Most exports fit comfortably in a single ZIP file. When a store has a very large catalog, the app splits the export into several ZIP files so each one stays a sensible size and downloads reliably. Here is how that works and what to expect while a large export runs.
When an export is split
An export is split into separate numbered ZIP files when it would go over either of these limits:
| Limit | Per ZIP file |
|---|---|
| Number of files | 65,000 |
| Size | About 3.5 GB |
The app fills the first part up to a limit, then starts the next one, so most parts are close to the maximum and the last part holds whatever is left. Exports that stay under both limits are delivered as a single ZIP, exactly as before.
How the parts are named
Each part is named after your store with its position in the set, for example:
My Store - Vast Product Image Exporter - Part 1 of 3.zipMy Store - Vast Product Image Exporter - Part 2 of 3.zipMy Store - Vast Product Image Exporter - Part 3 of 3.zip
Each part is a complete, standalone ZIP. Open each one on its own with the tools built into Windows or macOS. There is nothing to join or recombine, and you can download the parts in any order.
Your chosen folder structure applies inside every part. If you picked By Collection, for example, each part contains collection folders for the images it holds, so the same collection folder can appear in more than one part. When you unzip the parts into the same place, the folders merge.
Downloading each part
From the email. The completion email lists a separate download link for every part, along with its image count and size.
From the dashboard. The export's card in Export History lists each part as "Part 1 of 3", "Part 2 of 3", and so on, with its image count and size. Each part has its own Download ZIP button, which becomes Re-generate Download once that part's link has expired.
From the export detail page. Click View Details on the export and you will find a "Download (3 parts)" section with the same list and a Download button for each part, shown as Regenerate download once the link has expired.
Every part link lasts 24 hours. You can regenerate a fresh link for any part from the dashboard for 7 days after the export finishes. After 7 days the files are deleted and the export shows as Expired. See Understanding Export History and Download Links for the full rules.
What to expect while a large export runs
Exports with thousands of images take longer, and a few things are worth knowing:
- Images are downloaded in batches with automatic retries. If Shopify is slow to serve a few files, the app waits and tries again rather than giving up.
- Progress shows on the history card as a percentage, for example "Processing 42%". The dashboard refreshes on its own while an export is running.
- The activity log updates live. Click View Details to watch each step as it happens, from fetching products to creating each ZIP part.
- Only one export can run per store at a time. If you try to start another, you will see "An export is already running for this store. Please wait for it to finish before starting another one."
- The email arrives once every part is ready. You will not receive a separate email per part.
The export runs on our servers, not in your browser. You can close the app or the Shopify admin and come back later; the export carries on and the email arrives when it is done.
Keeping large exports manageable
If you would rather work with smaller files, split the export yourself before you start it:
- Export one collection at a time using the Collections filter.
- Export one vendor at a time using the Vendors filter.
- Use the Date range filter to export products added in a given period.
Each of these produces its own entry in Export History with its own ZIP, which can be easier to hand off to a designer or upload somewhere else. See Filtering Products for Export for how the filters combine.