# Uploading Files

- URL: https://betteranalyst.com/docs/my-data/uploading-files
- Updated: 2026-11-12
- Author: Better Analyst

Upload Excel, CSV, PDF, and other files to Better Analyst via drag-and-drop or file browser. Covers size limits by plan and data preparation tips.

Upload your spreadsheets, documents, and other files to Better Analyst to start analyzing your data.

## How to Upload

### Drag and Drop

1. Go to **My Data** in the sidebar
2. Drag files from your computer to the upload area
3. Drop to start uploading

### Click to Browse

1. Click the upload area
2. Select files from your computer
3. Click Open to upload

### Multiple Files

You can upload multiple files at once:

- Select multiple files when browsing
- Drag multiple files together
- Each file uploads independently

## Upload Progress

When uploading, you'll see:

- File name and size
- Progress bar showing upload status
- Success or error indicator when complete

Large files may take longer to upload depending on your internet connection.

## File Size Limits

Maximum file size depends on your plan:

| Plan | Max File Size |
| - | - |
| Free | 5 MB |
| Pro | 500 MB |
| Team | 1 GB |
| Enterprise | 1 GB |

## Supported Formats

Better Analyst accepts many file types:

**Spreadsheets**

- Excel (.xlsx, .xls, .xlsm)
- CSV (.csv)
- TSV (.tsv)

**Documents**

- PDF (.pdf)
- Word (.docx)
- PowerPoint (.pptx)
- Text (.txt)

**Media**

- Audio (MP3, WAV)
- Video (MP4, MOV, WebM)

See [Supported Formats](https://betteranalyst.com/docs/my-data/supported-formats) for complete details.

## Tips for Better Uploads

### Prepare Your Data

- Remove unnecessary sheets or tabs
- Clean up merged cells
- Use clear column headers
- Remove blank rows at the top

### Optimize File Size

- Delete unused columns
- Remove formatting (colors, borders)
- Save as .xlsx instead of .xls
- Compress images in documents

### Naming Conventions

Use descriptive file names:

- `sales-data-q4-2024.xlsx` (good)
- `data.xlsx` (not helpful)

## Troubleshooting

### Upload Failed

- Check file size against your limit
- Verify the format is supported
- Try refreshing the page
- Check your internet connection

### File Processing Slowly

- Large files take time to process
- Complex PDFs need extra processing
- Wait for the progress indicator to complete

### Can't Find Uploaded File

- Check the Files tab in My Data
- Use the search function
- Sort by date to find recent uploads
- Refresh the page

## After Uploading

Once your file is uploaded:

1. **View it** - Click to preview the contents
2. **Analyze it** - Click the chat icon to start asking questions
3. **Manage it** - Rename, delete, or organize as needed

## Next Steps

- [Manage your files](https://betteranalyst.com/docs/my-data/managing-files)
- [See all supported formats](https://betteranalyst.com/docs/my-data/supported-formats)
- [Start analyzing with AI Chat](https://betteranalyst.com/docs/ai-chat/overview)