If you’re using v0.app and the Download ZIP option is disabled, stuck on “Waiting for sandbox to start…”, or not working — you can export your entire project using the built-in terminal.
This method works reliably for any v0 sandbox.
The Problem
Sometimes:
- Download ZIP is greyed out
- It shows Waiting for sandbox to start
- Or clicking it does nothing
This usually happens when the sandbox hasn’t fully initialized.
Step 1: Open the Terminal
You can open the terminal in two ways (just like VS Code):
Option A — From the menu
- Top-left menu → Terminal → New Terminal
Option B — Drag to reveal
- Drag the bottom panel upward if it’s hidden
- The terminal panel will appear
You should see a prompt like:
[vercel-sandbox@xxxx v0-project]$
Step 2: Create the Project Archive
Run:
tar -czf project.tar.gz .
You may see this warning:
tar: .: file changed as we read it
This is normal and safe to ignore.
Step 3: Find the File
After a few seconds:
- Check the file explorer (left panel)
- You’ll see:
project.tar.gz
in the root folder.
If it doesn’t appear immediately, refresh the explorer.
Step 4: Download the File
- Right-click project.tar.gz
- Click Download
You now have the full project locally.
Optional: Cleaner Export
Exclude heavy folders:
tar -czf project.tar.gz . --exclude=node_modules --exclude=.git
Extract Locally
macOS / Linux
tar -xzf project.tar.gz
Windows
- Extract using 7-Zip or WinRAR
Quick Copy Command
tar -czf project.tar.gz .
When to Use This Method
Use this if:
- Download ZIP is disabled
- Sandbox is stuck or slow
- You need a quick backup
- You want to move the project to local development
This simple terminal trick bypasses UI issues and works consistently for any v0.app project.
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