diff --git a/bookwyrm/migrations/0192_auto_20240114_0055.py b/bookwyrm/migrations/0192_auto_20240114_0055.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f4d324f7f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bookwyrm/migrations/0192_auto_20240114_0055.py
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+# Generated by Django 3.2.23 on 2024-01-14 00:55
+
+import bookwyrm.storage_backends
+import django.core.serializers.json
+from django.db import migrations, models
+import django.db.models.deletion
+
+
+class Migration(migrations.Migration):
+
+    dependencies = [
+        ('bookwyrm', '0191_merge_20240102_0326'),
+    ]
+
+    operations = [
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='bookwyrmexportjob',
+            name='export_json',
+            field=models.JSONField(encoder=django.core.serializers.json.DjangoJSONEncoder, null=True),
+        ),
+        migrations.AddField(
+            model_name='bookwyrmexportjob',
+            name='json_completed',
+            field=models.BooleanField(default=False),
+        ),
+        migrations.AlterField(
+            model_name='bookwyrmexportjob',
+            name='export_data',
+            field=models.FileField(null=True, storage=bookwyrm.storage_backends.ExportsFileStorage, upload_to=''),
+        ),
+        migrations.CreateModel(
+            name='AddFileToTar',
+            fields=[
+                ('childjob_ptr', models.OneToOneField(auto_created=True, on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.CASCADE, parent_link=True, primary_key=True, serialize=False, to='bookwyrm.childjob')),
+                ('parent_export_job', models.ForeignKey(on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.CASCADE, related_name='child_edition_export_jobs', to='bookwyrm.bookwyrmexportjob')),
+            ],
+            options={
+                'abstract': False,
+            },
+            bases=('bookwyrm.childjob',),
+        ),
+        migrations.CreateModel(
+            name='AddBookToUserExportJob',
+            fields=[
+                ('childjob_ptr', models.OneToOneField(auto_created=True, on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.CASCADE, parent_link=True, primary_key=True, serialize=False, to='bookwyrm.childjob')),
+                ('edition', models.ForeignKey(on_delete=django.db.models.deletion.CASCADE, to='bookwyrm.edition')),
+            ],
+            options={
+                'abstract': False,
+            },
+            bases=('bookwyrm.childjob',),
+        ),
+    ]
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/bookwyrm_export_job.py b/bookwyrm/models/bookwyrm_export_job.py
index 1f6085e0c..12a9792e2 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/bookwyrm_export_job.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/bookwyrm_export_job.py
@@ -2,94 +2,347 @@
 
 import dataclasses
 import logging
+import boto3
+from s3_tar import S3Tar
 from uuid import uuid4
 
-from django.db.models import FileField
+from django.db.models import CASCADE, BooleanField, FileField, ForeignKey, JSONField
 from django.db.models import Q
 from django.core.serializers.json import DjangoJSONEncoder
-from django.core.files.base import ContentFile
+from django.core.files.base import ContentFile, File
+from django.utils import timezone
+
+from bookwyrm import settings, storage_backends
 
 from bookwyrm.models import AnnualGoal, ReadThrough, ShelfBook, List, ListItem
 from bookwyrm.models import Review, Comment, Quotation
 from bookwyrm.models import Edition
 from bookwyrm.models import UserFollows, User, UserBlocks
-from bookwyrm.models.job import ParentJob, ParentTask
+from bookwyrm.models.job import ParentJob, ChildJob, ParentTask, SubTask
 from bookwyrm.tasks import app, IMPORTS
 from bookwyrm.utils.tar import BookwyrmTarFile
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-
 class BookwyrmExportJob(ParentJob):
     """entry for a specific request to export a bookwyrm user"""
 
