ChatGPT File Upload Limits 2026: Size, Count and Plans
ChatGPT's file upload limit is 512 MB per file, with text documents capped at 2 million tokens, spreadsheets at about 50 MB and images at 20 MB. You can attach up to 20 files to one message and upload up to 80 files every 3 hours; Free accounts are limited to 3 uploads a day. Uploads also share a 25 GB storage cap per user (OpenAI Help Center, October 2026).
This guide lists every upload limit OpenAI publishes: size by file type, how many files per message and per project, the upload rate per plan, Library storage, video and audio uploads, how long files are kept, and what to do when ChatGPT says you have reached your upload limit. Every number below comes from OpenAI's Help Center articles and release notes as read on October 8, 2026, with the article's update date in the sources. Where OpenAI publishes no number, for example for video length, we say so. The last sections cover keeping the chats that hold your file work easy to find with AI Toolbox (formerly ChatGPT Toolbox), a Chrome extension with 40,000+ users, a 4.7/5 Chrome Web Store rating, and a free plan.
By Adi Leviim, Co-Founder at Infi Developments. 7+ years building AI productivity tools. Last reviewed October 2026.
ChatGPT File Size Limits by File Type
Every file uploaded to ChatGPT has a hard limit of 512 MB, and some types have a lower cap. OpenAI's upload article sets these limits (OpenAI Help Center, updated October 6, 2026):
File type
Formats OpenAI lists
Limit
Documents and presentations
DOCX, PDF, TXT, PPTX
512 MB per file; text and documents capped at 2 million tokens per file
Spreadsheets and CSV
XLSX, XLS, CSV, TSV
About 50 MB, depending on the size of each row (the 2M token cap does not apply)
No published size or length limit beyond the 512 MB per-file maximum
Data analysis also reads .json, .xml, .yaml, .txt and .md files (OpenAI Help Center). Image formats come from OpenAI's image inputs FAQ, which lists PNG, JPEG and non-animated GIF; WEBP is accepted by the API but is not on ChatGPT's list. You cannot upload a Google Docs .gdoc file directly: export it as DOCX or PDF first.
Size is not the same as how much ChatGPT can read at once. A 2M token document is far larger than the context window of any ChatGPT plan, so ChatGPT searches long files rather than reading every page into the conversation. The ChatGPT context window guide lists the window per plan.
How Many Files Can You Upload to ChatGPT?
Up to 20 files in one message, up to 80 files every 3 hours, and 3 files a day on the Free plan. OpenAI raised the per-message limit from 10 to 20 files on February 13, 2026 (ChatGPT release notes). The rate limit wording from the upload article: "You can upload up to 80 files every 3 hours. Free users are limited to 3 file uploads per day. OpenAI may lower these limits during peak hours."
Per conversation: there is no fixed number. OpenAI says it "can vary by upload type, model, plan, workspace settings, and remaining file-upload allowance."
Per project: Free up to 5 files, Go and Plus up to 25, and Edu, Pro, Business and Enterprise up to 40. Only 10 files can be uploaded to a project at the same time (Projects in ChatGPT).
Images per message: no fixed number; it "depends on various factors, including the size of the images and the amount of text accompanying them."
Custom GPT knowledge files: OpenAI's pages disagree. The upload article says up to 10 knowledge files per GPT for the lifetime of that GPT, while the GPT builder article says up to 20. New GPT creation is no longer available on personal accounts, and custom GPTs are being retired, so this matters mainly for existing GPTs.
ChatGPT Upload Limits by Plan
The file size limits are the same on every plan; what changes is the daily allowance, storage, project files and audio.
Plan
Upload rate
Library storage
Files per project
Audio uploads
Logged out
No uploads
None
No projects
No
Free
3 per day
500 MB
5
No
Go
Up to 80 every 3 hours ("more uploads" than Free)
4 GB
25
Yes
Plus
Up to 80 every 3 hours
20 GB
25
Yes
Pro
Up to 80 every 3 hours
100 GB
40
Yes
Business
Up to 80 every 3 hours
20 GB
40
Yes
Enterprise and Edu
Up to 80 every 3 hours
Not published
40
Yes (Enterprise)
Library storage is from OpenAI's Library article (OpenAI Help Center, updated October 3, 2026), which notes it "is separate from daily attachment/chat limits." Separately, all shared upload storage is capped at 25 GB per user and 100 GB per organization, and ChatGPT shows an error when you reach it. OpenAI does not explain how the 25 GB cap relates to Pro's 100 GB of Library storage. On October 8, 2026, the logged-out chatgpt.com page told visitors to "Log in to get answers based on saved chats, plus create images and upload files," which we checked ourselves.
