Fix “file type not supported,” tap to retry, and attachment load errors

Grok accepts a wide set of documents, images, audio, and video on grok.com, iOS, and Android. When an attach fails, the FAQ maps each error to a concrete next step.

Match the error

Message	What to try
File type not supported	Convert to a listed format (PDF or TXT for documents). Or try the same file on another platform — web often accepts more document types than mobile.
Upload fails / Tap to retry	Check size (most files up to 150 MB). Shrink, re-export, or switch format, then retry.
An attachment couldn’t be loaded	Often platform-specific for certain audio or video. Switch web ↔ iOS ↔ Android, or convert the media (for example MP4 / MOV for video).
Slow or stalled on a big mixed pack	Split into follow-up messages. Very complex multi-file asks work better in pieces.

Formats that usually work

Documents and data: PDF, DOCX, TXT, CSV, XLSX, PPTX, HTML, XML, JSON, Markdown, LaTeX, ODT, RTF, and common code files. Images: JPEG, PNG, WebP, HEIC, BMP. Audio: MP3, WAV, M4A, OGG, FLAC, AAC. Video: MP4, MOV. GIF and SVG sometimes fail.

How many at once: about 100 on web, 20 on Android, several on iOS.

After a clean upload

1. Wait for Grok to confirm the file before you ask the question.
2. For PDFs over 100 pages, name the page numbers you care about.
3. For CSV or XLSX, name the column or trend.
4. Embedded images inside a Word file may not get visual reading — export that page as PDF or attach the image alone.

Still stuck

Use Help / Report an issue with the platform (Web / iOS / Android), file type, approximate size, and a screenshot of the error. Free stored files on the web at grok.com/files.

For the happy-path attach flow, see Upload a file in a Grok chat. Grok Bot chat attachments use different size caps — that path is separate from this consumer FAQ.

Pitfalls

• “Supported on paper” still fails for some GIF, SVG, or odd codecs. Convert first.
• A successful upload of audio or video does not guarantee perfect transcription quality.
• Deleted chats and files leave systems on the normal retention window unless law requires a longer hold.