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Fixing Common GPX Problems Before Uploading to Strava

Published: August 2026 · 8 min read

You finished your ride, exported the GPX file, and tried to upload it to Strava — only to get a red error bar. You are not alone. Here are the five most common reasons Strava rejects a GPX file, and exactly how to fix each one.

Problem 1: "Time information is missing from file"

Cause: Your GPX file has valid coordinates but no <time> elements. This happens when the file comes from a route planner (like Komoot or RideWithGPS) that exports routes without timestamps, or from a simulator that outputs position-only data.

Fix: Use the Timestamps tool in GPX Tools. Drop your file, choose Auto mode (fills missing times) or Constant Speed (generates from a km/h value), and download. The file now has timestamps on every point, and Strava will accept it.

Problem 2: Too many track points

Cause: Some devices record at very high frequency (e.g. 1 Hz for a 10-hour ride = 36,000 points). Strava's route upload limits are around 2,500—5,000 points, and certain Garmin devices cap segments at 250 points.

Fix: The Simplify tool reduces point count with Douglas-Peucker while keeping the route shape intact. For long circuit recordings, you can also split the track into shorter sections with the Lap Detector before exporting.

Problem 3: Invalid or out-of-range coordinates

Cause: A corrupted GPS fix can produce coordinates outside the valid range (latitude > 90° or longitude > 180°). Some simulators also output coordinates in the wrong hemisphere or with swapped lat/lon.

Fix: Open the GPX file in a text editor and search for unreasonable values. GPX Tools automatically validates coordinates during parsing and will alert you if points are invalid.

Problem 4: Timestamps in the future or distant past

Cause: A device with a dead clock battery may record timestamps set to January 1, 2000, or some other epoch date. Strava may reject or mislabel these activities.

Fix: The Timestamps tool lets you set a custom start date/time. Use Total Duration mode with a plausible ride length and your ride will appear on the correct day in your training calendar.

Problem 5: Duplicate consecutive points

Cause: When a GPS device is stationary (e.g. at a traffic light), it may record the same position multiple times. Strava sometimes rejects files where many consecutive points are identical because it cannot compute a valid speed.

Fix: The Simplify tool (coming) will handle duplicate removal. In the meantime, the GPX Tools processors ensure timestamps are strictly increasing, which prevents most timing-related rejections.

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