Text chat itself has been unlimited on every plan since August 6, 2026; OpenAI's release note for that change said limits "will still apply for file uploads, images and other tools." The ChatGPT limits guide covers voice, images, deep research and the Pro models.
Can You Upload Video and Audio to ChatGPT?
Yes to both, with conditions: video works as an attachment on every plan including Free, and audio uploads are for paid plans only.
Video: OpenAI's image inputs FAQ says "ChatGPT can accept video files as attachments through supported upload methods, including on Free plans. Availability varies by platform, upload method, and account." It warns that ChatGPT "may not analyze the entire video or accurately interpret its audio," and that "video attachments count toward your plan's file-upload limits" (OpenAI Help Center, updated August 27, 2026). OpenAI publishes no maximum video length or video-specific size limit.
Audio: launched on October 6, 2026. "Audio uploads are available with paid ChatGPT subscriptions and workspaces, including Enterprise. Audio uploads are not available on the Free plan at this time." WebM and MP4 files identified as video are not accepted as audio.
Live camera and screen sharing in voice mode are separate features and are not file uploads.
If a video upload fails or the analysis looks incomplete, a short clip or a few still frames usually works better than one long file, because the tools ChatGPT uses may not process the whole recording.
Uploaded a file, analyzed it, and lost the chat? AI Toolbox (formerly ChatGPT Toolbox) adds full-text search across every ChatGPT conversation, folders, and export to TXT, Markdown, JSON or PDF, so the answer you got from a file stays findable after the file is gone. 40,000+ users, 4.7/5 on the Chrome Web Store.
"Upload Limit Reached": What It Means and How to Fix It
The message means you hit the rolling upload allowance or a storage cap, not that your file is too large. A file that is too large or the wrong type fails on its own; the limit message applies to your account. Work through these in order:
Wait for the window to roll over. Paid plans refill on a rolling 3-hour window, Free once a day. OpenAI says "ChatGPT does not currently show how much of your rolling upload-rate quota has been used or remains," so there is no counter to check.
Remember that failed uploads can count. OpenAI notes that "failed upload attempts can sometimes count toward the upload-rate limit," so repeated retries of a failing file can use up the allowance.
Check storage. Open Settings, then Storage, to see Library usage. If you are near your cap, delete files you no longer need from Library.
Combine files. One merged PDF uses one upload instead of ten. Paste short text directly into the message instead of attaching it.
Try another time of day. OpenAI may lower upload limits during peak hours.
Upgrade if you hit it daily. OpenAI's Free tier FAQ says a Free account's usage rates "will reset when you update your account to a Plus plan, a Pro plan, or a Business plan."
If uploads fail for every file, even small ones, the cause is more likely a browser or network issue than a limit. The ChatGPT error messages guide covers the common errors and the ChatGPT not working guide the browser-side fixes.
How Long ChatGPT Keeps Your Uploaded Files
Files saved to Library stay until you delete them, and deleting a chat does not delete its files. OpenAI's Library article: "Files are saved to your account until you delete them manually. Deleting a chat containing files does not delete those files saved to Library."
Deleting a file: deleted files are scheduled for permanent deletion from OpenAI's systems within 30 days. If your Library shows Recently deleted, you can restore a file from there until then.
Temporary Chat: files uploaded in a temporary chat are not saved to your account or Library.
Projects: project files are kept until the project or the file is deleted; deleting a project removes files stored only in that project but not files saved separately in Library.
Space: since September 29, 2026, Space replaces Library for eligible Pro, Business and Enterprise accounts.
Images ChatGPT generates work the other way round: to remove one from the Images page you delete the conversation it was made in. The guide to deleting images from ChatGPT Library covers both.
Who Hits Upload Limits Most, and What Helps
Free users analyzing documents: 3 uploads a day goes fast. Merge related files into one PDF and paste short text instead of attaching it.
