Is the Enhanced Uploader Broken?
Uploader Updates
Browser Limitations
Installation
Quick List
Still Have Trouble?

"I can't upload my photos! The eBay Uploader is broken!" We've heard this statement more times than we can count. This is a common misconception taken my many people. They think that just because they can't load their photos, they blame eBay and say that they Uploaders are broken. This is simply not true. Over five million listings, many with multiple pictures, are listed daily on eBay. This equals literally millions of pictures successfully being uploaded daily. Chances that an individuals picture loading problem is due to an eBay problem are quite remote. For those with picture loading problems, the fact is that it will take a few clicks on your mouse to get up and running again. eBay's service will work, like it does for millions, if the member has their computer setup/configured correctly, and has downloaded the latest programs.

The Enhanced picture uploader for Internet Explorer in the Sell Your Item form and for eBay Picture Manager in My eBay was updated this past September to a new version. After the update was posted, if you use the Enhanced Uploader, then the next time you upload pictures to eBay you first will be prompted to download and install a new version of an ActiveX control software add-on from eBay. The new version, the first since May 2008, includes bug fixes and corrects a potential security vulnerability.

You must install the new version of ActiveX to continue using the Enhanced Uploader. Note that Internet Explorer security settings and third-party security software (e.g., from Symantec, McAfee, etc.) can interfere with the installation and use of ActiveX controls, and you will have to temporarily disable the software to download the new ActiveX control software.

You should also know that the eBay Enhanced Picture Uploader is only supported when using the Internet Explorer Web browser (version 6 or later) with Microsoft Windows (Windows 2000 or later). While it may appear to be available and operate on other browsers, such use is not supported by eBay. So for example, if you use FireFox or the AOL web browser, you will have difficulties, and you should switch over to the Internet Explorer web browser.

The download and installation time for the eBay Enhanced Uploader ActiveX control software is approximately ten minutes for a dial-up connection and one minute for a broadband connection. You will be prompted to download and install the ActiveX control software whenever the Enhanced tab in the Sell Your Item form’s Add Pictures window is selected and the software is either not already installed, or the installed version is out-of-date.

Internet Explorer settings and third-party ad blocker, pop-up blocker, and firewall software can interfere with the download, installation, and use of the Enhanced Uploader ActiveX control software. If you encounter problems please review the tips here.

Does this stuff just sound to technical and just makes you more confused? We understand and have created a list of things that you can work through that will hopefully solve your problems. Remember, you must download the updated ActiveX control. The steps below are a troubleshooting guide if you can't download the ActiveX control.

✔ Clear your web cache, temporary Internet files, and cookies. See this page for details.
✔ Disable any security software such as Symantec or McAfee.
✔ Adjust security settings on Internet Explorer as shown here.
✔ Turn off the Internet Explorer pop-up blocker as shown here.
✔ Temporarily disable your Web accelerator as explained here.
✔ Adjust your firewall settings as described here.
✔ Make sure that you are using a Windows operating system and the Internet Explorer web browser.
✔ Defragment and run Disk CleanUp as shown in this tutorial.
✔ Install all current updates available for Internet Explorer. You can click here to see updated versions of the browser.
✔ Reboot all equipment in your Internet environment including modems, routers, and computers. Be sure to turn all devices off for 2-3 seconds before bringing them back online.
✔ Use a different computer, and try the same process, to help to isolate an issue and determine if the problem is specific to a particular system or environment.

If the troubleshooting tips included here do not enable the Enhanced Uploader to work on your computer, then we recommend you try either the Standard or the Basic Picture Uploaders. When you are ready to add pictures to your listing, just click on the tab labeled Standard or Basic in the Add Pictures section of the Sell Your Item Form.