Uploading & Managing Files

This guide covers how to get files into your project, where they live once they're there, and how to share them with your team.

Upload a file

The quickest way: ask the agent.

Upload this file to the project and extract the key takeaways.

Drop a file into the chat input, add context, and send. The agent picks it up immediately — it can read PDFs, spreadsheets, images, and most common file types. You go from "I have a file" to "the agent is working with it" in one step.

You can also click the paperclip icon in the chat input to browse and select files without starting a conversation.

Once attached, each file appears as a small square thumbnail in the input area. Documents, spreadsheets, and other non-image files show a category-specific visual — a text preview for documents, a grid for spreadsheets, a code pattern for scripts — along with a file-type badge in the corner. Video files show a first-frame preview with a frosted play icon overlay. Images display as their actual preview. You'll also see the filename below each tile. Hover over a thumbnail to see the full filename, file type, and size.

To upload directly to the project without involving the agent:

1. Click the + button in the toolbar.
2. Select Upload file.
3. Choose one or more files from your computer.

Files appear in the Files panel on the right side of your workspace as soon as the upload completes.

How uploads work for large files

Obvious handles large files automatically — no special steps required. Files up to 1 GB are supported on all plans. If your upload is interrupted, Obvious resumes it automatically so you don't lose progress.

For files larger than 1 GB, contact support at help@obvious.ai.

Tip: For spreadsheets, Obvious can convert them into workbook sheets automatically. Drop a CSV or Excel file into the chat and ask the agent to import it — you'll have a structured, editable sheet in no time.

Where uploaded files live

Every file you upload lands in the Files panel. Open it by clicking the paperclip icon in the right sidebar.

From there you can:

• Search files by name.
• Filter by type — images, PDFs, spreadsheets, and more.
• Sort by date or name.
• Select all — check the Select all checkbox at the top of the list to select every file at once, then delete or download them in bulk.
• Download or delete individual files you no longer need.

Click any file to preview it. Obvious extracts text from PDFs and processes images automatically, so the agent can reference your files in any thread.

Share files with your team

Files belong to the project they're uploaded to. Anyone with access to the project can view, download, and reference those files — no extra steps.

To give a teammate access:

1. Click Share in the top-right corner.
2. Enter their email address.
3. Choose View or Edit access.

Once shared, your teammate sees every file in the project.