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This guide helps you diagnose and fix common Inkwell issues. If you can’t find a solution here, contact support.

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Script Won’t Open

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Problem: “File is corrupted” error

Possible causes:
  • File was interrupted during save
  • Disk error or corruption
  • File was manually edited outside Inkwell
Solutions:
1

Check version history

Open the script folder, look for .ink-history folder. Find the most recent backup file and rename it to .ink to restore.
2

Try opening in text editor

Open the .ink file in a text editor (VS Code, Notepad++). Look for obvious syntax errors in the JSON.
3

Contact support

If you can’t recover the file, send it to support. We may be able to repair it.

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Problem: “File format not recognized”

Cause: Trying to open a non-Inkwell file Solution: Inkwell only opens .ink files. Use File → Import for PDF, Fountain, or Final Draft files.

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Quill AI Issues

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Problem: “Insufficient credits” error

Cause: Your monthly credits are depleted Solutions:
  • Wait until next month for free credits to refresh
  • Purchase additional credits (click credit counter in Quill panel)
  • Upgrade to Pro for 1,000 credits/month

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Problem: Quill AI won’t open

Possible causes:
  • Not connected to internet
  • Firewall blocking connection
  • Service temporarily down
Solutions:
1

Check internet connection

Verify you’re online. Quill requires internet access.
2

Try refreshing

Press Cmd/Ctrl+R to refresh Inkwell
3

Check firewall

Ensure your firewall allows Inkwell to access the internet

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Problem: Quill gives irrelevant responses

Cause: Vague prompts or missing context Solutions:
  • Be more specific in your requests
  • Add your logline in Project Panel → Project
  • Fill in character bios in Characters tab
  • Reference specific scene numbers or character names

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Formatting Issues

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Problem: Text won’t format as dialogue

Cause: Inkwell auto-detects element types based on content Solutions:
  • Character names must be ALL CAPS on their own line
  • Dialogue must follow directly after character name
  • Remove any extra blank lines between character and dialogue
Example: 
ALICE
This formats correctly.

ALICE

This doesn't work (blank line after name).

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Problem: Scene headings not recognized

Cause: Missing required formatting Solutions:
  • Start with INT. or EXT.
  • Must be on its own line
  • Should be ALL CAPS
  • Include location and time: INT. COFFEE SHOP - DAY

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Performance Issues

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Problem: Inkwell is slow or laggy

Possible causes:
  • Very large script (500+ pages)
  • Low system memory
  • Background processes
Solutions:
1

Close other apps

Free up RAM by closing unused applications
2

Compress version history

Click save indicator → Save History → Compress History. This reduces file size.
3

Restart Inkwell

Fully quit (Cmd+Q) and reopen
4

Check system resources

Ensure you have at least 2GB free RAM and adequate disk space

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Problem: Typing feels delayed

Possible causes:
  • Typewriter Mode enabled
  • High zoom level
  • System performance
Solutions:
  • Disable Typewriter Mode (View → Typewriter Scrolling)
  • Reset zoom to 100% (Cmd+0)
  • Close background applications

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Auto-Save Issues

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Problem: “Auto-save failed” error

Possible causes:
  • Disk full
  • File permissions issue
  • External drive disconnected
Solutions:
1

Check disk space

Ensure you have free space on your hard drive
2

Try Save As

Press Cmd+Shift+S to save to a different location
3

Check file permissions

Make sure you have write access to the file location

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Problem: Changes not saving

Cause: Auto-save typically works, but may be delayed Solutions:
  • Manually save with Cmd+S
  • Check save indicator in status bar (bottom left)
  • If indicator shows error, see “Auto-save failed” above

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Import/Export Issues

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Problem: PDF import looks wrong

Cause: PDF structure doesn’t match screenplay format Solutions:
  • Use Import from Fountain or Final Draft instead if available
  • Manually fix formatting after import
  • See Importing Files for limitations

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Problem: Export missing content

Cause: Content filtered by export options Solutions:
  • Check Print Dialog options (notes, sections, synopses)
  • Ensure “Include” toggles are ON for desired content
  • Preview before exporting

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Update Issues

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Problem: Update won’t install

Possible causes:
  • Insufficient permissions
  • macOS Gatekeeper blocking
  • Corrupted download
Solutions:
1

Download fresh copy

Go to inkwellwriter.com and download latest version
2

Check permissions (macOS)

System Preferences → Security & Privacy. Allow Inkwell if blocked.
3

Manually install

Drag new Inkwell app to Applications folder, replacing old version

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General Recovery Steps

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Lost Work Recovery

1

Check version history

Open script → Click save indicator → Save History. Restore from recent checkpoint.
2

Check .ink-history folder

Navigate to script folder → .ink-history subfolder contains backups
3

Check system backups

macOS Time Machine or Windows File History may have older versions

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Complete Reset

If all else fails, reset Inkwell to defaults:
This clears all settings but does NOT delete your scripts.
1

Close Inkwell

Quit completely (Cmd+Q)
2

Delete preferences (macOS)

~/Library/Application Support/Inkwell/ → Delete folder
3

Delete preferences (Windows)

%APPDATA%/Inkwell/ → Delete folder
4

Restart Inkwell

Settings reset to defaults. Your scripts are safe.

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Get Help

If these steps don’t solve your issue: Contact support:
  • Email: [email protected]
  • Include: Error message, OS version, Inkwell version
  • Attach: Problem .ink file if relevant
Check for updates:
  • Help → Check for Updates (non-Mac App Store)
  • App Store Updates tab (Mac App Store version)
Community:
  • Forum: community.inkwellwriter.com
  • Discord: discord.gg/inkwell

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Next Steps

FAQ

Common questions and answers

Auto-Save & Versions

Understand version history

Importing Files

Learn import limitations

Keyboard Shortcuts

Master Inkwell shortcuts