Photo Upload Issues

This guide helps you resolve issues with uploading photos in NSPEC. Whether photos won't upload, are taking too long, or showing errors, follow these troubleshooting steps.

Understanding Photo Uploads

How Photo Uploads Work

1. Photo is captured or selected from gallery
2. NSPEC compresses the image for optimal performance
3. Photo uploads to secure cloud storage (AWS S3)
4. Photo links to the observation or inspection
5. Photo becomes available in reports

Photo Requirements

Requirement	Specification
Formats	JPG, PNG, HEIC
Max file size	50MB per photo
Recommended size	Under 10MB for fastest uploads
Photos per inspection	No hard limit (performance may vary with 100+ photos)

Photo Upload Failed

Common Causes

• No internet connection
• Weak or unstable connection
• File too large
• Unsupported file format
• Storage quota exceeded
• App needs update

Solutions

1. Check your internet connection
   • Verify you have a stable connection
   • Try switching between WiFi and cellular
   • Move to an area with better signal
2. Retry the upload
   • Look for a retry button on the failed photo
   • Tap the photo to attempt re-upload
   • Wait for upload to complete
3. Check file format and size
   • Ensure photo is JPG, PNG, or HEIC
   • Check file size is under 50MB
4. Restart the app
   • Close NSPEC completely
   • Reopen and try uploading again
5. Re-add the photo
   • Remove the failed photo
   • Add it again from your gallery

Uploads Taking Too Long

Why Uploads May Be Slow

• Large file sizes
• Multiple photos uploading simultaneously
• Slow internet connection
• Server processing high volume

How to Speed Up Uploads

1. Use WiFi instead of cellular
   • WiFi is typically faster and more stable
   • Find a location with strong WiFi signal
2. Upload photos in smaller batches
   • Instead of 50 photos at once, upload 10-15 at a time
   • Wait for each batch to complete
3. Reduce photo resolution
   • Adjust device camera settings to lower resolution
   • Photos don't need to be maximum resolution for reports
4. Close other apps
   • Other apps may be using bandwidth
   • Close background apps to free up resources

File Format Issues

Supported Formats

• JPG/JPEG - Most common, widely supported
• PNG - Higher quality, larger file size
• HEIC - Apple's format, automatically converted

Unsupported Formats

• GIF (animated images)
• BMP
• TIFF
• RAW camera files
• PDF documents (use document upload instead)

Converting Unsupported Formats

1. Open the image on your device
2. Take a screenshot (converts to PNG)
3. Or use photo editing app to export as JPG
4. Upload the converted image

HEIC Format Issues

iPhones by default save photos in HEIC format. NSPEC supports HEIC, but if you experience issues:

1. Go to iPhone Settings → Camera → Formats
2. Select "Most Compatible" instead of "High Efficiency"
3. This saves photos as JPG instead of HEIC

File Size Issues

File Too Large

Problem: Photo rejected due to file size exceeding 50MB limit.

Solutions:

1. Reduce photo resolution before capturing
   • iPhone: Settings → Camera → Record Video (affects photo quality)
   • Use standard resolution instead of maximum
2. Compress the photo
   • Use photo editing app to reduce size
   • Export at 80% quality - still looks good
3. Crop unnecessary portions
   • Remove parts of image not needed
   • Focus on the relevant area

How to Check File Size

On iPhone:

1. Open Photos app
2. Select the photo
3. Swipe up to see details
4. File size is shown in the info

On Android:

1. Open Gallery app
2. Select photo → tap menu (⋮)
3. Select "Details" or "Info"

Camera/Capture Issues

Camera Not Working in App

Problem: Cannot take photos within NSPEC app.

Solutions:

1. Check camera permissions
   • iPhone: Settings → NSPEC → Camera (enable)
   • Android: Settings → Apps → NSPEC → Permissions → Camera (allow)
2. Restart the app
   • Close and reopen NSPEC
3. Restart your device
   • This resets camera resources
4. Update the app
   • Ensure you have the latest NSPEC version

Photos Coming Out Blurry

Solutions:

• Clean your camera lens
• Hold device steady when capturing
• Ensure adequate lighting
• Tap screen to focus before capturing
• Wait for camera to focus before pressing shutter

Missing or Disappeared Photos

Photos Not Showing in Observation

Problem: Added photos don't appear in the observation.

Solutions:

1. Check upload status - Photos may still be uploading
2. Refresh the screen - Pull down to refresh
3. Check internet connection - Photos need to sync
4. Look for error indicators - Re-upload failed photos

Photos Disappeared After Adding

Problem: Photos were added but are now gone.

Solutions:

1. Check if you saved the inspection/observation
2. Verify you're viewing the correct inspection
3. Check if working offline - photos may not have synced
4. Contact support if photos are confirmed lost

Getting Help

If photo issues persist:

• Contact support - [e-mail]

Information to Provide

• Device type (iPhone model, Android device)
• Operating system version
• NSPEC app version
• Photo file format and approximate size
• Screenshot of any error messages
• Whether on WiFi or cellular data