-    export_data = FileField(null=True)
+    if settings.USE_S3:
+        storage = storage_backends.ExportsS3Storage
+    else:
+        storage = storage_backends.ExportsFileStorage
+
+    export_data = FileField(null=True, storage=storage) # use custom storage backend here
+    export_json = JSONField(null=True, encoder=DjangoJSONEncoder)
+    json_completed = BooleanField(default=False)
+
 
     def start_job(self):
         """Start the job"""
-        start_export_task.delay(job_id=self.id, no_children=True)
 
-        return self
+        task = start_export_task.delay(job_id=self.id, no_children=False)
+        self.task_id = task.id
+        self.save(update_fields=["task_id"])
+
+
+    def notify_child_job_complete(self):
+        """let the job know when the items get work done"""
+
+        if self.complete:
+            return
+
+        self.updated_date = timezone.now()
+        self.save(update_fields=["updated_date"])
+
+        if not self.complete and self.has_completed:
+            if not self.json_completed:
+
+                try:
+                    self.json_completed = True
+                    self.save(update_fields=["json_completed"])
+
+                    # add json file to tarfile
+                    tar_job = AddFileToTar.objects.create(
+                        parent_job=self,
+                        parent_export_job=self
+                        )
+                    tar_job.start_job()
+
+                except Exception as err:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+                    logger.exception("job %s failed with error: %s", self.id, err)
+                    tar_job.set_status("failed")
+                    self.stop_job(reason="failed")
+
+            else:
+                self.complete_job()
+
+
+class AddBookToUserExportJob(ChildJob):
+    """append book metadata for each book in an export"""
+
+    edition = ForeignKey(Edition, on_delete=CASCADE)
+
+    def start_job(self):
+        """Start the job"""
+        try:
+
+            book = {}
+            book["work"] = self.edition.parent_work.to_activity()
+            book["edition"] = self.edition.to_activity()
+
+            if book["edition"].get("cover"):
+                # change the URL to be relative to the JSON file
+                filename = book["edition"]["cover"]["url"].rsplit("/", maxsplit=1)[-1]
+                book["edition"]["cover"]["url"] = f"covers/{filename}"
+
+            # authors
+            book["authors"] = []
+            for author in self.edition.authors.all():
+                book["authors"].append(author.to_activity())
+
+            # Shelves this book is on
+            # Every ShelfItem is this book so we don't other serializing
+            book["shelves"] = []
+            shelf_books = (
+                ShelfBook.objects.select_related("shelf")
+                .filter(user=self.parent_job.user, book=self.edition)
+                .distinct()
+            )
+
+            for shelfbook in shelf_books:
+                book["shelves"].append(shelfbook.shelf.to_activity())
+
+            # Lists and ListItems
+            # ListItems include "notes" and "approved" so we need them
+            # even though we know it's this book
+            book["lists"] = []
+            list_items = ListItem.objects.filter(book=self.edition, user=self.parent_job.user).distinct()
+
+            for item in list_items:
+                list_info = item.book_list.to_activity()
+                list_info[
+                    "privacy"
+                ] = item.book_list.privacy  # this isn't serialized so we add it
+                list_info["list_item"] = item.to_activity()
+                book["lists"].append(list_info)
+
+            # Statuses
+            # Can't use select_subclasses here because
+            # we need to filter on the "book" value,
+            # which is not available on an ordinary Status
+            for status in ["comments", "quotations", "reviews"]:
+                book[status] = []
+
+
+            comments = Comment.objects.filter(user=self.parent_job.user, book=self.edition).all()
+            for status in comments:
+                obj = status.to_activity()
+                obj["progress"] = status.progress
+                obj["progress_mode"] = status.progress_mode
+                book["comments"].append(obj)
+
+
+            quotes = Quotation.objects.filter(user=self.parent_job.user, book=self.edition).all()
+            for status in quotes:
