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Send files, photos and videos

Share documents, pictures and videos in a chat, what the 50 MB limit means, and why media is removed after a year.

For: everyone

You can send any kind of file in a room or direct message: PDFs, spreadsheets, photos, videos. In encrypted chats, files are encrypted too.

Send a file

In the browser / on the computer

  1. Open the chat.
  2. Click Attachment (the paperclip icon) next to the message box.
  3. Choose the file and confirm.

You can also drag a file from your computer into the chat window, or paste a picture with Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on a Mac).

On the phone (Element X)

  1. Open the chat.
  2. Tap the + button next to the message box.
  3. Choose Photo & Video Library, Camera or Attachment (for other files).
  4. Select the file and send it.

Find files you shared

  • In the browser: open Room info and choose Files.
  • On the phone: tap the room name at the top, then Media and files.

Limits you should know

  • Maximum file size: 50 MB per file. If a file is bigger, Element shows a message such as "This file is too large to upload". Compress the file, split it, or share it through another storage service.
  • Media is kept for 365 days. Images, videos and files are removed from the server one year after they were sent. Your text messages stay. Please save important files somewhere else as well, for example in your company's file storage.

Good to know

  • Files count towards your plan's storage. The account owner can see the usage on the dashboard under Storage Usage.
  • The AI assistant can read files you send it (PDF, Word, text, CSV and more). See Use the AI assistant.

Related

Still stuck? Ask in the chat at the bottom right, or reply to your support email.

Last updated 2026-10-07