# Upload and organise files

> Add documents, folders, images, video and notes to Oyster, follow their processing, and ask questions that cite the passages from your own files.

Source: https://documentation.redorca.ai/get-started/files/
Last updated: 2026-11-01

Oyster can answer from your own material: a scope document, an architecture note, a log export, a screenshot, a recorded walkthrough. Answers about your files cite the passages they used.

## Add material

Use the **+** button next to the message box:

| Option | What it takes |
|---|---|
| **Upload Files** | PDF, Word (`.docx`), and text and code files — Markdown, logs, JSON, CSV, YAML, configuration files, HTML, SQL, shell and PowerShell scripts, and source code in common languages |
| **Upload Folder** | A whole directory; folder structure is kept |
| **Upload Image** | PNG, JPEG, WebP, GIF, BMP, TIFF and SVG. Oyster reads text in the image and describes it |
| **Upload Video** | MP4, MOV, WebM, MKV, M4V and AVI. Oyster transcribes the audio with timestamps and describes sampled frames |
| **Create Note** | Text you type straight in |

With an account, files go into the active [project](https://documentation.redorca.ai/get-started/projects/). Without an account, they go into a temporary space tied to your browser, which is deleted after 30 days without use.

## Follow processing

Each item shows a status chip while it is processed. Once it says **ready**, it is searchable.

- Large files, and video especially, take longer.
- **failed** shows the reason when you hover it. An unsupported or damaged file is refused rather than half-read.
- The sparkle icon summarises an item; **×** removes it.

## Ask about your files

Ask in chat, or switch to **RAG Analyst** in the sidebar (account needed) for questions answered from your project's files. Each answer lists its sources; click one to read the exact passage, and for video, the timestamp it came from. See [Evidence and citations](https://documentation.redorca.ai/understand/evidence-and-citations/).

## What happens to sensitive content

- Location data (GPS) is removed from image metadata.
- Secrets that appear in files — keys, tokens, passwords — are masked in previews and in the search index. The original file is still yours to view.
- Your files are visible only to you. See [Isolation](https://documentation.redorca.ai/understand/isolation/).

## Limits

| | Without an account | Free account |
|---|---|---|
| Uploads per day | 5 | 20 |
| Total storage | 100 MB | 500 MB |
| Document | 50 MB | 50 MB |
| Image | 25 MB | 25 MB |
| Video | 100 MB, up to 30 minutes | 100 MB, up to 30 minutes |
| Folder | 800 files, 250 MB | 800 files, 250 MB |

## Troubleshooting

- **The answer ignores my file.** Check that it says **ready**, then name the file or its subject in the question.
- **Upload refused.** Check the size and type above, and your daily allowance.
- More on [Troubleshooting](https://documentation.redorca.ai/reference/troubleshooting/).