Overleaf compile timed out? How to fix it or compile locally

If Overleaf says your compile timed out, the project took longer to build than your plan allows. Try Overleaf's own fixes first: turn on Stop on first error, compile in Fast [draft] mode, and convert heavy images. If the project is still too slow, you can download the source and compile it on your own computer, where no plan sets the time limit.

Why the compile timed out

Overleaf compiles on its servers and stops each compile after a fixed time. As of October 2026, its plan limits page gives 10 seconds on the free plan and 240 seconds (4 minutes) on premium plans. Overleaf cut the free limit to 10 seconds in 2025; its announcement says the change applied to all free users from September 8, 2025. The plans page lists Standard at $25 a month, or $199 a year.

A long thesis, many high-resolution images, TikZ or pgfplots figures that are redrawn on every run, or an error that makes TeX loop can all push a project past 10 seconds.

Overleaf's own fixes

These come from Overleaf's guide to fixing and preventing compile timeouts. Work through them in order.

1. Fix errors first. Click the small triangle next to Recompile and choose Stop on first error. A project that keeps going past errors can spend its whole time budget on them. Fix each error, then compile again. Our guide to common LaTeX errors covers the usual ones.
2. Test images with Fast [draft] mode. Draft mode replaces images with boxes. If the project compiles in draft mode but not in normal mode, the images are the problem.
3. Use lighter image formats. Use PDF instead of PNG for plots and diagrams, keep JPEG for photographs, and replace EPS or SVG files with PDF versions.
4. Externalize TikZ and pgfplots figures, so LaTeX does not redraw them on every compile.
5. Compile in two stages if sections compile on their own but not together: first in Fast [draft] mode, then in normal mode.
6. Recompile from scratch if a project that used to work now times out. This clears the cached build files.
7. Check slow packages. The guide names tabularray and mhchem among packages that slow a build, and suggests alternatives.

If those get you under the limit, you can stay on Overleaf. Upgrading gives you the 4-minute limit. Overleaf's guide also says that some very large projects need more time than its paid plans allow, and suggests compiling locally for those.

Move the project to your computer

1. In Overleaf, open the project and choose File, then Download as source (.zip) (Overleaf's steps). The .zip has your source files only.
2. Unzip it. Nebula Writer opens folders, not .zip files.
3. Download Nebula Writer, sign in with Google, choose Open Folder and pick the unzipped folder.
4. Open the main .tex file and choose Compile now. Nebula Writer finds the main file of a multi-file project, so \input and \include work as they did on Overleaf. If the folder holds more than one main file, pick one under Entry Point in the ... menu.

There is no compile limit tied to your plan. Nebula Writer stops any compile step that runs for more than 10 minutes, as a safety net for a build that hangs.

Choose what compiles it

Tectonic is built in and downloads the packages a document uses as it compiles. For closer compatibility with Overleaf projects, install TeX Live from Settings, Files, under LaTeX Engine. Choose Recommended for common packages, or Full for the largest set (about 10 GB of disk space). When TeX Live is installed, Nebula Writer uses it and compiles through latexmk, which runs BibTeX or Biber as needed.

With TeX Live, the engine comes from a comment on one of the first lines of the main file:

% !TeX program = xelatex
\documentclass{report}

Use pdflatex, xelatex or lualatex. Without the comment, Nebula Writer uses LuaLaTeX when the project loads fontspec, and pdfLaTeX otherwise. Overleaf sets the compiler in its project menu, so add the comment if you had changed it there.

If a package is missing, the error card offers Install missing TeX package and retry. Once TeX Live is installed, missing packages found during a compile are installed and the compile runs again.

Projects that run programs: minted and friends

Packages such as minted and PythonTeX, SVG conversion and latexmkrc files run programs during the build. Overleaf allows this on its servers. On your computer it needs your permission, because those programs can reach your files. When a compile fails for this reason, the error card offers Enable trusted shell escape. You can also turn on Trusted executable build in the ... menu and confirm with Trust project. Do this only for projects you trust, and leave it off for downloaded or unfamiliar ones. Trusted builds need TeX Live.

Use SyncTeX and the agent

Double-click a spot in the PDF to jump to the matching source line. If the moved project fails to compile, ask the agent to explain before it edits:

Compile @main.tex. This project came from Overleaf. Explain the first error
in the log and propose the smallest fix. Keep labels, citation keys and
commands as they are. Do not edit anything yet.

You should see the explanation in the agent pane and no file changes.

Find the figures in @chapters that use PNG, EPS or SVG files for plots or
diagrams, and list each figure with the file it uses. Do not change anything.

You should see a list of figures in the agent pane, which tells you what to convert to PDF if you later move back to Overleaf.

When you approve a fix, a Review agent edit bar appears on the .tex file. You can accept or reject each changed line on its own, then compile again. The LaTeX guide covers views, engines and export.

Your request and the parts of your documents the agent needs are sent to our servers and our AI provider. Your files stay in your folder.

What you give up

Overleaf is the better choice if you need these:

• Live co-editing with coauthors in the browser. Nebula Writer has no live co-editing; share through Git, a shared drive or a PDF. A coauthor who works in Word can use a Word review copy.
• Overleaf's rich-text view of LaTeX. Nebula Writer shows the source and the PDF.
• Zero setup. Overleaf runs in any browser. Nebula Writer must be installed, and it runs on macOS (Apple silicon), Windows and Linux.

For a fuller comparison of plans, AI and collaboration, see Nebula Writer vs. Overleaf.

Related

• Common LaTeX errors and how to fix them
• Write a thesis in LaTeX on your computer
• Nebula Writer vs. Overleaf

The editor is free forever with a monthly AI allowance. Pro is $25 a month for more AI. Download Nebula Writer.