer’s memory a lot.

This makes Canva slow because it’s competing for that memory.

Luckily, in this instance, fixing the problem is quite easy.

Fix: Close Tabs And Limit Processes

All you need to do to make your computer run a bit faster is to close out tabs that you don’t need at that moment.

This helps free up some memory that your computer can put towards Canva.

It’s also worth closing any programs that you also don’t need.

By making your computer spread its power and memory across several different programs, you can put it all towards Canva.

The result is a faster experience.

4. Complex Design Elements

One of the great features of Canva is that you can make intricate and detailed designs.

It gives you a whole suite of tools that you can use to make the exact design you want without too much fuss.

That usually means you can create complex designs.

The problem with complex designs is that they often use a large number of elements.

The more elements your graphic has, the slower Canva is going to run.

That’s because it has to remember the graphic you’re producing, too.

When it comes to downloading the project, you’ll likely experience even more slowness.

Fix: Reduce Elements

Fixing this problem may require some thought and editing.

You need to reduce how many elements you’re using in the project.

The fewer elements you have on it, the faster Canva is going to work.

You might notice there’s less lag once you reach a certain number of elements.

By being efficient with your design, you can make it run faster.

5. Low RAM

Computers tend to come with specifications that enable them to work well in certain environments.

For example, a graphics computer is going to have a beefier graphics card and RAM than an all-purpose computer.

RAM is especially important for a computer because it handles your computer’s memory.

You can think of RAM as your computer’s short-term memory.

Each time you turn your computer off, the memory resets itself.

The purpose of RAM is to quickly activate or run certain processes.

It basically results in faster load times.

If your RAM is small, then it doesn’t have as much memory.

As such, it can only handle so many processes.

Graphic editing tends to take up a lot of memory.

If you don’t have the right RAM for the job, then you’re going to experience slower performance.

Fix: Reduce Memory Usage Or Get An Appropriate Computer

The key to fixing this problem is to try and help your RAM perform as best it can.

There are some pieces of software out there that can help your RAM out, but there are some things you can do yourself, too.

For one, you’ll want to limit how much is on your RAM’s memory.

To do that, you should boot up your computer and only work on Canva.

This ensures that most of your RAM is going towards using that platform.

You can also close out tabs and pause other processes occurring on your computer.

By focusing your RAM on Canva, you can make it run faster.

If you know that you’re going to be using Canva a lot, then it’s also worth considering upgrading your RAM.

If you know anything about computers, then you might be able to change them out yourself.

You can also bring it to a specialist who can switch out your RAM for you.

Depending on the age of your computer, it might also make sense just to upgrade the entire thing to a graphics computer.

Once you have a larger RAM, you’ll likely notice that using Canva is a lot faster.