+                obj = status.to_activity()
+                obj["position"] = status.position
+                obj["endposition"] = status.endposition
+                obj["position_mode"] = status.position_mode
+                book["quotations"].append(obj)
+
+
+            reviews = Review.objects.filter(user=self.parent_job.user, book=self.edition).all()
+            for status in reviews:
+                obj = status.to_activity()
+                book["reviews"].append(obj)
+
+            # readthroughs can't be serialized to activity
+            book_readthroughs = (
+                ReadThrough.objects.filter(user=self.parent_job.user, book=self.edition).distinct().values()
+            )
+            book["readthroughs"] = list(book_readthroughs)
+
+            self.parent_job.export_json["books"].append(book)
+            self.parent_job.save(update_fields=["export_json"])
+            self.complete_job()
+
+        except Exception as err:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+            logger.exception("AddBookToUserExportJob %s Failed with error: %s", self.id, err)
+            self.set_status("failed")
+
+
+class AddFileToTar(ChildJob):
+    """add files to export"""
+
+    parent_export_job = ForeignKey(
+        BookwyrmExportJob, on_delete=CASCADE, related_name="child_edition_export_jobs"
+    ) # TODO: do we actually need this? Does self.parent_job.export_data work?
+
+
+    def start_job(self):
+        """Start the job"""
+
+        # NOTE we are doing this all in one big job, which has the potential to block a thread
+        # This is because we need to refer to the same s3_job or BookwyrmTarFile whilst writing
+        # Alternatives using a series of jobs in a loop would be beter
+        # but Hugh couldn't make that work
+
+        try:
+            task_id=self.parent_export_job.task_id
+            export_data = self.parent_export_job.export_data
+            export_json = self.parent_export_job.export_json
+            json_data = DjangoJSONEncoder().encode(export_json)
+            user = self.parent_export_job.user
+            editions = get_books_for_user(user)
+
+            if settings.USE_S3:
+                s3_job = S3Tar(
+                    settings.AWS_STORAGE_BUCKET_NAME,
+                    f"exports/{str(self.parent_export_job.task_id)}.tar.gz"
+                )
+
+                # TODO: either encrypt the file or we will need to get it to the user
+                # from this secure part of the bucket
+                export_data.save("archive.json", ContentFile(json_data.encode("utf-8")))
+
+                s3_job.add_file(
+                    f"exports/{export_data.name}"
+                )
+                s3_job.add_file(
+                    f"images/{user.avatar.name}",
+                    folder="avatar"
+                )
+                for book in editions:
+                    if getattr(book, "cover", False):
+                        cover_name = f"images/{book.cover.name}"
+                        s3_job.add_file(
+                            cover_name,
+                            folder="covers"
+                        )
+
+                s3_job.tar()
+                # delete export json as soon as it's tarred
+                # there is probably a better way to do this
+                # Currently this merely makes the file empty
+                export_data.delete(save=False)
+
+            else:
+                # TODO: is the export_data file open to the world?
+                logger.info( "export file URL: %s",export_data.url)
+
+                export_data.open("wb")
+                with BookwyrmTarFile.open(mode="w:gz", fileobj=export_data) as tar:
+
+                    tar.write_bytes(json_data.encode("utf-8"))
+
+                    # Add avatar image if present
+                    if getattr(user, "avatar", False):
+                        tar.add_image(user.avatar, filename="avatar", directory=f"avatar/") # TODO: does this work?
+
+                    for book in editions:
+                        if getattr(book, "cover", False):
+                            tar.add_image(book.cover)
+
+                export_data.close()
+
+
+            self.complete_job()
+
+        except Exception as err:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+            logger.exception("AddFileToTar %s Failed with error: %s", self.id, err)
+            self.stop_job(reason="failed")
+            self.parent_job.stop_job(reason="failed")
 
