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ChatGPT files appear in Sources but cannot be read

Files appear under Sources but ChatGPT says it cannot see them? Check whether the upload is readable, preserve the conversation, and compare one fresh upload.

Quick answer

Seeing a file under Sources confirms that the interface lists it. It does not confirm that ChatGPT can read its contents in that conversation. Keep the original file and ask ChatGPT to identify its filename and one specific passage. If it still says no file is available, record the time, client, and exact reply before trying a small file in a new conversation.

What this looks like

There may be no upload error. The filename appears, yet the assistant replies that no attachment is available or cannot name the document. This is a reading problem, not the same symptom as a file that never appeared or a generated download link that will not open. One macOS user reported this exact mismatch in the desktop app and the same conversation in Safari.

Check it without losing the task

  1. Save the original file and the prompt. Note the filename shown under Sources and the assistant's exact response. Do not assume a repeated upload repaired the first copy.
  2. Ask for a narrow check: “Name the attached file and summarize its first heading.” A vague summary request can hide whether the assistant accessed the attachment at all.
  3. Try one small, supported file type in a new conversation. If it works, the difference is useful evidence; it does not identify a root cause by itself. If the app is unresponsive, refresh or restart it once after saving what you can.
  4. Compare the incident time with ChatGPT status. OpenAI's file-upload incident log says some users could not upload files or get ChatGPT to read them during that incident; the status page marks it resolved. An incident on another date cannot diagnose your current conversation.

What other users tried

The macOS reporter later said an upload from mobile became readable on desktop and Web. Another participant in the same thread said mobile uploads also failed. Switching client is therefore a comparison worth one try, not a guaranteed workaround. If your file never appears under Sources, follow the upload-error guide instead. If ChatGPT read the file and produced a link that fails, use the download guide.

Frequently asked questions

Why can I see the file when ChatGPT says it cannot?

Sources shows what the interface lists. The assistant's inability to identify a passage is evidence that the file is not usable for that request. The public reports do not establish which internal step failed.

Should I upload it again in the same chat?

Keep the first attachment and test once if the interface allows it, then ask ChatGPT to identify the new file. Repeating the same upload many times without checking the result can make it harder to tell which copy is being used.

Does uploading from a phone fix it?

It helped one reporter and failed for another in the same discussion. Record the client and outcome if you test it.

Is this proof ChatGPT is down?

No. A current official incident with the matching component and time is stronger evidence. A single affected conversation or file needs its own check.

Sources