# Let visitors attach files and pictures

> Let visitors add a file or a picture to their message for your Chirp to read, or turn it off.

Source: https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/knowledge/visitor-uploads  
Plans: Essentials, Creator, Business, Academy  
Last checked: 2026-10-27

When you're done, visitors can attach files and pictures in the chat, or can't, as you prefer.

**Who can do this:** the account owner on any plan, and workspace admins and editors.

## Turn it on or off

1. In the editor, under **6. Capabilities**, switch **Visitor uploads** on or off. It's on for a new
   Chirp.

   ![The Visitor uploads switch, turned on, with its note: Visitors can attach files and pictures in the chat. Only that conversation sees them.](https://mjmtbasmrtksluvlnema.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/help-media/web-optimized/knowledge/visitor-uploads/SS-KNOW-060-01__visitor-uploads-setting__essentials__detail__v01.webp?v=b887b193fe)

2. Click **Save**. On a published Chirp, click **Publish changes** too, so visitors get it. Editors
   can publish only if the owner allows it.

## What visitors see

A paperclip beside the message box. They click it to attach one or more files or pictures to their
message.

![Garden Helper's public chat page with the paperclip button beside the message box outlined.](https://mjmtbasmrtksluvlnema.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/help-media/web-optimized/knowledge/visitor-uploads/SS-KNOW-060-02__attach-button__essentials__desktop__v01.webp?v=e5a4a32dd7)

They can attach pictures and the same kinds of files your knowledge accepts: PDF, Word, Excel, text and
the others in [Which files work, and size limits](https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/knowledge/file-types). A message can be up to 60,000
characters, attachments included. Up to 10 files and 8 pictures go with one message; anything beyond
that is left out.

## Pictures need a model that can see

Reading pictures depends on the Chirp's model. In the model list, pick one marked **Images in**. With a
model that can't read pictures, a visitor's message with a picture can fail.

Pictures are made smaller before they're sent. The model sees at most two pictures at a time: the first
two in the latest message that has pictures. The others are mentioned by name only, so ask visitors to
send one or two pictures at a time.

## Where attachments go

- They're sent to the AI model, through OpenRouter, to answer that conversation.
- They aren't added to your Chirp's knowledge or your storage, Chirp Builder doesn't keep them, and you
  can't see them.
- On your Chirp's page, they stay in the visitor's browser with the rest of their chat. In a chat on
  another website, they're gone when the page closes.

An attached file's text goes with every later message in that conversation, so it adds tokens to each
reply, which you pay for on your OpenRouter key. In a very long conversation, the earliest messages and
their attachments drop out of what the model sees.

## If it doesn't work

- **No paperclip:** **Visitor uploads** is off, or the change isn't published yet.
- **"…: this file type isn't supported"**: the visitor attached a file type that isn't accepted. The
  scanned-PDF, password and Excel messages in [Add knowledge files](https://www.chirpbuilder.com/help/knowledge/add-files) can show too, and
  "Couldn't read that image" for a picture that won't open.
- **"Messages can be up to 60,000 characters including attachments."**: the file has too much text.
  Attach a shorter part of it.