You subscribed to Canva Pro expecting instant access to premium templates, but instead you open a design and … nothing loads.
The templates remain grayed out, blank, or just refuse to render.
It’s frustrating, especially when you rely on Canva for your work or content.
In 2025, users still face these issues — but many are fixable.
Today, I’ll walk you through the most common problems users report (with real examples), and give you clear solutions so you won’t be blocked again.
Top 7 Common Canva Pro Issues in 2025
Here’s a breakdown of the frequent problems reported by users, with evidence and notes:
| # | Issue | Symptoms / Report | Why It Happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Premium Templates Won’t Load / Blank | Templates appear blank or nothing loads when selecting “Use this template” | Cache, browser extension conflict, server issues, or broken template link |
| 2 | Template Links Become Premium Feature | Users find that “Template Link” is locked behind Pro, even for old designs | As of June 2025, Canva made template link creation a premium-only feature. |
| 3 | Template Links Not Opening on Certain Devices / Apps | On iPhone with the Canva app, template link previews but no “edit” button shows. | Canva link handling differs between browser vs app, and mobile app may block features |
| 4 | Elements Missing after Download / Design Export | Some images or icons vanish when downloading PDF or PNG. | Browser compatibility, corrupted session, conflicts in export pipeline |
| 5 | Canva Crashes / Fails to Render at All | Editor freezes, blank screen, or nothing loads. | Cache corruption, browser extension interference, conflicting software |
| 6 | Third-party Software Interference | Users found an app “SurftoEarn” interfered and uninstalling it fixed Canva. | Malware/adware or monitoring apps can block resource requests |
| 7 | Server Outages / Platform Downtime | Thousands report inability to access Canva designs. | Canva platform issues, server maintenance, network disruptions |
How do I fix Canva not loading on iPhone?
To resolved it Update Canva app and iOS system. Check internet connection. Clear cache and data. Close unnecessary apps. Reinstall Canva app
3. Step-by-Step Troubleshooting Guide
Work through these in order until your issue is resolved:
🛠 Step A: Check Canva Status & Outages
- Visit Canva Status pages or outage trackers to confirm platform health. canvastatus.com
- If there’s a known outage, wait until Canva resolves it.
🛠 Step B: Clear Browser Cache, Cookies & Use Incognito
- Clear cache and cookies for all time.
- Try opening Canva in incognito / private mode to bypass extensions.
- Use a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge) to isolate browser-specific issues.
🛠 Step C: Disable Extensions / Ad-blockers
- Temporarily disable all browser plugins (ad blockers, privacy tools).
- Reload Canva and test if templates load.
🛠 Step D: Use Browser Version Instead of App / Vice Versa
- On mobile, if the Canva app shows issues, open Canva via browser (mobile Safari / Chrome).
- Or vice versa: if browser fails, try the app.
🛠 Step E: Check Template Link Permissions / Feature Access
- Confirm that “Template Link” is not locked behind Pro for your account.
- If you’re using a free account, that feature might have been disabled.
- For templates created before the change, links may still work.
🛠 Step F: Uninstall Conflicting Software
- Check for unwanted software or adware (like “SurftoEarn”) causing conflict.
- Disable or uninstall them to see if Canva returns to normal.
🛠 Step G: Share a Copy / Make New Template
- If a template link is broken, open original design and re-create share template link (if permitted).
- Make a copy of the design, and recreate a new template.
🛠 Step H: Contact Canva Support with Logs
- Screenshot the error, record the template ID or link, include browser & device info.
- Use Canva Help Center: Fix a problem – Canva Help Center
4. Best Practices to Prevent Issues
- Stick to one primary browser for Canva and avoid switching frequently between many.
- Periodically clear cache and cookies (e.g. monthly).
- Be cautious installing unknown software—some may interfere with Canva.
- Before large presentations, test templates and downloads ahead of time.
- Keep Canva app and browser versions up to date.
- Monitor Canva’s announcements for changes to features (like template links).
5. FAQ: More Edge Cases
As of early 2025, Canva made the “Template link creation” option a premium-only feature. Free users cannot create new template links anymore.
The feature may have been reclassified. Also domain-based restrictions for free users may block opening shared templates after updates.
Try using a different browser or device, re-export as a different format (PNG, JPEG, PDF), or reduce file complexity (less layers).
6. Resources & Further Reading
- Canva Help Center – Fix a Problem: https://www.canva.com/help/fix-a-problem/
- Canva Status / Outage Tracker: https://www.canvastatus.com/
Last modified: October 5, 2025
