A folder of small documents can reach the file-count limit before size becomes a problem. A short video can fit within its size allowance but exceed the duration limit. Knowing which constraint you have reached helps you make a useful change instead of repeatedly trying the same upload.
This guide covers Gemini Apps. For developer tools or coding agents, start with how chat uploads differ from workspace access; Gemini API and SDK limits are separate.
Gemini Apps file upload limits at a glance
Google’s Gemini Apps file-upload guidance gives the following limits. Plan names, availability and allowances can change, so check that page when preparing a workflow that depends on a particular figure.
| What you are uploading | Documented limit | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Files in one prompt | Up to 10, subject to availability | Files inside an ordinary uploaded folder count towards this allowance |
| Documents and other supported non-video files | Up to 100 MB per file | Each file must fit; the prompt also has count and usage limits |
| Video | Up to 2 GB per file | Total video duration is 5 minutes, or 1 hour with Google AI Pro or Ultra |
| Audio | Total duration of 10 minutes, or 3 hours with Google AI Pro or Ultra | Add together the duration of the audio you include |
| ZIP archive | Up to 10 files inside and 100 MB total | The archive cannot contain audio or video |
| Code folder or GitHub repository | One per chat, up to 5,000 files and 100 MB | This is a separate route from an ordinary uploaded folder |
Google also applies context, rolling-use and upload-storage limits. Those can affect a session even when the files meet the figures above.
If you are comparing providers, see the separate guides to ChatGPT file-upload limits and Claude.ai file-upload limits.
Which document types does Gemini support?
Google describes support for “most file types” and names documents, spreadsheets, NotebookLM notebooks, photos and videos. Its current help page does not provide an exhaustive extension list. If your project depends on a particular format, check the current interface and help page before preparing a large batch.
Supported non-video files fall under the 100 MB per-file limit and count towards the prompt allowance.
For document work, start with the question you want Gemini to answer. A client brief, the relevant research report and a supporting spreadsheet may provide more useful context than a folder containing every related file. Keep material that changes the answer; leave out unrelated background.
An accepted file may still contain details Gemini misses. If your question depends on a particular table, chart or passage, compare the answer with that part of the original.
Video and audio have duration limits too
File size is only part of the calculation for media:
- Video can be up to 2 GB per file. Total video duration is 5 minutes, extended to 1 hour with Google AI Pro or Ultra.
- Total audio duration is 10 minutes, extended to 3 hours with Google AI Pro or Ultra.
A video can be under 2 GB and still exceed the duration allowance. Several short clips can also exceed it when their combined length is counted.
Before preparing a media-heavy prompt, check the allowance for your plan in Google’s current documentation.
ZIP files, ordinary folders and code repositories
These inputs look similar on your computer but have different upload rules.
A ZIP can contain up to 10 files, must be no larger than 100 MB and cannot contain audio or video.
Files in an ordinary uploaded folder count towards the 10-file prompt allowance. Putting 12 small documents in a folder therefore does not make them fit into a single prompt.
The separate code-folder or GitHub-repository route accepts one folder or repository per chat, with up to 5,000 files and 100 MB total. Use those limits when preparing code input, rather than applying them to an ordinary document folder.
If a set is too large, narrow it around the task. For example, asking about one part of a codebase may need a few relevant files rather than the whole repository. When selecting documents or creating excerpts, retain the surrounding context needed to understand them.
Why an upload can stop even when the files fit
Three further limits are worth checking.
Context capacity
Google warns that large uploads can cause Gemini to miss connections or details even when the files meet its size and count limits. Some accounts may also receive a context-limit message.
For a question that depends on comparing several documents, try a focused set and name the sections you need compared. Check important conclusions against the originals.
Rolling file-chat use
Google documents rolling limits on uploads and analysis but does not publish one stable numeric allowance on the linked help page. If you reach a rolling limit, Google advises trying again later or using a plan with higher limits.
Reducing one file’s size will not necessarily resolve a limit on how much you have used the service over time.
Upload storage
Gemini Apps has a storage allowance for previous activity, including chats and uploaded files. This is separate from Google Drive and Workspace storage.
Reaching it can prevent new uploads. For work or school accounts, only a Workspace administrator can delete Gemini Apps activity to free space.
Prepare a focused set of project files
Before attaching documents, make a short preparation pass:
- Define the task. Identify the question, comparison or output you need. Choose the files that contribute to it.
- Check the relevant limits. Review file sizes and count, then any media duration or archive rules.
- Keep necessary context. If you use an authorised excerpt, include the labels, definitions and surrounding material needed to interpret it.
- Name what matters in the prompt. Point Gemini towards the documents, sections or details the answer should use.
- Check the response against the source. Verify a few important facts rather than treating a successful upload as confirmation that everything was analysed.
For example, if a research task has 12 source documents, decide whether it genuinely needs all 12 at once. A smaller set may answer the immediate question; a wider comparison may need to be divided into stages, with careful checks between them.
Check the document version before adding it to context
Choosing files is also a decision about what enters your AI project. Check for prompt-injection signals before introducing outside documents, and check the copy you will actually use. A revision, excerpt or export is a different input from the original.
For a repeatable approach, .mdSiren is a document security checkpoint for AI projects. It checks each supported exact version and routes it to Approved, Needs review or Quarantine before you add it to Gemini yourself. Its scope does not extend to every media, archive or repository input that Gemini accepts. Coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
Are Gemini file uploads unlimited?
No. File count, size, media duration, context, rolling use and storage can all limit an upload or session. Check the constraint named in the message before changing the files.
How many files can I upload to Gemini at once?
Up to 10 files per prompt, subject to availability. Files in an ordinary uploaded folder count towards that allowance. The separate code-folder route has different limits.
What is the maximum document size?
100 MB per file for documents and other supported non-video files. The prompt must also meet count, context and usage limits.
Can I upload a ZIP or a code repository?
Yes, through their respective supported routes. A ZIP is limited to 10 files and 100 MB, with no audio or video inside. One code folder or GitHub repository per chat can contain up to 5,000 files and 100 MB.
Why did Gemini miss details in a file it accepted?
Google warns that large uploads can cause missed details or connections even within the published caps. Ask a focused question about the relevant material and compare the answer with the source. Upload acceptance alone does not show that every detail was used.
