How do big exports and export notifications work?

Large PostSnag exports run as a background job so your tab never freezes, then notify you in-app and by email the moment the file is ready.

Written By PostSnag

Last updated 29 days ago

PostSnag runs large exports as a background job, so your dashboard stays usable while the file builds, then notifies you in-app and by email the moment it's ready to download. You don't have to sit and watch a progress bar for a big pull.

Why some exports take a moment

A quick export, a single profile's Markdown or CSV, builds instantly and downloads the second you click. A bigger pull needs more work behind the scenes: a Data plus media or Media only zip across a profile with a lot of video, an entire Facebook Group, or your whole Posts library covering every creator and every group you've ever captured. Real video files add real file size, so once media is involved, PostSnag hands that off to a background job instead of making your browser build the whole thing on the spot.

What "background" means for you

Because it's a background job and not something your browser has to finish before you can do anything else, you're free to keep working. Open another profile, apply a different filter, start a second export, or step away from your computer entirely. PostSnag finishes the pull on its own time and lets you know either way, so there's no reason to keep the export tab open and staring at it.

Two notifications, so you don't have to keep checking

  • In-app: PostSnag shows you a notification inside the dashboard once your file is built and ready to download.
  • Email: PostSnag also sends a message to the email address on your account, so you'll know even if you're not logged in when the export finishes.

Both notifications point you to the same finished file, so whichever one you see first, you're set.

[SCREENSHOT: An in-app notification confirming a background export is ready to download]

When you'll run into this

Expect a background export, rather than an instant download, in cases like:

  • Data plus media or Media only across a profile or group with a meaningful amount of video, since the real files take longer to package than text alone.
  • A full Facebook Group export, since it covers every member captured in that group at once.
  • Your entire Posts library, exported from the global Posts page, covering every creator and every group you've ever captured in one pass.
  • A large multi-select pull, if you've ticked enough posts or reels across a profile, group, or your library that the file takes real processing time to assemble.

Quick exports still work the instant way

Not every export goes through this. A single profile's Markdown or CSV, or a small multi-select pick, still builds in your browser and downloads the moment you click, exactly the way it always has. Background processing only kicks in once an export is large enough, usually because real media is involved, that it needs more time than an instant, client-side download can give it.

Common questions

Will every export send me an email?
Only the ones that run as a background job. Quick, instant downloads finish before there's anything to notify you about.

Do I have to keep the tab open for a background export to finish?
No. It runs as a background job, so you can keep working elsewhere in the dashboard or step away, and PostSnag still notifies you when it's done.

Where do I download the file once I get the notification?
The in-app notification and the email both lead you back to the finished download, so use whichever one you see first.

Does a background export cost anything extra or use up a separate limit?
No. Whether an export runs instantly or as a background job depends on its size, not your plan. What actually limits your data is the Free plan's capture caps; see How does exporting work on Free vs paid?

Can I turn off the email notification?
PostSnag's export-ready notifications are designed to make sure you don't lose track of a finished background export. If you'd rather manage how you're notified, check your account's notification settings.

  • How do I export a profile, and what are the formats?
  • Which export format should I choose? (Markdown, CSV, media, or both)
  • What is included in a PostSnag export?
  • How does exporting work on Free vs paid?
  • What is the Posts page, and how do I use it?