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.
Jared Hasson
Full time lead founding dev at a cyber security saas startup, with 10 yoe and a bachelor's in CS. Building & debugging software products is what I've spent my time on for forever
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Hi Im a full stack developer, a vibe coded MVP to Market ready product, I'm here to help
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I got a lot of experience in building Long-horizon AI Agents in production, Backend apps that scale to millions of users and frontend knowledge as well.
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I am a technologist and product builder dedicated to creating high-impact solutions at the intersection of AI and specialized markets. Currently, I am focused on PropScan (EstateGuard), an AI-driven SaaS platform tailored for the Japanese real estate industry, and exploring the potential of Archify.
As an INFJ-T, I approach development with a "systems-thinking" mindset—balancing technical precision with a deep understanding of user needs. I particularly enjoy the challenge of architecting Vertical AI SaaS and optimizing Small Language Models (SLMs) to solve specific, real-world business problems. Whether I'm in a CTO-level leadership role or hands-on with the code, I thrive on building tools that turn complex data into actionable value.
Sage Fulcher
Hey I'm Sage! Im a Boston area software engineer who grew up in South Florida. Ive worked at a ton of cool places like a telehealth kidney care startup that took part in a billion dollar merger (Cricket health/Interwell health), a boutique design agency where I got to work on a ton of exciting startups including a photography education app, a collegiate Esports league and more (Philosophie), a data analytics as a service startup in Cambridge (MA) as well as at Phillips and MIT Lincoln Lab where I designed and developed novel network security visualizations and analytics. I've been writing code and furiously devoted to using computers to make people’s lives easier for about 17 years. My degree is in making computers make pretty lights and sounds. Outside of work I love hip hop, the Celtics, professional wrestling, magic the gathering, photography, drumming, and guitars (both making and playing them)
Jen Jacobsen
I’m a Full-Stack Developer with over 10 years of experience building modern web and mobile applications. I enjoy working across the full product lifecycle — turning ideas into real, well-built products that are intuitive for users and scalable for businesses.
I particularly enjoy building mobile apps, modern web platforms, and solving complex technical problems in a way that keeps systems clean, reliable, and easy to maintain.
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- Founder of Chessigma (1M+ users) & many small projects
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I'm enthusiastic about embracing new challenges and making meaningful contributions.
Rudra Bhikadiya
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Comfortable jumping into messy code, broken APIs, and mysterious bugs.
If your project works in theory but not in reality, I help close that gap.
Jaime Orts-Caroff
I'm a Senior Android developer, open to work in various fields
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.