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Fixing the 'Import Taking Longer Than Expected' Error in Jetpack Subscribers

24 threads Sep 16, 2025 Plugin → Jetpack

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Many WordPress site owners rely on Jetpack to manage their newsletter subscribers. A common and frustrating issue that arises is the subscriber import process getting stuck, often accompanied by the error message: "Your recent import is taking longer than expected to complete. If this issue persists, please contact our support team for assistance."

When this happens, the interface for adding subscribers—both manually and via CSV—often becomes greyed out and unusable. This guide will explain why this happens and walk you through the most effective solutions to get your subscriber list back on track.

Why Does This Jetpack Subscriber Import Error Occur?

Based on numerous user reports, this problem is typically not caused by something on your site but by a stuck process on the backend servers that handle subscriber imports for Jetpack. This glitch can be triggered by:

  • A previous import that failed to complete properly.
  • Hitting a temporary API rate limit.
  • Uploading a malformed CSV file that caused the import job to hang.
  • A transient server-side error during processing.

It's important to note that this is a technical backend issue and is not typically related to your browser, cache, or site permissions, though checking these can be a good first step.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide

Step 1: Basic Browser Checks

Before anything else, rule out local browser issues. This is a quick and easy first step.

  • Clear your browser cache and cookies: Old cached data can sometimes cause conflicts.
  • Try a different browser: Attempt the import in Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to see if the problem is isolated to one browser.
  • Use an incognito or private window: This helps rule out browser extensions interfering with the process.

Step 2: Verify Your Subscriber Limit

If you are on a free plan, ensure you have not reached the 100-subscriber limit. The system will prevent new imports if you are at or over this limit, though some users have reported the count can be incorrect. Double-check your current subscriber count in your dashboard.

Step 3: The Most Common Fix - Request a Reset

If the basic checks don't work, the issue is almost certainly a stuck import process on the server. The most effective and common solution, as seen in countless support threads, is to have this process reset by a support engineer.

Since the Jetpack team manages this backend process, they are the only ones who can perform this reset. You will need to reach out to them for assistance. Be prepared to provide your site URL so they can identify your account and clear the stuck job.

Step 4: After a Reset

Once the import process has been reset on the backend, you should be able to import subscribers again. Before trying another large import, consider these best practices:

  • Review your CSV file: Ensure it is properly formatted with just an 'email' or 'email, name' header and contains no blank rows or extra commas.
  • Start small: Try importing a single subscriber manually first to confirm the process is working again before attempting a larger CSV import.

When to Seek Further Help

If you have gone through these steps and the problem returns or was never resolved, the issue may be more complex. In these cases, providing detailed information to the Jetpack team is crucial. Be ready to share:

  • The exact steps you take before the error appears.
  • Screenshots of the error message and the greyed-out interface.
  • The method you are using (manual add or CSV import).
  • A copy of your CSV file (with personal data redacted) if you suspect it may be the cause.

This import stalling issue is a known hurdle, but it is almost always resolvable with a backend reset. By following this guide, you can quickly identify the problem and take the correct steps to get your subscriber imports working smoothly again.

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