Overview
Upload files directly into any chat session for immediate analysis without creating permanent datastores or collections. This feature enables temporary document reference with automatic cleanup after 30 days, streamlining ad-hoc analysis workflows.
Learning Objectives:
Locate the quick upload option in the right panel
Upload up to 20 files per chat session
Understand temporary storage limitations and automatic deletion
Determine when quick upload is appropriate versus permanent datastore creation
Prerequisites
You'll Need:
Access to a workspace on Starter, Best-of-Breed, Professional, or Enterprise plan
Supported file types (see "Supported File Types" section below)
Files no larger than 50MB each
An active chat session (new or existing)
Uploading Documents via Quick Upload
Access the Upload Interface
Navigate to the left panel and select an existing chat, or click "New Chat" at the top of the panel
Locate the right panel next to your chat interface
Scroll to the bottom of the right panel until you see the chat controls section
Click "Upload from computer" at the bottom of the chat controls
Result: Your system file browser opens, allowing you to select documents.
Note: The "Upload from computer" option appears only when you have an active chat session open in the main panel.
Select and Process Your Files
Select up to 20 files in your system file browser
Click "Open" or "Upload" to begin the upload process
Wait for processing completion (the interface displays "Processing files" with a progress indicator)
Confirm embeddings creation (status changes to "Ready" when complete)
Result: Uploaded files appear in the right panel under "Current Session Files" and are immediately available for analysis.
Tip: Monitor the right panel for processing status. Large files or numerous documents may take several minutes to complete embedding creation.
When to Use Quick Upload: Decision Framework
Use Case | Quick Upload | Permanent Datastore | Rationale |
One-time document analysis | ✓ | ✗ | Auto-deletion after 30 days cleans up automatically |
Temporary reference needed | ✓ | ✗ | No long-term organization required |
Files needed beyond 30 days | ✗ | ✓ | Permanent storage prevents automatic deletion |
Building organized knowledge base | ✗ | ✓ | Collections enable structured categorization |
Sharing across multiple chats | ✗ | ✓ | Datastores provide centralized access |
Sensitive/confidential content | ✗ | ✓ | Better access controls and audit trails |
More than 20 files | ✗ | ✓ | Datastores have higher per-collection limits |
Best Practices
Upload only relevant files: Limit uploads to documents directly pertinent to your current chat topic to maintain focus and reduce processing time.
Verify file retention needs: If you need files beyond 30 days, use the regular datastores feature instead of quick upload to prevent data loss.
Plan around file limits: The 20-file maximum is per chat session, not per upload. If you need more files, consolidate documents or use a datastore.
Review content before uploading: Ensure files comply with your workspace content policies. Quick uploads still pass through security scanning, and violations may result in chat suspension.
Compress large files: For files approaching the 50MB limit, consider compressing or extracting relevant pages to reduce upload and processing time.
Use descriptive file names: Clear naming helps you reference specific documents in your chat queries (e.g., "Summarize the Q4_Report.pdf").
Important Limitations
Cannot Remove Files: Once uploaded through quick upload, files cannot be removed from the chat session. You must start a new chat to exclude previously uploaded documents.
30-Day Auto-Deletion: All quick-uploaded files are automatically and permanently deleted after 30 days. This cannot be extended or reversed.
Per-File Size Limit: Individual files cannot exceed 50MB. Larger documents must be split or added to a datastore instead.
20-File Maximum: Each chat session allows a maximum of 20 quick-uploaded files. This limit is cumulative across multiple uploads in the same chat.
Supported File Types
Quick upload supports the same file types as regular datastores. Refer to "Adding File Type Documents to Your TeamAI Datastore" for a complete list of supported formats including PDF, DOCX, TXT, CSV, and various image formats.
Common Questions
Q: Do quick upload documents count toward my monthly billing usage?
A: No. Files uploaded through the quick upload feature do not increment your monthly document usage count or affect billing.
Q: Can other workspace members access my quick-uploaded files?
A: Only if you share the chat with them. Quick-uploaded files remain within the specific chat session and are not added to shared datastores.
Q: What happens to quick-uploaded files if I archive or delete the chat?
A: Files are deleted immediately along with the chat, regardless of the 30-day retention period. Archiving preserves files until the 30-day limit expires.
Q: Can I download files after uploading them via quick upload?
A: No. Quick upload is designed for analysis only. Keep your original files locally, as they cannot be retrieved from the chat interface after upload.
Q: Do agents have access to quick-uploaded files?
A: No. Quick-uploaded files are available only in the specific chat where they were uploaded. To give agents access, add documents to AI Data Hub collections instead.
Q: Can I move quick-uploaded files to a permanent datastore later?
A: No. Quick-uploaded files cannot be transferred. To retain them long-term, you must upload them again through the regular datastore interface.
Q: How can I tell when a quick-uploaded file will be deleted?
A: Hover over the file name in the right panel "Current Session Files" section. A tooltip displays the exact deletion date and time.