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“Try to Fix” error loops

Building with Lovable makes coding faster and more intuitive—but even the best AI development tools can occasionally hit a snag. Sometimes your code won’t run as expected, or you might notice unexpected behavior where the AI interprets your intent incorrectly. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate issues and get back on track:
1

Use the Try to Fix Button First

Click the Try to Fix button when an error shows up. Lovable will scan your logs, detect the issue, and attempt a quick fix. It’s your fastest first move. If that doesn’t work, it’s time to dig deeper.
2

Diagnose Unexpected Behavior

Your code may run without errors but not behave as intended. That’s unexpected behavior—harder to spot and harder to fix. Try this:
  • Review your original prompt to confirm your instructions.
  • Break it down: Check individual components and logic.
  • Add visuals: Use screenshots to clarify what went wrong.
3

Write More Effective Prompts

Clear, structured prompts lead to better results. Use this format:
  1. Project Overview – What are you building?
  2. Page Structure – List key pages/components.
  3. Navigation Logic – Describe user flow.
  4. Visual Aids – Upload wireframes or screenshots.
  5. Implementation Steps – Lay out the build order.
4

Build in Logical Order

Structure matters. Follow this recommended flow:
  1. Create layout and pages.
  2. Connect Supabase or your backend.
  3. Set up authentication and user roles.
  4. Plan and organize feature logic.
  5. Prompt Lovable to implement features.
5

Use Chat Mode for Clarity

When unsure, switch to Chat Mode:
  • Ask Lovable to analyze your project state.
  • Request a recap of attempted solutions.
  • Prompt for new directions to solve persistent problems.
6

If You're Still Stuck: Advanced Tactics

Still no luck? Try this:
  • Be exact – Describe the bug and your expectations clearly.
  • Use images – Screenshots or videos help illustrate problems.
  • Ask directly – “What else can we try?”
  • Rollback – Restore to a working version and rebuild incrementally.

What’s Going Wrong? Common Troubleshooting Areas

Troubleshooting generally falls into these categories:
  1. UI or Layout Glitches
  2. API or Backend Issues
  3. Prompt Misinterpretations
  4. AI Unresponsiveness or Misbehavior
  5. Platform or Integration Errors
Use the accordions below to identify specific issues and actions:

General issues

Jump into Chat-Only Mode and type: “Something’s off. Can you walk me through what’s happening and what you’ve tried?”
  • Check component hierarchy and styles.
  • Use screenshots to explain visual bugs.
  • Prompt Lovable with: “Why is this element misaligned? Fix it.”
  • Prompt: “Take a step back. Analyze the error and suggest a different approach.”
  • Break the task into smaller parts.
  • Use the revert button if errors persist.
This should not happen. Please report it to the support team.
Try a hard refresh. If unresolved, contact support.

AI Reliability

  • Keep prompts clear and structured.
  • Use reverse meta prompting.
  • Test in Chat-Only Mode before applying big changes.
This shouldn’t happen. Please report it to the support team.
Adjust your prompt to help the AI understand your goal or ask for step-by-step debugging help.
Make small, incremental changes. If the issue persists, roll back to a stable version or debug in chat.
Revert to a stable version and provide more context in your next prompt. Use visual editor or attach a knowledge file.
The AI might be editing the wrong files or misinterpreting. Be very specific or edit manually.
This was fixed by engineering. Please report if it happens again.
  • Don’t retry the same prompt. Simplify or rephrase.
  • Ask: “What fixes have we already tried?”
  • Rebuild from a previous working state.

Core functionalities

  • Likely a runtime error. Check browser console logs.
  • Use chat to troubleshoot.
  • Try a hard refresh or revert.
Report to the support team if you can’t revert your project.
You can unpublish or delete your project in Project Settings.
This issue has been resolved. Report it if it recurs.
Shouldn’t happen. Contact support.
Shouldn’t happen. Report to the support team.
This is a serious issue likely related to our email provider. Contact support immediately.
Reach out to support directly.
  • Break up large changes into smaller steps.
  • Restart your browser if it slows down.
  • If it persists, report your use case to support.

Supabase issues

  • l Scope: Use the principle of least privilege for all credentials
When using Lovable with Supabase, always store sensitive API keys as Supabase Edge Function secrets rather than environment variables or in source code.
Double-check syntax and variable names. See the Supabase docs.
Disconnect and reconnect. Might be caused by an integration update.
Remixing is blocked for Supabase-connected projects for security reasons.
Please report to support.
Usually means a backend server isn’t responding. Use chat mode to debug.
To connect your Lovable project to Supabase:
  1. Click the Supabase menu in the top right of the editor
  2. Select “Connect to Supabase”
  3. Follow the prompts to connect to your Supabase project
  4. Once connected, Lovable can see your tables, RLS policies, and functions

GitHub issues

You may have deleted your repo. Restore it here.
Branch switching is experimental. Use at your own risk.Once connected to GitHub, you can work with different branches:

Branch Switching Steps

# To switch from main to dev:
1. In Dev Mode, open the Git panel
2. Select the branch dropdown
3. Choose "dev" or click "Create new branch" if it doesn't exist
4. Your workspace will update to reflect the selected branch
Switching branches will change all files in your workspace to match that branch.

Branch Management:

  • Create a new branch: Click “Create new branch” in the Git panel
  • Delete a branch: Use the GitHub interface (not available directly in Lovable)
  • Default branch: Set in GitHub repository settings
If you can’t switch branches:
  • Commit or stash any uncommitted changes
  • Check if you have untracked files that would be overwritten
  • Try refreshing the Lovable editor
To connect your Lovable project to GitHub:
  1. Click the GitHub button in the top right of the editor
  2. Authorize Lovable to access your GitHub account
  3. Choose whether to create a new repository or use an existing one
  4. Follow the prompts to complete the connection

Repository Access Levels:

When connecting Lovable to GitHub, you can choose different access levels:
  • All repositories: Access to all your GitHub repositories
  • Only select repositories: Choose specific repositories to connect
Lovable uses GitHub’s OAuth flow for secure authentication. You can revoke access anytime from your GitHub account settings.
If you’re having trouble with GitHub authentication:
  • Reconnect your GitHub account in Lovable
  • Check if your GitHub access token has expired
  • Verify you have the necessary permissions for the repository
  • Ensure two-factor authentication isn’t blocking access
If your push is rejected:
  1. Pull the latest changes from the remote repository
  2. Resolve any conflicts
  3. Try pushing again
  4. If still failing, check if the branch is protected
This is an experimental feature. Expect occasional instability.

Need more help?

Still stuck? Try this:
  1. Use Chat Mode for step-by-step help.
  2. Submit a bug through our Feedback Portal.
  3. If you’re a paid customer, contact Support.

Comprehensive Debugging Manual

This document or this website were written by a Lovable power user in our Discord community.
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