Items are skipped: why, and how to get them published
What to do when the review says items will be skipped: the reason for each, what to change on your site or in the configuration, and how to get them published.
- 2 min read
- Updated October 13, 2026
A skipped item is not an error in your spreadsheet. Content Uploader decided not to touch the item on your site in this file, because writing it now would be wrong or impossible. Nothing is lost, and the next upload looks at it again.
Symptoms#
- A Skipped tile in the review, with a number.
- Under the Publish button: 1 item can't be published right now and will be skipped.
- After publishing, items you expected to change have not.
Likely causes#
Confirmed (the first, reproduced in our tests; the rest are the program's own checks of the item on your site):
- The item is in your site's trash: In the destination's trash. Restore it or delete it permanently, then check the file again. (a post that someone trashed after the first import).
- Someone is editing it (Joomla: the article is checked out): Being edited on the destination, so it is left as it is. A later upload updates it once it is closed there.
- Another file is publishing it right now: Still being published by another upload.
- The publishing account may no longer edit it: The connected account cannot edit this destination item.
- Two items on the site share the record ID: Another destination item already uses this record ID.
- The row needs a category or tag that does not exist, and the configuration does not add new ones.
Step-by-step solution#
| Reason | What to do |
|---|---|
| In the trash | In WordPress (Posts → Trash) or Joomla (Content → Articles, filter Trashed), restore the item, or delete it permanently if you want Content Uploader to create it again. Then Check this file again. |
| Being edited | Ask the editor to close the article, or use Joomla's System → Maintenance → Global Check-in. Then upload again, or check again. |
| Being published by another upload | Wait until the other file has finished, then Check this file again. |
| Cannot edit | Restore the account's permission, or choose another publishing account (WordPress, Joomla). |
| Record ID used twice | Contact support with the ID. |
| Missing categories or tags | Tick Add new categories (or tags) to the site, or create them on the site, then Check this file again (new categories and tags). |
You can also publish what is ready and deal with the skipped items later: they cost nothing and are looked at again with every file that contains them.
How to verify#
- After Check this file again, the item moves from Skipped to Updated (or New).
- After publishing, the item shows the new content on your site.
If it persists#
- A skipped item that never leaves Skipped usually still has the same cause on your site: look at the reason again.
- Contact support with the record ID and the reason.
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