Microsoft Sway - Issues with duplicating, running slowly and issues adding images

Rebecca Jenkin 10 Reputation points
2025-11-13T11:58:39.56+00:00

Please could someone advise why I am getting an error message when duplicating a sway publication, it is unable to complete my request and I am also finding that Sway is running slowly no matter what browser I use (Edge or Chrome as these are the only two available to me at my place of work). I have deleted cookies and browser history.

I am also finding that uploading images to the publication is taking a long time (Usually uploading screenshots/snips of images so the file size is not an issue) and the loading of said publications are taking far longer than usual.

I have tried multiple devices and all are the same.

I await further advice.

Many thanks

PII REMOVED

Microsoft 365 and Office | Sway | For education
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  1. AI answer

    2025-11-13T11:58:55.4933333+00:00

    It seems you are experiencing several issues with Microsoft Sway, including problems with duplicating publications, slow performance, and delays in uploading images. Here are some potential reasons and suggestions:

    1. Duplicating Publications: If you are receiving an error message when trying to duplicate a Sway publication, it could be due to temporary server issues or limitations on the number of duplications allowed. Ensure that your internet connection is stable and try again later.
    2. Performance Issues: Sway may run slowly for a variety of reasons, including high traffic on the service, issues with your internet connection, or the complexity of the Sway publication itself. Since you have already cleared cookies and browser history, consider checking your internet speed and trying to access Sway during off-peak hours.
    3. Image Upload Delays: Uploading images can be slow if the Sway service is experiencing high demand or if there are issues with the images themselves. Ensure that the images are in a supported format and not too large, even if they are screenshots.
    4. Browser Compatibility: While you mentioned using Edge and Chrome, make sure both browsers are updated to the latest versions, as updates often include performance improvements and bug fixes.

    If these issues persist, you may want to reach out to Microsoft support or check the Microsoft Trust Center for more information on service status and known issues.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Vicky-I 6,345 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-11-13T13:44:20.0666667+00:00

    Dear @Rebecca Jenkin,

    Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A Forum!

    From your description, I can see you have problem with:

    • Errors when duplicating a Sway publication
    • Slow performance across browsers (Edge and Chrome)
    • Delays when uploading images and loading publications, even on multiple devices

    To assist you effectively, could you please confirm the following:

    1. Is this issue affecting only Sway, or are other Microsoft 365 apps (like Word, PowerPoint, etc.) also running slowly?
    2. Do you know if your organization uses any network restrictions, firewalls, or proxy configurations that might affect cloud-based apps like Sway?
    3. Since your SAP is listed as “Microsoft 365 and Office | Sway | For education,” have you tried contacting your school’s IT department? Do you know if other users in your tenant are experiencing similar issues?

    In the meantime, here are some steps you can try:

    • Clear browser cache and test in an InPrivate/Incognito window to rule out extension conflicts.
    • Verify your OneDrive storage, as Sway relies on OneDrive for content hosting.
    • If possible, test on a different network (e.g., mobile hotspot) to eliminate network-related latency.

    If these steps don’t resolve the issue, please let us know the answers to the questions above and any error messages you see when duplicating the publication. This will help us narrow down the root cause and provide a tailored solution.

    Because this may involve tenant-level settings or network restrictions, I also strongly recommend contacting your school’s IT department. They can verify if there are any policies, proxy configurations, or bandwidth limitations impacting Sway performance and check if other users in your organization are affected.

    We appreciate your kind patience and understanding that sometimes the initial response may not immediately resolve the issue or there may be some misunderstandings about your scenario, but we would love to hear updates from you and find out further suggestions.

    Best Regards.

    If this response has been helpful, we kindly encourage you to mark it as "Accept Answer". Doing so will assist other users with similar questions in finding accurate and timely solutions more easily.

    We appreciate your participation in the community and look forward to supporting you further.

    If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment". 

    Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread. 

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