 
 @app.task(queue=IMPORTS, base=ParentTask)
 def start_export_task(**kwargs):
-    """trigger the child tasks for each row"""
+    """trigger the child tasks for user export"""
+
     job = BookwyrmExportJob.objects.get(id=kwargs["job_id"])
 
     # don't start the job if it was stopped from the UI
     if job.complete:
         return
     try:
-        # This is where ChildJobs get made
+
+        # prepare the initial file and base json
         job.export_data = ContentFile(b"", str(uuid4()))
-        json_data = json_export(job.user)
-        tar_export(json_data, job.user, job.export_data)
-        job.save(update_fields=["export_data"])
+        job.export_json = job.user.to_activity()
+        job.save(update_fields=["export_data", "export_json"])
+
+        # let's go
+        json_export.delay(job_id=job.id, job_user=job.user.id, no_children=False)
+
     except Exception as err:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
         logger.exception("User Export Job %s Failed with error: %s", job.id, err)
         job.set_status("failed")
 
-    job.set_status("complete")
+@app.task(queue=IMPORTS, base=ParentTask)
+def export_saved_lists_task(**kwargs):
+    """add user saved lists to export JSON"""
+
+    job = BookwyrmExportJob.objects.get(id=kwargs["job_id"])
+    saved_lists = List.objects.filter(id__in=job.user.saved_lists.all()).distinct()
+    job.export_json["saved_lists"] = [l.remote_id for l in saved_lists]
+    job.save(update_fields=["export_json"])
 
 
-def tar_export(json_data: str, user, file):
-    """wrap the export information in a tar file"""
-    file.open("wb")
-    with BookwyrmTarFile.open(mode="w:gz", fileobj=file) as tar:
-        tar.write_bytes(json_data.encode("utf-8"))
+@app.task(queue=IMPORTS, base=ParentTask)
+def export_follows_task(**kwargs):
+    """add user follows to export JSON"""
 
-        # Add avatar image if present
-        if getattr(user, "avatar", False):
-            tar.add_image(user.avatar, filename="avatar")
-
-        editions = get_books_for_user(user)
-        for book in editions:
-            if getattr(book, "cover", False):
-                tar.add_image(book.cover)
-
-    file.close()
+    job = BookwyrmExportJob.objects.get(id=kwargs["job_id"])
+    follows = UserFollows.objects.filter(user_subject=job.user).distinct()
+    following = User.objects.filter(userfollows_user_object__in=follows).distinct()
+    job.export_json["follows"] = [f.remote_id for f in following]
+    job.save(update_fields=["export_json"])
 
 
-def json_export(
-    user,
-):  # pylint: disable=too-many-locals, too-many-statements, too-many-branches
+@app.task(queue=IMPORTS, base=ParentTask)
+def export_blocks_task(**kwargs):
+    """add user blocks to export JSON"""
+
+    job = BookwyrmExportJob.objects.get(id=kwargs["job_id"])
+    blocks = UserBlocks.objects.filter(user_subject=job.user).distinct()
+    blocking = User.objects.filter(userblocks_user_object__in=blocks).distinct()
+    job.export_json["blocks"] = [b.remote_id for b in blocking]
+    job.save(update_fields=["export_json"])
+
+
+@app.task(queue=IMPORTS, base=ParentTask)
+def export_reading_goals_task(**kwargs):
+    """add user reading goals to export JSON"""
+
+    job = BookwyrmExportJob.objects.get(id=kwargs["job_id"])
+    reading_goals = AnnualGoal.objects.filter(user=job.user).distinct()
+    job.export_json["goals"] = []
+    for goal in reading_goals:
+        exported_user["goals"].append(
+            {"goal": goal.goal, "year": goal.year, "privacy": goal.privacy}
+        )
+    job.save(update_fields=["export_json"])
+
+
+@app.task(queue=IMPORTS, base=ParentTask)
+def json_export(**kwargs):
     """Generate an export for a user"""
 
