File step errors

The errors on this page can occur with file upload and download steps.

File to upload not found

Error: Could not find the file to upload. Please double check that a file exists at the given path.

Problem: The path set on an Upload a file step doesn't point at a file that exists when the automation runs.

Fix: Open the Upload a file step and click Click to select to browse for the file. Confirm the file is at that path on the machine running the automation. For desktop runs that's your local machine; for cloud runs you'll need a path the cloud runner can reach (typically a Google Drive file via the Upload a file from Google Drive step instead).

File download did not start

Error: File download did not start.

Problem: axiom.ai triggered the download but no file started downloading. The most common cause is a network issue or the site blocking the download.

Fix: Try the download manually in your browser to confirm it works at all. If it does, run the automation in the desktop app so the local browser handles the download instead of the cloud runner.

Could not create folder

Error: Couldn't create folder. Try a different location or change write permissions.

Problem: A Download file step couldn't create the destination folder. Either the parent folder doesn't exist, or the user running axiom.ai doesn't have write permission for the location.

Fix: Check that the parent folder exists. axiom.ai can only create one folder at a time, so a path like /Downloads/scrapes/2025/january fails if 2025 doesn't already exist. Confirm your user account has write permission for the destination.