fix: raise free print cap to 1000 and surface count + upgrade path

src/usecases/apkg/ExportApkgToPdfUseCase.test.ts

@@ -91,16 +91,16 @@ describe('ExportApkgToPdfUseCase', () => {
     expect(htmlArg).toContain('Answer 3');
   });
 
-  it('throws CardLimitExceededError for decks over 500 cards', async () => {
-    const parsed = makeParsed(501);
+  it('throws CardLimitExceededError for decks over 1000 cards', async () => {
+    const parsed = makeParsed(1001);
     previewService.parse.mockResolvedValue(parsed);
-    previewService.getMeta.mockReturnValue(makeMeta(501));
+    previewService.getMeta.mockReturnValue(makeMeta(1001));
 
     await expect(useCase.execute(Buffer.from('fake-apkg'))).rejects.toThrow(
       CardLimitExceededError
     );
     await expect(useCase.execute(Buffer.from('fake-apkg'))).rejects.toThrow(
-      /501 cards/
+      /1001 cards/
     );
     expect(pdfRenderService.renderHtml).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
   });

src/usecases/apkg/ExportApkgToPdfUseCase.ts

@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { RenderedCard } from '../../services/ApkgPreviewService/types';
 
 const ZSTD_MAGIC = Buffer.from([0x28, 0xb5, 0x2f, 0xfd]);
 
-const MAX_CARDS = 500;
+const MAX_CARDS = 1000;
 
 const SOUND_TAG_REGEX = /\[sound:([^\]]+)\]/g;
 const AUDIO_EXTENSIONS = new Set([

web/src/pages/DocsPage/content-links.test.ts

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ const KNOWN_APP_PREFIXES = [
   '/about',
   '/changelog',
   '/card-options',
+  '/print',
 ];
 
 const LINK_RE = /(?<!!)\[[^\]]*\]\(([^)\s]+)(?:\s+"[^"]*")?\)/g;

web/src/pages/DocsPage/content/help/common-problems.md

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ If you saw an error and want the fix, find the heading below that matches what y
 
 **Why it happened.** 2anki creates Anki decks; it doesn't read them. Uploading an existing `.apkg` isn't a flow we support.
 
-**How to fix it.** Upload the source you used to make the deck (HTML export, Markdown, PDF, CSV) — not the deck itself. To open an `.apkg` you already have, see [Open your deck in Anki](/documentation/start-here/open-in-anki).
+**How to fix it.** Upload the source you used to make the deck (HTML export, Markdown, PDF, CSV) — not the deck itself. To open an `.apkg` you already have, see [Open your deck in Anki](/documentation/start-here/open-in-anki). To print or share it as a PDF, use [Print Decks](/print).
 
 ## "PDF exceeds maximum page limit of 100 for free and anonymous users."
 

web/src/pages/DocsPage/content/reference/print-export.md

@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ Uploaded `.apkg` files are removed within **2 hours** of the export. The PDF is
 ## Common mistakes
 
 - **Wrong file type.** The print tool only accepts `.apkg`. If your source is a Notion export, a Markdown file, or a PDF, go to the [upload page](/documentation/start-here/upload-a-file) first to make the `.apkg`, then come back here.
-- **Very large decks.** The export has an upper size — decks with thousands of cards may return "This deck is too large to print right now." Split the deck in Anki (use a filtered deck or export a subdeck) and run each through the print tool.
+- **Very large decks.** Free print covers decks up to 1000 cards. Bigger decks return "PDF export supports up to 1000 cards." Upgrade for unlimited, or split the deck in Anki (use a filtered deck or export a subdeck) and run each through the print tool.
 - **Free plan trying to export.** The export returns the upgrade message instead of a PDF. See [pricing](/pricing) for plans, or use a short [Day or Week Pass](/documentation/reference/plans) if you need it once.
 