-    # User as AP object
-    exported_user = user.to_activity()
+    job = BookwyrmExportJob.objects.get(id=kwargs["job_id"])
+    job.set_status("active")
+    job_id = kwargs["job_id"]
+
     # I don't love this but it prevents a JSON encoding error
     # when there is no user image
     if isinstance(
-        exported_user["icon"],
+        job.export_json["icon"],
         dataclasses._MISSING_TYPE,  # pylint: disable=protected-access
     ):
-        exported_user["icon"] = {}
+        job.export_json["icon"] = {}
     else:
         # change the URL to be relative to the JSON file
-        file_type = exported_user["icon"]["url"].rsplit(".", maxsplit=1)[-1]
+        file_type = job.export_json["icon"]["url"].rsplit(".", maxsplit=1)[-1]
         filename = f"avatar.{file_type}"
-        exported_user["icon"]["url"] = filename
+        job.export_json["icon"]["url"] = filename
 
     # Additional settings - can't be serialized as AP
     vals = [
@@ -98,120 +351,45 @@ def json_export(
         "default_post_privacy",
         "show_suggested_users",
     ]
-    exported_user["settings"] = {}
+    job.export_json["settings"] = {}
     for k in vals:
-        exported_user["settings"][k] = getattr(user, k)
+        job.export_json["settings"][k] = getattr(job.user, k)
 
-    # Reading goals - can't be serialized as AP
-    reading_goals = AnnualGoal.objects.filter(user=user).distinct()
-    exported_user["goals"] = []
-    for goal in reading_goals:
-        exported_user["goals"].append(
-            {"goal": goal.goal, "year": goal.year, "privacy": goal.privacy}
-        )
+    job.export_json["books"] = []
 
-    # Reading history - can't be serialized as AP
-    readthroughs = ReadThrough.objects.filter(user=user).distinct().values()
-    readthroughs = list(readthroughs)
+    # save settings we just updated
+    job.save(update_fields=["export_json"])
 
-    # Books
-    editions = get_books_for_user(user)
-    exported_user["books"] = []
+    # trigger subtasks
+    export_saved_lists_task.delay(job_id=job_id, no_children=False)
+    export_follows_task.delay(job_id=job_id, no_children=False)
+    export_blocks_task.delay(job_id=job_id, no_children=False)
+    trigger_books_jobs.delay(job_id=job_id, no_children=False)
 
-    for edition in editions:
-        book = {}
-        book["work"] = edition.parent_work.to_activity()
-        book["edition"] = edition.to_activity()
 
-        if book["edition"].get("cover"):
-            # change the URL to be relative to the JSON file
-            filename = book["edition"]["cover"]["url"].rsplit("/", maxsplit=1)[-1]
-            book["edition"]["cover"]["url"] = f"covers/{filename}"
+@app.task(queue=IMPORTS, base=ParentTask)
+def trigger_books_jobs(**kwargs):
+    """trigger tasks to get data for each book"""
 
-        # authors
-        book["authors"] = []
-        for author in edition.authors.all():
-            book["authors"].append(author.to_activity())
+    try:
+        job = BookwyrmExportJob.objects.get(id=kwargs["job_id"])
+        editions = get_books_for_user(job.user)
 
-        # Shelves this book is on
-        # Every ShelfItem is this book so we don't other serializing
-        book["shelves"] = []
-        shelf_books = (
-            ShelfBook.objects.select_related("shelf")
-            .filter(user=user, book=edition)
-            .distinct()
-        )
+        if len(editions) == 0:
+            job.notify_child_job_complete()
+            return
 
