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
413 Payload Too LargeFailed to fetchStorage object not foundBucket not foundPermission 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

  1. Check the browser Network tab for the upload request — see the error response
  2. Try uploading a very small file (under 1MB) to rule out size limits
  3. Verify your storage configuration (Supabase Storage, S3, etc.) is correct in production
  4. Check storage bucket permissions — uploads need write access
  5. If using serverless hosting, make sure you're uploading to cloud storage, not the local filesystem

Real developers can help you.

ISHANTDEEP SINGH ISHANTDEEP SINGH Senior Software Engineer with 7+ years of experience in React, JavaScript, TypeScript, Next.js, and Node.js. I’ve also worked as a tech lead for startups, owning end-to-end technical execution including architecture, development, scaling, and delivery. I bring a strong mix of hands-on coding, product thinking, and technical leadership, and I’m comfortable building products from scratch as well as improving and scaling existing systems. Anthony Akpan Anthony Akpan Developer with 8 years of experience building softwares fro startups Nam Tran Nam Tran 10 years as fullstack developer Jared Hasson 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 Bastien Labelle Bastien Labelle Full stack dev w/ 20+ years of experience Kingsley Omage Kingsley Omage Fullstack software engineer passionate about AI Agents, blockchain, LLMs. Taufan Taufan I’m a product-focused engineer and tech leader who builds scalable systems and turns ideas into production-ready platforms. Over the past years, I’ve worked across startups and fast-moving teams, leading backend architecture, improving system reliability, and shipping products used by thousands of users. My strength is not just writing code — but connecting product vision, technical execution, and business impact. Matt Butler Matt Butler Software Engineer @ AWS Alvin Voo Alvin Voo I’ve watched the tech landscape evolve over the last decade—from the structured days of Java Server Pages to the current "wild west" of Agentic-driven development. While AI can "vibe" a frontend into existence, I specialize in the architecture that keeps it from collapsing. My expertise lies in the critical backend infrastructure: the parts that must be fast, secure, and scalable. I thrive on high-pressure environments, such as when I had only three weeks to architect and launch an Ethereum redemption system with minimal prior crypto knowledge, turning it into a major revenue stream. What I bring to your project: Forensic Debugging: I don't just "patch" bugs; I use tools like Datadog and Explain Analyzers to map out bottlenecks and resolve root causes—like significantly reducing memory usage by optimizing complex DB joins. Full-Stack Context: Deep experience in Node.js and React, ensuring backends play perfectly with mobile and web teams. Sanity in the Age of AI: I bridge the gap between "best practices" and modern speed, ensuring your project isn't just built fast, but built to last. zipking zipking 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.

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Frequently 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.

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