Troubleshooting FUJIFILM PC AutoSave: Common Issues & FixesFUJIFILM PC AutoSave is a handy utility that automatically imports photos and videos from your FUJIFILM camera or SD card to your computer. When it works, it saves time and keeps your media organized. When it doesn’t, it can be frustrating. This guide walks through the most common problems with PC AutoSave and provides practical fixes, diagnostics, and preventative tips.
1. Before you begin: quick checks
- Make sure PC AutoSave is installed and up to date. Visit FUJIFILM’s support site to download the latest version.
- Restart your computer and camera. Simple reboots often clear transient connection issues.
- Use a known-good cable and card reader. Faulty USB cables or readers are frequent culprits.
- Check the camera battery. Some cameras won’t establish or maintain a reliable connection if battery level is low.
2. PC AutoSave doesn’t detect the camera or SD card
Symptoms: The program shows no device detected, or nothing happens when you connect the camera/card.
Causes & fixes:
- USB connection issues:
- Try a different USB cable and another USB port (preferably a USB 2.0/3.0 port directly on the PC, not a hub).
- On Windows, open Device Manager → look for unknown devices or camera entries. Right-click → Update driver or Uninstall then reconnect.
- On macOS, check System Report → USB to confirm the camera appears.
- Camera mode/settings:
- Ensure the camera is set to the proper connection mode (e.g., “PC” or “USB” mode if applicable).
- Some cameras require you to set “Mass Storage” vs “PTP/MTP”; try switching modes.
- SD card recognition:
- Remove the SD card and test it in a dedicated card reader. If the reader detects it but PC AutoSave doesn’t, the problem is software-related.
- Run a disk check (Windows: chkdsk, macOS: First Aid in Disk Utility) if the card is detected but files aren’t visible.
- Permissions (macOS):
- On macOS 10.14+ check System Preferences → Security & Privacy → Privacy tab → Files and Folders / Full Disk Access and make sure PC AutoSave (or the app/fujifilm utility) has required permissions.
3. Import starts but fails or hangs midway
Symptoms: Files transfer for a while then stop, or the app becomes unresponsive.
Causes & fixes:
- Corrupt files:
- A corrupted image or video file can stall the transfer. Try copying files manually from the card to a folder using File Explorer/Finder. If copy stops at a specific file, that file is likely corrupt — skip or recover it using recovery tools.
- Insufficient disk space:
- Confirm you have enough free disk space on the destination drive. Free up space or change the import location in PC AutoSave settings.
- App cache or database corruption:
- Close PC AutoSave and remove or rename its configuration/cache files (location varies by OS). Reopen the app so it regenerates fresh settings.
- Antivirus or other background apps:
- Temporarily disable antivirus, firewall, or backup utilities that might be scanning or locking files during transfer.
4. Imported photos missing, incomplete, or wrong order
Symptoms: Some images don’t show up in the import folder, filenames are changed unexpectedly, or chronological order is scrambled.
Causes & fixes:
- File naming and duplication rules:
- Check PC AutoSave settings for handling duplicate filenames. The app might rename or skip files when it detects duplicates.
- Incorrect system time/date or camera clock:
- If your camera clock is set incorrectly, imported files’ timestamps will be wrong. Set the camera date/time correctly before shooting (some FUJIFILM tools can sync time with PC).
- Import filters:
- Ensure no filters (file type, date range) are enabled in PC AutoSave that could exclude some files.
- Hidden/system files:
- On Windows, ensure File Explorer is set to show hidden files; sometimes metadata files can be mistaken for missing media.
5. Videos won’t play after import or are corrupted
Symptoms: Transferred movies fail to play or show errors.
Causes & fixes:
- Codec compatibility:
- Some FUJIFILM cameras record in codecs not natively supported by your player. Use VLC or install the necessary codecs (on Windows, K-Lite Codec Pack or similar).
- Incomplete transfer:
- Re-copy the video file to confirm transfer completed. Compare file sizes on the card and on the PC.
- SD card write errors:
- Test the card with a utility like h2testw (Windows) or F3 (macOS/Linux) to check for bad sectors or fake capacity.
- Device-specific formats:
- If the camera uses a proprietary recording mode (e.g., high-bitrate RAW video), use FUJIFILM’s XRAW Studio or convert files with official software.
6. PC AutoSave crashes or displays errors on launch
Symptoms: App closes immediately, shows an error code, or fails to open.
Causes & fixes:
- Reinstall the app:
- Uninstall PC AutoSave, restart, and reinstall the latest version from FUJIFILM’s site.
- Conflicting software:
- Close other image-management apps (Lightroom, Photos, other FUJIFILM utilities). One may control the camera connection or lock resources.
- Corrupt settings:
- Remove the app’s preference files (on Windows: AppData; on macOS: ~/Library/Preferences) and relaunch.
- OS compatibility:
- Confirm the version of PC AutoSave supports your OS version (especially after major Windows or macOS updates).
7. Imported RAW files won’t open or are not recognized
Symptoms: RAW (.raf) images appear but won’t open in your editor.
Causes & fixes:
- Software support:
- Ensure your image editor supports your camera’s RAF format and model. Update Lightroom, Photoshop, or RawTherapee to add support for newer camera models.
- Use FUJIFILM’s software:
- Try opening the RAF files in FUJIFILM X RAW Studio or Fujifilm’s RAW converter to verify file integrity.
- Corrupt transfer:
- Re-copy the file and compare file sizes. If transfer repeatedly produces a smaller file, the card or reader may be faulty.
8. Import folder organization and duplicates management
Common questions about how PC AutoSave organizes files and prevents duplicates.
Tips and settings:
- Change destination folder:
- In PC AutoSave preferences choose a different root folder or set subfolders by date to better organize imports.
- Duplicates options:
- Choose whether to skip, overwrite, or rename duplicates. If unsure, set the app to rename duplicates to avoid accidental overwrites.
- Use a consistent workflow:
- Import to a temporary working folder, then use a dedicated photo manager to catalog and deduplicate (e.g., Lightroom, PhotoMechanic).
9. Advanced diagnostics
If simple fixes fail, try these deeper troubleshooting steps:
- Test with another computer: Determines whether the issue is PC-specific.
- Test with a different SD card and camera: Isolates whether the card or camera is faulty.
- Examine logs: Look for PC AutoSave logs in its application folder for error messages. Search those error codes online or on camera forums.
- Run disk and hardware diagnostics: Check PC hard drive health (SMART) and run memory tests if system instability appears.
10. Preventative maintenance and best practices
- Keep PC AutoSave and your OS updated.
- Use good-quality SD cards from reputable brands and replace cards after extended heavy use.
- Eject devices safely before removing the card or disconnecting the camera.
- Maintain a consistent backup routine: import to local storage and also keep an external or cloud backup.
- Regularly check card health with testing utilities.
11. When to contact FUJIFILM support
Contact FUJIFILM support if:
- The camera is under warranty and appears to have a hardware fault (power/connection port issues).
- Files are consistently corrupt right on the card even before importing.
- You encounter application-specific error codes that FUJIFILM lists in their support documentation.
If you want, I can:
- Provide step-by-step instructions for a specific OS (Windows ⁄11 or macOS) to walk through logs, permission settings, and reinstall steps.
- Help interpret an error code or message you’re seeing — paste it here.
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