# 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.

Canonical page: https://themachine.myapps.ai/docs/desktop/chat/attachments

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

![The message box with an image and a PDF attached and a request typed](/images/docs/desktop/attachments.webp)

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](/docs/desktop/cloud-computer/files),
> or on a folder in the [Live view](/docs/desktop/live/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](/docs/desktop/this-pc/overview) 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](/docs/desktop/chat/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](/docs/desktop/this-pc/overview) 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](/docs/desktop/cloud-computer/files).

## 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](/docs/desktop/this-pc/overview).

**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.