Documentation

Bulk upload issues and version recommendations for Desktop App 3.0.2 vs 2.3.3

Last update: Fri Jun 12 2026 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Large file uploads through Adobe Experience Manager Desktop App can cause performance degradation in the AEM Author environment. This article explains the issue, clarifies version guidance for Desktop App 3.0.2 and 2.3.3, and outlines available mitigation options.

Description description

Environment

Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) Author and Desktop App 3.0.2, 2.3.3 (all supported platforms)

Issue/Symptoms

  • Large bulk uploads (for example, 100GB) initiated from AEM Desktop App can cause incidents or performance degradation in the AEM Author environment.
  • The issue has been observed when using AEM Desktop App version 3.0.2.
  • Logs such as AEMAccess indicated that Desktop App version 3.0.2 was in use when the issue occurred.
  • Users report that Desktop App 3.0.2 does not resolve the bulk upload issue in their scenario.
  • There is uncertainty about whether to use Desktop App 2.3.3 or 3.x for high-volume uploads, as well as about the differences between these versions.
  • There are concerns about implementing rate limiting at the CDN/WAF layer because of the potential impact on user experience, especially during high-profile events.
  • Alternative solutions, such as custom upload scripts using the aem-upload API and Node.js, are being used to control bulk upload behavior.

No specific error codes or stack traces were provided in the logs.

Cause

Bulk uploads via AEM Desktop App 3.0.2 can overwhelm the AEM Author environment because of limitations in the current version’s handling of high-volume operations. Using version 2.3.3 is recommended as a temporary mitigation until platform-side protections are available.

Resolution resolution

Follow these steps to resolve the issue:

  1. Avoid bulk uploads via Desktop App 3.0.2

    • For high-volume or bulk uploads, do not use AEM Desktop App version 3.0.2 at this time, as a fix for this scenario has not been confirmed in the 3.x line.

  2. Use Desktop App 2.3.3 as a temporary mitigation

    • Desktop App 2.3.1 or 2.3.3 is recommended for bulk upload scenarios as a temporary mitigation.
    • This is not a general recommendation for all use cases, but is specific to environments experiencing issues with bulk uploads.
    • Refer to the AEM Desktop App release notes for general version information.

  3. Implement upload thresholds and custom solutions

    • Define and communicate upload thresholds to end users to avoid overloading the AEM Author environment.
    • Consider using custom upload solutions, such as scripts that leverage the aem-upload API and Node.js, to better control bulk upload behavior.

  4. CDN/WAF rate limiting

    • Rate limiting at the CDN/WAF layer can be considered as a short-term mitigation, but it should be applied cautiously to avoid affecting legitimate user traffic.
    • The long-term recommendation is to address upload protection at the AEM platform/server level (for example, request throttling, capacity governance, monitoring, and back-pressure mechanisms).
    • There is currently no confirmed release commitment or ETA for platform-side changes.

  5. Bulk Importer considerations

    • The Bulk Importer tool may be an option, but it requires uploading to a cloud provider first and may incur additional costs and affect user experience.
recommendation-more-help
3d58f420-19b5-47a0-a122-5c9dab55ec7f