Overleaf compile timeout: fix it, or get more time
A compile timeout on Overleaf means the build ran past your plan's limit: 10 seconds on the free plan and 240 on paid plans. Fix the errors first with "Stop on first error", then make the build cheaper: Fast [draft] mode while writing, PDF instead of PNG for plots and diagrams, and externalised TikZ pictures. If it still times out, the document needs more time than the plan gives.
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Why it happens
Every error LaTeX recovers from costs time, and so do large raster images, many TikZ or pgfplots figures, and packages that are slow to load. On a 10-second budget a thesis with figures can run out before the PDF is written even when nothing is wrong with it.
Example
\documentclass[draft]{report} % draft: images become boxes, much faster
\includeonly{chapters/results} % compile only the chapter you are writing
\begin{document}
\include{chapters/introduction}
\include{chapters/results}
\end{document}Frequently asked questions
How long is the Overleaf compile timeout?
10 seconds on the free plan and 240 seconds on paid plans, as Overleaf's plan limits page listed them on 2 November 2026.
Does upgrading Overleaf fix a timeout?
Usually, if the document is otherwise healthy, because paid plans get 240 seconds instead of 10. Fix compile errors first: a document full of recoverable errors can still run long.
Can I move the project instead?
Yes. In Overleaf, download the project as a .zip (Menu, then Download, then Source) and upload it to LetX as a new project. Builds there finish in a few seconds for most documents, and Pro gives very large ones longer builds.
What is the fastest fix while writing?
Compile only the chapter you are working on with \includeonly, and use draft mode so images are drawn as boxes. Switch both off for the final PDF.
Related LaTeX fixes
Browse all LaTeX problems & fixes, or start with the LaTeX guide.
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