-        for shelfbook in shelf_books:
-            book["shelves"].append(shelfbook.shelf.to_activity())
-
-        # Lists and ListItems
-        # ListItems include "notes" and "approved" so we need them
-        # even though we know it's this book
-        book["lists"] = []
-        list_items = ListItem.objects.filter(book=edition, user=user).distinct()
-
-        for item in list_items:
-            list_info = item.book_list.to_activity()
-            list_info[
-                "privacy"
-            ] = item.book_list.privacy  # this isn't serialized so we add it
-            list_info["list_item"] = item.to_activity()
-            book["lists"].append(list_info)
-
-        # Statuses
-        # Can't use select_subclasses here because
-        # we need to filter on the "book" value,
-        # which is not available on an ordinary Status
-        for status in ["comments", "quotations", "reviews"]:
-            book[status] = []
-
-        comments = Comment.objects.filter(user=user, book=edition).all()
-        for status in comments:
-            obj = status.to_activity()
-            obj["progress"] = status.progress
-            obj["progress_mode"] = status.progress_mode
-            book["comments"].append(obj)
-
-        quotes = Quotation.objects.filter(user=user, book=edition).all()
-        for status in quotes:
-            obj = status.to_activity()
-            obj["position"] = status.position
-            obj["endposition"] = status.endposition
-            obj["position_mode"] = status.position_mode
-            book["quotations"].append(obj)
-
-        reviews = Review.objects.filter(user=user, book=edition).all()
-        for status in reviews:
-            obj = status.to_activity()
-            book["reviews"].append(obj)
-
-        # readthroughs can't be serialized to activity
-        book_readthroughs = (
-            ReadThrough.objects.filter(user=user, book=edition).distinct().values()
-        )
-        book["readthroughs"] = list(book_readthroughs)
-
-        # append everything
-        exported_user["books"].append(book)
-
-    # saved book lists - just the remote id
-    saved_lists = List.objects.filter(id__in=user.saved_lists.all()).distinct()
-    exported_user["saved_lists"] = [l.remote_id for l in saved_lists]
-
-    # follows - just the remote id
-    follows = UserFollows.objects.filter(user_subject=user).distinct()
-    following = User.objects.filter(userfollows_user_object__in=follows).distinct()
-    exported_user["follows"] = [f.remote_id for f in following]
-
-    # blocks - just the remote id
-    blocks = UserBlocks.objects.filter(user_subject=user).distinct()
-    blocking = User.objects.filter(userblocks_user_object__in=blocks).distinct()
-
-    exported_user["blocks"] = [b.remote_id for b in blocking]
-
-    return DjangoJSONEncoder().encode(exported_user)
+        for edition in editions:
+            try:
+                edition_job = AddBookToUserExportJob.objects.create(edition=edition, parent_job=job)
+                edition_job.start_job()
+            except Exception as err:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+                logger.exception("AddBookToUserExportJob %s Failed with error: %s", edition_job.id, err)
+                edition_job.set_status("failed")
 
+    except Exception as err:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+        logger.exception("trigger_books_jobs %s Failed with error: %s", job.id, err)
+        job.set_status("failed")
 
 def get_books_for_user(user):
     """Get all the books and editions related to a user"""
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/job.py b/bookwyrm/models/job.py
index 4f5cb2093..5a2653571 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/job.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/job.py
@@ -135,8 +135,7 @@ class ParentJob(Job):
         )
         app.control.revoke(list(tasks))
 
-        for task in self.pending_child_jobs:
-            task.update(status=self.Status.STOPPED)
+        self.pending_child_jobs.update(status=self.Status.STOPPED)
 
     @property
     def has_completed(self):
@@ -248,7 +247,7 @@ class SubTask(app.Task):
     """
 
     def before_start(
-        self, task_id, args, kwargs
+        self, task_id, *args, **kwargs
     ):  # pylint: disable=no-self-use, unused-argument
         """Handler called before the task starts. Override.
 
