Attachments
Share files with the AI in chat for analysis, summarization, and data extraction. Attach a contract and ask for the deadlines, attach a spreadsheet and ask for the top rows, attach a meeting recording and ask for the action items.
How to Attach
There are three ways to add files to a message. All three work the same way afterwards.
| Way | How |
|---|---|
| Upload File | Click the + button (tooltip: Add File), choose Upload File, and pick one file or several at once |
| Upload Folder | Click the + button, choose Upload Folder, and pick a folder — the files inside it are attached |
| Drag and drop | Drag files from your computer onto the message box. A "Drop files here" overlay appears; release to attach |
Then:
- Wait for processing — each file appears as a chip under the message box with a spinner, then a green ✓ when it is ready
- Type your message and send
Files are uploaded one after another, so a large selection takes a moment. While that happens the + button shows a loading animation and an "Uploading..." chip is shown.
:::info Some files may be skipped If part of a selection cannot be attached, the rest still is. A message tells you what happened — "{ok}/{total} files uploaded. Failed: …", or "Upload failed: …" when nothing could be attached — followed by the name of each file that was left out and the reason. This is common with Upload Folder, because a folder can contain file types that are not supported. :::
You don't need to start the conversation first. If you attach a file on the home screen, the conversation is created for you — just make sure an assistant is selected, otherwise you'll see "Please select an assistant first".
Who can attach, download and remove
Attaching files in chat depends on your role's permissions:
- Upload File and Upload Folder appear in the + menu only if your role allows uploading in chat. Without that permission, dropping files onto the message box does nothing.
- The × on a file chip appears only if your role allows removing attachments.
- A download icon (tooltip: Download attachment) appears on file chips only if your role allows downloading chat attachments. By default this is open to Admins. Your organization can also give it to other people through a custom role — see Roles & Permissions.
File Status
Every file you have attached but not yet sent appears as a chip under the message box, showing its icon, name, and size. The newest file comes first. The status indicator on the chip tells you whether the file is ready.
| Indicator | Meaning | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Spinning circle | The file is still being processed | Wait for the green ✓ before sending |
| Green ✓ | The file is ready and will be included in your message | Send your message |
| Amber warning | Processing failed. Hover the icon to see the reason | Remove the file and try attaching it again |
Only files with the green ✓ are included when you send. If a file is still processing, it is left out and you'll see a notice: "{n} file(s) still processing and excluded from message. Wait for the green ✓ indicator." Wait for the check mark, then send again.
To remove a file before sending, click the × on its chip (tooltip: Remove attachment).
Once you send, the chips leave the area under the message box and the files are shown as small file chips on your message instead.
Supported Types
| Category | Formats | What the AI does with it |
|---|---|---|
| Documents | PDF, Word (.doc, .docx), PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx) | Reads the text and structure |
| Spreadsheets | Excel (.xls, .xlsx), CSV | Reads the rows and columns |
| Text | TXT, Markdown (.md) | Reads the content |
| Images | PNG, JPG/JPEG, GIF, WEBP | Reads the text in the image automatically |
| Audio | MP3, WAV, M4A, MP4 audio, OGG, FLAC, WEBM | Transcribes the speech to text automatically |
The file picker only offers these types. A file of another type — for example one inside a folder you upload, or one you drag in — is not attached, and is listed in the upload message with the reason "This file cannot be used."
Limits
| Limit | Value | What happens if you exceed it |
|---|---|---|
| Size per file | 50 MB | The file is not attached and is listed in the upload message |
| Files per conversation | 100 | Further files are not attached and are listed with the reason "Too many files were selected." |
| Organization storage | Your organization has an overall storage limit for chat files | Files are not attached and are listed with the reason "You have reached your usage limit." |
Reached the 100-file limit? Start a new conversation for the next batch. The limit counts every file added to the conversation, including the ones you have already sent.
What You Can Ask
- "Summarize this document in 3 bullet points"
- "Extract all deadlines mentioned in this contract"
- "What are the top 5 rows by revenue in this spreadsheet?"
- "Read the text in this scanned image"
- "List the action items from this meeting recording"
- "Compare these two documents and tell me what changed"
Summarize File
While a file is attached and waiting under the message box, the Tools menu offers Summarize File (if the assistant is allowed to read documents). Choose it, optionally type what to focus on, and send — the assistant reads the whole file before summarizing it. See Using AI Tools.
Attachments stay in the conversation, so you can keep asking about them in later messages — you don't need to re-attach the same file.
Important Notes
- Attachments belong to the conversation — reference them in follow-up messages without re-uploading
- Files in one chat aren't visible in another — attach them again if you switch conversations
- They're not saved to My Documents — if you want to keep a file in your document library, upload it there separately (see Uploading Documents)
- Processing has a time limit — if a file gets stuck, it stops after about five minutes: the chip shows the amber warning with "Processing timed out. Please try uploading again.", and a notice says the file could not be processed
Don't share sensitive personal information through attachments unless your organization's policies allow it.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The AI ignored my file | The file was still processing when you sent | Wait for the green ✓, then send again |
| Amber warning on the chip | The file could not be processed | Remove it and attach it again, or try a different format |
| There is no Upload File or Upload Folder in the + menu | Your role does not allow uploading in chat | Ask your admin |
| "Upload failed: …" or "{ok}/{total} files uploaded. Failed: …" | Some or all files could not be attached | Read the reason next to each file name |
| "This file cannot be used." | The format isn't supported | Convert the file to a supported format (see the table above) |
| A file over 50 MB is listed as failed | The file is too large | Split it or compress it, then attach again |
| "Too many files were selected." | The conversation has reached 100 files | Start a new conversation |
| "Please select an assistant first" | No assistant is selected yet | Pick an assistant, then attach the file |
| "Processing timed out..." | Processing stalled | Attach the file again |
| No Summarize File in the Tools menu | No file is waiting under the message box, or the assistant cannot read documents | Attach a file first, or try another assistant |
Related Pages
- Starting a Chat — the chat input and its buttons
- Using AI Tools — the Tools menu, including Summarize File
- Artifacts & Documents — files the AI creates for you
- Uploading Documents — keep files in My Documents instead
- Supported Formats — formats for the document library