Frequently asked questions and quick fixes.
General
Does Manusly work offline?
Yes. Writing, formatting, and export work fully offline. Internet is only required for cloud sync, license activation, and AI.
Where is my data?
Windows: %APPDATA%\manusly\. macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/manusly/. See Getting started → Data.
Which formats can I export?
EPUB3, Kindle (KDP), PDF, DOCX, and portable .manusly. See Export.
Install and launch
White screen after install
Use the latest installer. Older builds had routing issues; re-download and install Manusly-Setup.
Windows SmartScreen warning
Normal for unsigned builds. Choose “More info” → “Run anyway”. A code signing certificate removes the warning in commercial distribution.
macOS “developer cannot be verified”
Right-click the app → Open → Confirm.
Writing and images
Logo or images not showing
Installed app needs the current release. If dev mode works, reinstall with the latest installer.
Image too large / slow
Images are optimized automatically (max 2048px). Run bulk optimize from Image Library if needed.
Cannot add footnotes
Footnotes are disabled in visual page mode. Use the sticky note icon in a normal chapter type.
Export
EPUB looks broken on Kindle
Use Kindle export (not generic EPUB). For visual pages, ensure Illustrated format is selected.
Wrong PDF fonts
Check with “Preview full book” before export. Verify font selection in Format → Advanced.
Account and license
What plans are available?
Free / Starter ($0): 1 local project, 10k words, watermarked export, Print preview. Author Pass ($7/mo or $49/yr): unlimited local projects, clean export, AI publishing credits, 25 cloud projects / 10 GB while subscribed. Publisher Lifetime ($199): own your version, advanced AI publishing tools, all previews, 25 cloud projects / 10 GB for year 1. See Pricing.
License key not working
Requires internet and the correct email account. See License activation.
Cloud sync conflict
Remember which device you edited last. Sync one way with Upload or Download; export .manusly first for important projects.
Support
More help: Support page · Release notes
Next steps