@@ -272,7 +271,7 @@ class SubTask(app.Task):
         child_job.set_status(ChildJob.Status.ACTIVE)
 
     def on_success(
-        self, retval, task_id, args, kwargs
+        self, retval, task_id, *args, **kwargs
     ):  # pylint: disable=no-self-use, unused-argument
         """Run by the worker if the task executes successfully. Override.
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/settings.py b/bookwyrm/settings.py
index fcc91857a..7896850e3 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/settings.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/settings.py
@@ -442,3 +442,4 @@ if HTTP_X_FORWARDED_PROTO:
 # Do not change this setting unless you already have an existing
 # user with the same username - in which case you should change it!
 INSTANCE_ACTOR_USERNAME = "bookwyrm.instance.actor"
+DATA_UPLOAD_MAX_MEMORY_SIZE = (1024**2 * 20) # 20MB TEMPORARY FIX WHILST WORKING ON THIS
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/bookwyrm/storage_backends.py b/bookwyrm/storage_backends.py
index 6dd9f522c..c97b4e848 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/storage_backends.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/storage_backends.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """Handles backends for storages"""
 import os
 from tempfile import SpooledTemporaryFile
+from django.core.files.storage import FileSystemStorage
 from storages.backends.s3boto3 import S3Boto3Storage
 from storages.backends.azure_storage import AzureStorage
 
@@ -61,3 +62,16 @@ class AzureImagesStorage(AzureStorage):  # pylint: disable=abstract-method
 
     location = "images"
     overwrite_files = False
+
+class ExportsFileStorage(FileSystemStorage):  # pylint: disable=abstract-method
+    """Storage class for exports contents with local files"""
+
+    location = "exports"
+    overwrite_files = False
+
+class ExportsS3Storage(S3Boto3Storage):  # pylint: disable=abstract-method
+    """Storage class for exports contents with S3"""
+
+    location = "exports"
+    default_acl = None
+    overwrite_files = False
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/bookwyrm/templatetags/utilities.py b/bookwyrm/templatetags/utilities.py
index fca66688a..754db41dd 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templatetags/utilities.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/templatetags/utilities.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
 from django.templatetags.static import static
 
 from bookwyrm.models import User
-from bookwyrm.settings import INSTANCE_ACTOR_USERNAME
+from bookwyrm.settings import INSTANCE_ACTOR_USERNAME, USE_S3
 
 register = template.Library()
 
@@ -133,15 +133,22 @@ def get_file_size(file):
     """display the size of a file in human readable terms"""
 
     try:
-        raw_size = os.stat(file.path).st_size
-        if raw_size < 1024:
-            return f"{raw_size} bytes"
-        if raw_size < 1024**2:
-            return f"{raw_size/1024:.2f} KB"
-        if raw_size < 1024**3:
-            return f"{raw_size/1024**2:.2f} MB"
-        return f"{raw_size/1024**3:.2f} GB"
-    except Exception:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+        # TODO: this obviously isn't a proper solution
+        # boto storages do not implement 'path'
+        if not USE_S3:
+            raw_size = os.stat(file.path).st_size
+            if raw_size < 1024:
+                return f"{raw_size} bytes"
+            if raw_size < 1024**2:
+                return f"{raw_size/1024:.2f} KB"
+            if raw_size < 1024**3:
+                return f"{raw_size/1024**2:.2f} MB"
+            return f"{raw_size/1024**3:.2f} GB"
+
+        return ""
+
+    except Exception as e:  # pylint: disable=broad-except
+        print(e)
         return ""
 
 
diff --git a/exports/6ee95f7f-58cd-4bff-9d41-1ac2b3db6187 b/exports/6ee95f7f-58cd-4bff-9d41-1ac2b3db6187
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d7166b703
Binary files /dev/null and b/exports/6ee95f7f-58cd-4bff-9d41-1ac2b3db6187 differ
diff --git a/exports/ba15a57f-e29e-4a29-aaf4-306b66960273 b/exports/ba15a57f-e29e-4a29-aaf4-306b66960273
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..318069303
Binary files /dev/null and b/exports/ba15a57f-e29e-4a29-aaf4-306b66960273 differ
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 6509effc7..31e59e8ef 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ opentelemetry-sdk==1.16.0
 protobuf==3.20.*
 pyotp==2.8.0
 qrcode==7.3.1
+s3-tar==0.1.13
 
 # Dev
 pytest-django==4.1.0