Why won't my attachment upload?

Any user who can edit a record can add attachments to it. If a file will not upload, uploads but does not appear, or will not open afterward, the steps below cover the most common causes and how to fix them.

The file will not upload

1. Check the file type. GovPilot accepts these formats: jpg, jpeg, gif, bmp, png, tif, tiff, svg, pdf, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, rtf, ppt, pptx, txt, csv, zip, and msg. Files in any other format are rejected.
2. Check the file size. The default limit is 500 MB per attachment. Files over the limit are rejected. If you regularly need to attach larger files, reach out to our support team and we can raise the limit for your account. This is not a setting you can change yourself.
3. Files close to the limit can time out during upload. Try compressing the file or splitting it into smaller parts.
4. Try a different browser. We recommend Chrome or Edge.
5. Clear your browser cache. Press Ctrl+Shift+Delete, choose All time, select Cached images and files, and delete. Then try the upload again.

The file uploaded but is not showing

1. Make sure you clicked Save after adding the file. Attachments added in the Attachments tab are only kept when the record is saved. If you closed the record or navigated away without saving, the attachment was not stored. Upload it again and save.
2. Check that you are looking in the right place. GovPilot has two separate attachment areas:
   • Record-level attachments live in the Attachments tab inside the record. They are only visible when that record is open.
   • Property-level attachments live in the Attachments tab on the Property Profile. They are visible from the property no matter which record you are working in.
   If you added a file to the Property Profile but are looking inside a record, or the reverse, it will seem to be missing. Check both locations.
3. Refresh the record. Large files or slow connections can make an upload look complete when it did not finish. If the file still does not appear after a refresh, upload it again.

[Screenshot needed: Attachments tab inside a record, with the Save button visible in the bottom toolbar]

The file will not open

1. Confirm the record was saved after the upload.
2. Try a different browser, such as Chrome or Edge.
3. Download the file and open it on your computer instead of using the browser preview. If it will not open locally, the file itself may be corrupted. Replace it with a fresh copy.
4. If a PDF opens blank, try a different PDF viewer.

An attachment that was there is now gone

Click Log in the bottom toolbar of the record. Attachment activity is recorded there, so you can see whether someone removed the file and when.

When to reach out to our support team

If a file cannot be downloaded at all, or the Log shows no deletion but the attachment is missing, reach out to our support team. Include the module, the record number, the file name, what happens now, and what you expected to happen.

✅ Pro Tip: If photos taken in the GovInspect mobile app are not appearing in GovPilot, see our article on GovInspect syncing. The fix is usually on the device, not the attachment.

Related search terms: attachment not uploading, file won't upload, upload failed, attachment missing after save, attachment disappeared, file too large, unsupported file type, cannot open attachment, PDF opens blank, attachment not showing, file size limit, 500MB limit, property profile attachments, record attachments