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Send files & media

Share documents, photos, and other files in any conversation — they're sent with the same end-to-end encryption as your messages.

Security note: Files and media are end-to-end encrypted, just like your text messages. Only the people in the conversation can open them. Because the file is encrypted before it leaves your device, the server never sees its contents.

On Web & Desktop

  1. Open the conversation you want to send to.
  2. Drag a file from your computer and drop it onto the message area — or select the paperclip / attach icon next to the message box.
  3. If you used the attach icon, pick the file from the file browser and choose Open.
  4. Review the preview and add an optional caption.
  5. Select Send.

On iOS

  1. Open the conversation.
  2. Tap the + (attach) control to the left of the message box.
  3. Choose a source: Photo library, Camera (to take a new photo or video), or Files (for documents and other file types).
  4. Select the item you want to send and confirm.
  5. Add an optional caption, then tap Send.

On Android

  1. Open the conversation.
  2. Tap the + (attach) control near the message box.
  3. Choose a source: Photo library, Camera, or Files.
  4. Select the item you want to send and confirm.
  5. Add an optional caption, then tap Send.

How media appears in the conversation

  • Images and videos show up as a thumbnail in the timeline, inline with the messages around them.
  • Tap or click a thumbnail to open it in the full-screen viewer (lightbox), where you can zoom in or move between other images in the conversation.
  • Other files (documents, PDFs, and so on) appear as a named tile with the file name and size. Select it to download and open the file.

Good to know

  • File-size limits may apply and depend on your organization's setup. If a file is too large to send, you'll see a message when you try.
  • Media may download automatically depending on your app settings — you can change this in Settings if you're on a limited data plan.
  • Because files are encrypted end-to-end, the server can't scan or preview them. That's what keeps them private, but it also means you should only open files from people you trust.
  • Once a file is sent, everyone in the conversation can open it. If you remove the message, people who already downloaded the file will still have their copy.

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