Common Issues
general
File Upload Not Working in My AI App
Users try to upload files (images, documents, etc.) and the upload fails, shows an error, takes forever, or the file seems to upload successfully but then disappears or can't be accessed.
Error Messages You Might See
413 Payload Too Large
Failed to fetch
Storage object not found
Bucket not found
Permission denied
Common Causes
- File size exceeds the server or hosting platform's limit
- Storage bucket not configured or permissions wrong
- Upload saves to local filesystem which doesn't persist on serverless platforms
- CORS blocking the upload request to the storage service
- File type validation rejecting valid files
How to Fix It
- Check the browser Network tab for the upload request — see the error response
- Try uploading a very small file (under 1MB) to rule out size limits
- Verify your storage configuration (Supabase Storage, S3, etc.) is correct in production
- Check storage bucket permissions — uploads need write access
- If using serverless hosting, make sure you're uploading to cloud storage, not the local filesystem
Real developers can help you.
Describe what's wrong in plain English. No technical knowledge needed.
Get HelpFrequently Asked Questions
Files upload but then disappear. What's happening?
Your app is probably saving files to the server's local filesystem, which gets wiped on each deploy. You need to use cloud storage (Supabase Storage, S3, etc.) instead.
Upload works for small files but fails for large ones. Why?
There's likely a file size limit on the server, hosting platform, or in the code. A developer can increase the limits and add proper large file handling.