Uploading Files to a Conversation
Share documents, images, and other files with agents for analysis and reference.
When to Upload Files
Upload files when you want an agent to:
- Analyze data in spreadsheets or CSV files
- Answer questions about document content
- Process or transform data
- Generate visualizations from your data
- Extract information from images
- Reference specific files in responses
Note: Not all agents support file uploads. The upload feature only appears if the agent is configured to accept files.
Prerequisites
Before uploading files:
- Agent must support uploads: Check if the paperclip icon appears in the chat input
- Supported file format: Your file must be in a format the agent can process
- File size limits: Files must be within size limits set by your administrator
Supported File Types
Common supported formats include:
| Category | File Types |
|---|---|
| Documents | PDF, DOCX, DOC, TXT, MD, RTF |
| Spreadsheets | XLSX, XLS, CSV, TSV |
| Images | PNG, JPG, JPEG, GIF, BMP, TIFF |
| Code Files | PY, JS, TS, JSON, XML, HTML, CSS |
| Archives | ZIP, TAR |
| Presentations | PPTX, PPT |
Note: Supported types vary by agent configuration. Some agents may support additional formats or have restrictions.
How to Upload Files
Step 1: Open the Upload Panel
- Look for the paperclip icon (📎) to the left of the message input box
- Click the paperclip to open the file upload panel
- A badge on the icon shows how many files are currently attached
Step 2: Select Files
You have two options:
From Your Computer
- Click Select file from Computer
- Browse to find your file
- Select one or more files
- Click Open
From OneDrive (If Available)
- If you see Connect to OneDrive, click it first
- Authorize access to your OneDrive
- Click Select file from OneDrive
- Browse and select files from your OneDrive
- The OneDrive picker shows your available files
Step 3: Review Selected Files
Before uploading, selected files appear in the panel with:
| Information | Description |
|---|---|
| File name | The name of your file |
| File size | Size displayed for local files |
| Source badge | "Local Computer" or "OneDrive Work/School" |
| Status badge | "Pending" (not yet uploaded) |
| Remove button | X button to remove the file |
Step 4: Upload the Files
- Review your selected files
- Click the Upload button
- A progress bar shows upload status
- Wait for "Uploaded" badges to appear
- Successfully uploaded files show a green "Uploaded" badge
Step 5: Close the Panel
- Click Close to close the upload panel
- The paperclip badge shows your total attached files
- Send a message to start working with the files
Managing Uploaded Files
Viewing Attached Files
- Click the paperclip icon to see all files for the current conversation
- Files are listed with their status and source
Removing Files
To remove a file before sending a message:
- Open the upload panel (click paperclip)
- Find the file you want to remove
- Click the X button next to the file
- Confirm removal if prompted
File Persistence
- Uploaded files are attached to the current conversation
- They remain available throughout the conversation
- Starting a new conversation clears the attachment list
OneDrive Integration
If your organization has enabled OneDrive integration:
Connecting OneDrive
- Click Connect to OneDrive in the upload panel
- Sign in with your work or school account
- Grant necessary permissions
- Once connected, you'll see Select file from OneDrive
Selecting from OneDrive
- Click Select file from OneDrive
- A file picker opens showing your OneDrive contents
- Navigate to find your file
- Select one or more files
- Confirm your selection
Disconnecting OneDrive
- Open the upload panel
- Click Disconnect OneDrive
- Your OneDrive access is revoked
- You can reconnect anytime
After Uploading
Once files are uploaded:
Referencing Files
- Simply mention the file in your message
- Ask questions about the content
- Request analysis or processing
Example Prompts
- "Analyze the sales data in the uploaded spreadsheet"
- "Summarize the key points from the uploaded document"
- "What trends do you see in this CSV file?"
- "Extract all email addresses from the uploaded text file"
- "Create a chart from the data I uploaded"
How Agents Use Files
Agents process uploaded files by:
- Extracting text and data content
- Making the content available for reference
- Using the information to answer your questions
- Potentially generating new files based on your data
File Size Limits
Limits vary by configuration:
| Consideration | Typical Behavior |
|---|---|
| Per-file limit | Usually 10-50 MB per file |
| Total per message | Often limited to 10 files |
| Large files | May take longer to process |
Check with your administrator for specific limits in your environment.
Troubleshooting
Paperclip Icon Not Showing
- The current agent doesn't support file uploads
- Try selecting a different agent
- Contact your administrator if you need upload capability
Upload Fails
- Check that the file is within size limits
- Verify the file format is supported
- Try a different file to isolate the issue
- Check your internet connection
File Format Not Accepted
- Convert the file to a supported format
- PDF is widely supported for documents
- CSV works well for data files
- PNG or JPEG for images
OneDrive Connection Issues
- Ensure you have a work/school OneDrive account
- Check that your organization allows OneDrive integration
- Try disconnecting and reconnecting
- Clear browser cache and try again
File Not Being Referenced
If the agent doesn't seem to see your file:
- Make sure the upload completed (shows "Uploaded" badge)
- Reference the file specifically in your message
- Upload may need to complete before sending your question
- Try asking "What files do I have uploaded?"
Progress Bar Stuck
- Check your internet connection
- Wait a moment — large files take time
- If stuck for a long time, refresh the page and try again
- Very large files may timeout
Files Missing After Refresh
- Uploaded files are tied to the current conversation
- Switching agents clears attachments
- Re-upload files if needed after refreshing
Tips for Better Results
Prepare Your Files
- Remove unnecessary data from spreadsheets
- Use clear column headers
- Ensure text is readable (not scanned images of text)
- Smaller, focused files process faster
Be Specific in Your Questions
- Reference the file by name if you have multiple
- Specify what analysis or output you want
- Ask about specific columns, sections, or data
Multiple Files
- Upload related files together
- Mention how files relate to each other
- Consider combining data into one file if appropriate
Sensitive Data
- Be mindful of what data you upload
- Uploaded files are processed by AI systems
- Follow your organization's data handling policies
Related Topics
- Downloading Files from a Conversation — Save files agents generate
- Using the Code Interpreter Tool — Analyze uploaded data
- Using the Knowledge Tool — Search uploaded documents