Tips & Troubleshooting
Good to know
- Everything on the timeline can be undone. Ask the assistant to "undo", or press Cmd/Ctrl + Z in TimeBolt. This includes edits the assistant made. Two things to watch: running silence detection again replaces manual edits (undo brings them back), and removing a track from the Multi-Track Editor cannot be undone.
- You can keep working in TimeBolt. The assistant uses the same project you see on screen, so you can watch each change, play the preview and adjust things by hand. Ask the assistant to read the timeline again after you edit by hand.
- Exports never overwrite your files. If a file name is already taken, TimeBolt adds a number. Unless you name a location, files are saved next to your video.
- Long jobs run in the background. Renders, transcriptions, file conversions, Multi-Track Editor renders and screen recordings start straight away. The assistant checks on them until they finish, and you can follow the progress in TimeBolt.
- Opening a large file can take a while. The assistant waits up to 45 seconds, then keeps checking until the file is loaded.
- If another file is already open, TimeBolt asks you in the app whether to replace it. To skip that question, tell the assistant "replace the open file".
- When TimeBolt can't do something, it says why. The assistant receives TimeBolt's own message (for example "No cut is marked") and can usually fix the problem or ask you what to do.
- After a TimeBolt update, restart Claude Desktop or start a new ChatGPT/Codex thread or Claude Code session so the assistant sees any new tools.
Common messages
| Message | What it means |
|---|---|
| "This needs the premium version of TimeBolt" | The MCP tools need TimeBolt premium. See Manage Accounts & License Keys. |
| "More cuts required" | Exports need at least two cuts on the timeline. Run silence detection or make an edit first. |
| "No cut is marked" | You asked to keep only marked cuts, but none are marked. |
| "The folder … does not exist" | Create the folder first, or give the assistant a folder that exists. |
| "The open file has no transcription yet" | Captions, filler word detection and word cuts need a transcription. Ask the assistant to transcribe the file or give it a transcript. |
| "awaiting-confirmation" | Another file is open, and TimeBolt is asking you in the app whether to replace it. Answer in TimeBolt. |
The assistant doesn't see TimeBolt
Work through this list:
- Is TimeBolt open? The tools only exist while TimeBolt is running.
- Is TimeBolt connected? The Local MCP menu should show Disconnect from Claude Desktop… or Disconnect from ChatGPT Desktop.... If it shows Reconnect…, Repair… or Turn On…, click it. See Connect Your AI App.
- Did you fully quit the AI app? Closing its window is not enough. On Mac press Command + Q; on Windows quit it from the system tray or Task Manager.
- Is this a new chat? ChatGPT and Codex threads that were open before TimeBolt connected or started cannot use the tools. Start a new thread.
- Are you in the right app? ChatGPT in a web browser, "ChatGPT Classic" and claude.ai in a browser cannot reach TimeBolt. Use the desktop apps or Claude Code. If a regular ChatGPT chat doesn't offer TimeBolt, try the same request in a Codex thread.
- Claude Code: run
claude mcp list. If timebolt fails to connect, remove it withclaude mcp remove timeboltand add it again with the current address.
The assistant clicks around TimeBolt's window instead of using its tools
Some assistants can also control your screen. That is slower and less reliable than TimeBolt's tools. Start your request with "Using the TimeBolt tools, …", or tell it "Don't control the screen, use the TimeBolt MCP tools." For ChatGPT and Codex, TimeBolt also adds a note to ~/.codex/AGENTS.md asking the assistant to use its tools, which you can keep in place.
The edit isn't what I wanted
- Ask the assistant to undo, then describe the change more precisely: give times ("from 2:10 to 2:45"), quote the words, or point to the cut ("the cut that starts at 4:30").
- Ask it to show you first: "List the filler words you would cut, but don't cut them yet."
- If the cuts are too tight or too loose, ask it to change the padding, grace period or filter level and run silence detection again. See Silence Detection.
The screen recording doesn't start (Mac)
macOS has to allow TimeBolt to record the screen before the assistant can start a recording. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security, allow TimeBolt under screen recording, restart TimeBolt and try again.
Still stuck? Submit a support ticket and include the request you gave the assistant and the message it got back from TimeBolt.