remotion-dev/remotion · critical · Error

Failed to create WebGL texture

Error message

Failed to create WebGL texture

What it means

The `createTexture` helper (used by `setupThermalVision` to allocate the source and palette textures) throws when `gl.createTexture()` returns `null`. The WebGL2 context cannot allocate a texture object, indicating context loss or GPU texture-memory exhaustion. The error fires before texture parameters are set.

Source

Thrown at packages/effects/src/thermal-vision.ts:213

	gl: WebGL2RenderingContext,
	vertexSource: string,
	fragmentSource: string,
): WebGLProgram => {
	const vs = compileShader(gl, gl.VERTEX_SHADER, vertexSource);
	const fs = compileShader(gl, gl.FRAGMENT_SHADER, fragmentSource);
	const program = linkProgram(gl, vs, fs);
	gl.deleteShader(vs);
	gl.deleteShader(fs);
	return program;
};

const createTexture = (
	gl: WebGL2RenderingContext,
	filter: number,
): WebGLTexture => {
	const texture = gl.createTexture();
	if (!texture) {
		throw new Error('Failed to create WebGL texture');
	}

	gl.bindTexture(gl.TEXTURE_2D, texture);
	gl.texParameteri(gl.TEXTURE_2D, gl.TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER, filter);
	gl.texParameteri(gl.TEXTURE_2D, gl.TEXTURE_MAG_FILTER, filter);
	gl.texParameteri(gl.TEXTURE_2D, gl.TEXTURE_WRAP_S, gl.CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
	gl.texParameteri(gl.TEXTURE_2D, gl.TEXTURE_WRAP_T, gl.CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
	gl.bindTexture(gl.TEXTURE_2D, null);
	return texture;
};

const setupThermalVision = (target: HTMLCanvasElement): ThermalVisionState => {
	const gl = target.getContext('webgl2', {
		premultipliedAlpha: true,
		alpha: true,
		preserveDrawingBuffer: true,
	});
	if (!gl) {

View on GitHub (pinned to 78fe4bb3fd)

Solutions

1. Reduce concurrent webgl2 effects and palette sizes.
2. Restart the render/session to free leaked textures and reset the context.
3. Ensure `cleanup` runs (`gl.deleteTexture`) so textures are released between renders.
4. Handle `webglcontextlost` and rebuild GL state.

try {
  thermalVision({...params});
} catch (e) {
  if (/Failed to create WebGL texture/.test((e as Error).message)) {
    renderFallbackFrame();
  } else throw e;
}

When it happens

Trigger: Context lost during setup; GPU texture memory exhausted; too many live GL textures across effects; destroyed GL context.

Common situations: Many concurrent webgl2 effects each allocating textures; large palettes across many instances; leaked textures in long Studio sessions; mobile GPUs with low texture caps.

Related errors

• Failed to create WebGL palette texture
• Failed to create WebGL shader
• Failed to create WebGL program
• Failed to create WebGL vertex array
• Failed to create WebGL buffer

AI-assisted analysis of remotion-dev/remotion@78fe4bb3fd (2026-08-12). Data as JSON: /api/errors/0ab169496f8b922f. Report an issue: GitHub.