Attachments
Give a bot files to work with. How to attach, which file types and sizes work, what happens to your files, and how to view and save files a bot makes.
Attach files to give a bot something to work with: a document to summarize, a spreadsheet to clean up, a screenshot of a problem, a recording to transcribe.
Attach a file
Three ways:
- Click the paperclip in the message box and choose one or more files.
- Drag files from your computer onto the message box. The box shows Drop here to attach; let go there.
- Paste an image, like a screenshot, with Ctrl+V (⌘V on Mac).
Each file shows as a chip above the message box. Hover a chip and click × to remove it. Images show Uploading… until they're ready; click one to preview it.
Then type what you want done with the file and send.
Drop on the message box, not the rest of the window
Only a drop on the message box attaches a file to your message. Dropping files on the file list of the bot's computer, or on a folder in the Live view, uploads them straight onto the bot's computer instead, without sending a message.
What you can attach
| Type | Formats | Size limit |
|---|---|---|
| Images | PNG, JPEG, GIF, WebP | 10 MB each |
| Documents | Text, Markdown, CSV, TSV, JSON, PDF, RTF, Word (.doc, .docx), Excel (.xls, .xlsx), PowerPoint (.ppt, .pptx), OpenDocument (.odt, .ods, .odp) | 25 MB each |
| Audio | MP3, M4A, AAC, WAV, FLAC, OGG, Opus, WebM | 25 MB each |
| Video | MP4, MOV, MKV, AVI, WMV, M4V | 100 MB each |
If a file can't be attached, you'll see "Unable to attach…" with the reason. Zip files and code files aren't supported as attachments in cloud threads. Ask the bot to download them instead, or use a This PC thread, where the bot can open files on your computer directly.
What happens to your files
| What | What happens |
|---|---|
| Every file | Is copied onto the bot's computer, into a folder called uploads in its workspace. The bot opens it there with its tools: it can read a PDF, edit a spreadsheet, or convert a video. |
| Images | Are also shown to the AI directly, so it can see them. Great for screenshots, photos, charts, and designs. |
| Audio and video | Are listened to or watched for the bot, so it knows what's in them. You'll see Listening to your audio… or Watching your video…. |
Because files go onto the thread's computer, they stay available for the rest of that thread. You can refer back to them later: "Use the spreadsheet I sent earlier."
Pasting long text
If you paste a lot of text (about 900 characters or 12 lines and up), it becomes a PASTED chip instead of filling the message box. The chip shows a preview and the size. Click Display in chat box to turn it back into normal text.
Examples
Here's last quarter's expenses (attached). Group them by category, chart the totals, and save the chart as expenses.png.
This screenshot shows an error in our app. What's wrong, and how do I fix it?
Transcribe the attached interview and pull out the five most quotable lines.
Turn the attached slides into a one-page summary for someone who missed the meeting.
Viewing attachments in the chat
- Images: click one to open the viewer. Use ← and → to move between images, Download or Open original, and Esc to close. Annotate a region lets you mark part of the image. See Message actions.
- Audio and video play right in the chat. Video has a Full screen button.
- Messages with many attachments show a gallery: Show N more reveals the rest.
Saving files a bot made
When a bot mentions a file it made, the file appears as a chip in the reply. Click Save a copy to download it. It shows Downloaded when done. On a This PC thread, a file that's already on your computer also has Show in folder, which opens the folder it's in.
Videos a bot links show Load video first, so they only download when you want them.
To see every file a bot has made, open the bot's computer.
Common questions
Can a bot open a link instead of a file? Yes. Paste the link in your message and the bot can open it on its computer.
Is there a limit to how many files I can attach? Each file must be under its size limit. For many files, consider zipping them up and asking the bot to download them, or use This PC.
Do attachments cost extra? Large files mean the bot reads more, which uses more of your balance. Images and long documents cost more than short text.