 ## Related

web/src/pages/PrintPage/components/PrintForm.test.tsx

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+import { fireEvent, render, screen, waitFor } from '@testing-library/react';
+import '@testing-library/jest-dom';
+import { MemoryRouter } from 'react-router-dom';
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, test, vi } from 'vitest';
+
+import PrintForm from './PrintForm';
+
+const renderForm = () =>
+  render(
+    <MemoryRouter>
+      <PrintForm />
+    </MemoryRouter>
+  );
+
+const pickApkg = (name = 'deck.apkg') => {
+  const file = new File(['fake'], name, { type: 'application/octet-stream' });
+  const input = screen.getByLabelText(/Drop an Anki deck/i, {
+    selector: 'input[type="file"]',
+  }) as HTMLInputElement;
+  fireEvent.change(input, { target: { files: [file] } });
+};
+
+describe('PrintForm', () => {
+  const originalFetch = globalThis.fetch;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    globalThis.fetch = vi.fn();
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    globalThis.fetch = originalFetch;
+    vi.restoreAllMocks();
+  });
+
+  test('shows the server card-limit message verbatim plus an Upgrade for unlimited link', async () => {
+    (globalThis.fetch as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue({
+      ok: false,
+      status: 400,
+      clone() {
+        return {
+          json: async () => ({
+            message:
+              'This deck has 1873 cards. PDF export supports up to 1000 cards.',
+          }),
+        };
+      },
+    } as unknown as Response);
+
+    renderForm();
+    pickApkg();
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(screen.getByText(/1873 cards/)).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+    expect(screen.getByText(/PDF export supports up to 1000 cards/)).toBeInTheDocument();
+
+    const upgrade = screen.getByRole('link', { name: /Upgrade for unlimited/i });
+    expect(upgrade).toHaveAttribute('href', '/pricing');
+  });
+
+  test('shows a friendly corrupted-file message when the server reports Invalid .apkg', async () => {
+    (globalThis.fetch as ReturnType<typeof vi.fn>).mockResolvedValue({
+      ok: false,
+      status: 400,
+      clone() {
+        return {
+          json: async () => ({ message: 'Invalid .apkg file' }),
+        };
+      },
+    } as unknown as Response);
+
+    renderForm();
+    pickApkg();
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(
+        screen.getByText(/Couldn't read this file/i)
+      ).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+    expect(
+      screen.queryByRole('link', { name: /Upgrade for unlimited/i })
+    ).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+});

web/src/pages/PrintPage/components/PrintForm.tsx

@@ -12,11 +12,11 @@ const WRONG_TYPE_MESSAGE =
   'This tool works with Anki deck files (.apkg). To turn notes into an Anki deck, use the Upload page.';
 const CORRUPTED_MESSAGE =
   "Couldn't read this file. Make sure it's a valid Anki deck (.apkg) and try again.";
-const TOO_LARGE_MESSAGE =
-  'This deck is too large to print right now. Try a deck with fewer cards.';
 const GENERIC_ERROR_MESSAGE =
   'Something went wrong while generating the PDF. Try again.';
 
+const CARD_LIMIT_PATTERN = /PDF export supports up to/i;
+
 function isApkgFile(name: string): boolean {
   return /\.apkg$/i.test(name);
 }
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ function toUserMessage(serverMessage: string, status: number): string {
   if (status === 401) return AUTH_MESSAGE;
   if (status === 402 || status === 403) return UPGRADE_MESSAGE;
   if (/Invalid .apkg/i.test(serverMessage)) return CORRUPTED_MESSAGE;
-  if (/PDF export supports up to/i.test(serverMessage)) return TOO_LARGE_MESSAGE;
   return serverMessage;
 }
 
@@ -258,6 +257,12 @@ export default function PrintForm() {
               <Link to="/login">Log in</Link>
             </>
           )}
+          {CARD_LIMIT_PATTERN.test(errorMessage) && (
+            <>
+              {' '}
+              <Link to="/pricing">Upgrade for unlimited</Link>
+            </>
+          )}
         </p>
       )}
 

web/src/pages/UploadPage/components/UploadForm/UploadForm.tsx

@@ -1013,11 +1013,22 @@ function UploadForm({ setErrorMessage }: Readonly<UploadFormProps>) {
     const errorText = classified.detail
       ? `${classified.title} ${classified.detail}`
       : classified.title;
+    const isExistingApkg =
+      localError != null && /already an Anki deck/i.test(localError.message);
     return (
       <div className={formStyles.stateContent}>
         <WarningIcon className={formStyles.iconError} />
         <p className={formStyles.errorTitle}>Something went wrong</p>
-        <p className={formStyles.errorBody}>{errorText}</p>
+        <p className={formStyles.errorBody}>
+          {errorText}
+          {isExistingApkg && (
+            <>
+              {' '}
+              Want to print or share it as a PDF?{' '}
+              <Link to="/print">Try Print Decks</Link>.
+            </>
+          )}
+        </p>
         <button
           type="button"
           className={formStyles.actionButton}

web/src/pages/WhatsNewPage/changelog.ts

@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ export interface ChangelogEntry {
 }
 
 export const changelog: ChangelogEntry[] = [
+  { type: 'fix', title: 'Print page handles bigger decks — free covers up to 1000 cards, and the error tells you the exact count and cap if you go over', date: '2026-05-20' },
+  { type: 'fix', title: 'Dropped an .apkg on the upload page by mistake? The error now points you to Print Decks instead of a dead end', date: '2026-05-20' },
   { type: 'feature', title: 'Print 1 PDF a month for free — drop your .apkg on the Print page and we make the PDF, no subscription needed for the first one', date: '2026-05-19' },
   { type: 'style', title: 'Upload page — quiet upsell appears under the form for free users explaining the 100-card monthly limit', date: '2026-05-19' },
   { type: 'fix', title: 'Sidebar — your free-plan card count stays on one line instead of wrapping over three rows', date: '2026-05-19' },