Analysts working with spreadsheets: the roughly 50 MB cap applies before the 512 MB one. Split large CSVs by date range or remove unused columns.
Students and researchers with long PDFs: the file uploads, but ChatGPT reads it through search, not all at once. Ask about specific sections and page ranges.
Teams on Business or Enterprise: the 100 GB organization cap is shared. Clear old project files and Library items you no longer need.
Native ChatGPT vs AI Toolbox for File-Heavy Work
AI Toolbox does not change any upload limit; it keeps the conversations where you worked with files findable and saved. The answers ChatGPT gives about a file live in the chat, and chats are easy to lose in a long sidebar.
Task
ChatGPT (built in)
AI Toolbox Free
AI Toolbox Premium
Find the chat where you analyzed a file
Search titles and messages, no date or role filters
Full-text search, first 5 results
All results plus Advanced Search filters
Keep file chats together
Projects (5 to 40 files each)
2 root folders, unlimited subfolders
Unlimited folders
Save the analysis outside ChatGPT
No per-chat export
TXT
TXT, Markdown, JSON, PDF, in bulk
See how full a long chat is
Not shown
Context Window Meter
Meter plus handoff to a fresh chat
Price
Included
Free
$9.99/month or $99 lifetime
The Context Window Meter counts the text of the conversation; it does not include tokens from uploaded files, so treat its reading as a floor in file-heavy chats. The advanced search guide and the ChatGPT export guide show both features step by step.
Limitations: What OpenAI Does Not Publish
OpenAI does not publish a maximum video length, a per-conversation file count, Library storage for Enterprise and Edu, or how much of your upload allowance is left at any moment. Two of its own pages disagree on custom GPT knowledge files (10 or 20), and the 25 GB per-user cap sits alongside a 100 GB Library allowance on Pro without explanation. The API has separate limits that do not apply to ChatGPT. Native ChatGPT handles the common case well: most documents, images and spreadsheets are far below these caps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the file size limit for ChatGPT?
512 MB per file. Text and document files are also capped at 2 million tokens, spreadsheets and CSV files at about 50 MB depending on row size, and images at 20 MB each. Audio files can be up to 512 MB on paid plans. The limits are the same on every plan.
How many files can I upload to ChatGPT at once?
Up to 20 files in a single message, up from 10 before February 2026. Projects accept 10 files at the same time. Across messages, you can upload up to 80 files every 3 hours, and Free accounts are limited to 3 uploads per day.
How many files can I upload to ChatGPT for free?
Free accounts can upload 3 files per day, with up to 500 MB of Library storage and up to 5 files per project. Audio uploads are not available on Free. You must be logged in: the logged-out version of ChatGPT does not accept uploads.
Can I upload a video to ChatGPT?
Yes. OpenAI says ChatGPT accepts video files as attachments, including on Free plans, though availability varies by platform and account. ChatGPT may not analyze the entire video or interpret its audio accurately, and video counts toward your upload limit. OpenAI publishes no maximum video length.
Why does ChatGPT say I reached my upload limit?
You used your rolling upload allowance (80 files every 3 hours, or 3 a day on Free) or reached a storage cap. Failed upload attempts can count too, and OpenAI may lower limits at peak times. Wait for the window to reset, check Settings, Storage, or upgrade.
Does deleting a ChatGPT chat delete the uploaded files?
No. OpenAI says deleting a chat does not delete files saved to Library; you delete those separately in Library. Deleted files are permanently removed within 30 days. Files uploaded in a Temporary Chat are never saved to your account.
How much storage does ChatGPT give you for files?
Library storage is 500 MB on Free, 4 GB on Go, 20 GB on Plus and Business, and 100 GB on Pro. Separately, shared upload storage is capped at 25 GB per user and 100 GB per organization. Check your usage in Settings, Storage.
Bottom Line
ChatGPT accepts files up to 512 MB, 20 at a time, and up to 80 every 3 hours, while Free accounts get 3 uploads a day and no audio. Spreadsheets and images have lower caps, video has none published, and Library files stay until you delete them. Plan large uploads around the rolling window, and keep the chats that hold your analysis somewhere you can find them.
A Full Stack Developer with 7+ years of experience building AI productivity tools. Leads product development and frontend architecture for AI Toolbox, the Chrome extension suite (ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and Claude modules) that helps users search, organize, and export their AI conversations.
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