You need to add a document, image, or spreadsheet to a Perplexity Space so the AI can reference it when answering questions. Perplexity Spaces let you organize files and conversations around a specific project or topic. This article shows you how to upload files from your local computer or cloud storage into a Space. You will learn the exact steps for both the web app and the mobile app.
Key Takeaways: Uploading Files to a Perplexity Space
- Space Settings > Upload Files button: Add local files like PDFs, Word docs, and images directly from your device.
- Drag and drop onto Space canvas: Quickly upload files by dragging them from your file explorer into the Space.
- Supported file types: PDF, DOCX, XLSX, CSV, TXT, PNG, JPG, and more — up to 25 MB per file on Free and 100 MB on Pro.
What Is a Perplexity Space and Why Upload Files
A Perplexity Space is a dedicated workspace where you can store files, chat history, and custom instructions. When you upload a file to a Space, the AI can read its content to answer questions about that file. This is useful for research projects, meeting notes, code repositories, or any set of documents you want to analyze together.
Before uploading, make sure your file is in a supported format. Perplexity supports common document types: PDF, DOCX, XLSX, CSV, TXT, RTF, and image files (PNG, JPG, GIF, WEBP). The file size limit is 25 MB for Free accounts and 100 MB for Pro subscribers. You can upload up to 25 files per Space on Free and 100 files on Pro.
Steps to Upload a File to a Perplexity Space on the Web
You can upload files using the web interface at perplexity.ai. Follow these steps exactly.
- Open the Space you want to use
Log in to your Perplexity account. In the left sidebar, click Spaces. Select the Space where you want to add the file. If you have not created a Space yet, click New Space and give it a name. - Click the Upload Files button
Inside the Space, look for the Upload Files button near the top of the chat area. It may appear as an icon with a cloud and arrow. Click it to open your file browser. - Select the file from your computer
Navigate to the file on your local drive. Click once to highlight it, then click Open. The file begins uploading. A progress indicator shows the upload status. - Wait for the upload to complete
Do not close the browser tab during upload. When finished, the file name appears in the Space sidebar or file list. You can now ask questions about the file content.
Alternative Method: Drag and Drop
You can also drag a file directly from your file explorer onto the Space chat area. A blue outline appears when the drop zone is active. Release the mouse button to start the upload. This method works for single files or multiple files at once.
Steps to Upload a File to a Perplexity Space on Mobile
The Perplexity mobile app for iOS and Android supports file uploads to Spaces. The process is similar but uses the mobile file picker.
- Open the Space in the mobile app
Launch the Perplexity app. Tap the Spaces tab at the bottom. Select the Space you want to use. - Tap the attachment icon
In the message input bar, tap the paperclip or plus icon. This opens the file picker. - Choose the file from your device
Browse your files or recent items. Tap the file you want to upload. You can select multiple files if needed. Tap Upload or Done. - Wait for confirmation
The file appears in the chat as an attachment. You can now type a question referencing the file or just ask about its content.
Common Issues When Uploading Files to a Space
File Type Not Supported
If you see an error saying the file type is not supported, check the format. Perplexity does not accept executable files (.exe, .msi), compressed archives (.zip, .rar), or audio/video files (.mp3, .mp4). Convert the file to a supported format before uploading. For example, save a Word document as .docx instead of .doc.
File Exceeds the Size Limit
Free accounts have a 25 MB limit per file. Pro accounts can upload files up to 100 MB. If your file is too large, split it into smaller parts or compress images before uploading. For large PDFs, use a PDF compression tool to reduce the file size.
Upload Gets Stuck or Fails
A slow or unstable internet connection can cause uploads to fail. Refresh the page or restart the app and try again. If the problem persists, clear your browser cache or update the mobile app to the latest version. Also ensure you have enough storage space in your Perplexity account — Free accounts have a total storage limit of 500 MB.
File Does Not Appear After Upload
Sometimes the file uploads but does not show in the Space. Refresh the Space page or pull down to refresh on mobile. If the file still does not appear, delete the Space and recreate it, then upload the file again. This is a known workaround for a rare caching bug.
Perplexity Free vs Pro: File Upload Limits
| Item | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Max file size per upload | 25 MB | 100 MB |
| Max files per Space | 25 | 100 |
| Total storage across all Spaces | 500 MB | 5 GB |
| Supported file types | PDF, DOCX, XLSX, CSV, TXT, RTF, PNG, JPG, GIF, WEBP | Same plus larger file sizes |
You can now upload files to any Perplexity Space using the web or mobile app. Use the Upload Files button or drag and drop for quick additions. If you work with many files, consider upgrading to Pro for higher limits and larger file sizes. A useful tip: after uploading a PDF, ask Perplexity to summarize it by typing “Summarize this document” in the Space chat.