---
title: useFiles
description: "Upload, select, and download files within views, with host-managed storage across tool calls."
tag: "ChatGPT"
---

<Warning>
**Runtime Support**: ChatGPT Apps only

This hook is not available in MCP Apps. Calling it in an MCP Apps environment will throw an error.
</Warning>

The `useFiles` hook provides methods for uploading, selecting, and downloading files within your view. Files are managed by the host and can be referenced across tool calls.

## Basic usage

```tsx
import { useFiles } from "skybridge/web";
import { useState } from "react";

function FileUploader() {
  const { upload } = useFiles();
  const [fileId, setFileId] = useState<string | null>(null);

  const handleUpload = async (event: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
    const file = event.target.files?.[0];
    if (file) {
      const { fileId } = await upload(file);
      setFileId(fileId);
    }
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <input type="file" onChange={handleUpload} />
      {fileId && <p>Uploaded file ID: {fileId}</p>}
    </div>
  );
}
```

## Returns

### `upload`

```tsx
upload: (file: File, options?: { library?: boolean }) => Promise<{ fileId: string }>
```

Uploads a file to the host. Returns a promise that resolves with the file metadata containing a unique `fileId`.

- `file: File`
  - The file object to upload
- `options?: { library?: boolean }`
  - Pass `{ library: true }` to also save the upload into the user's ChatGPT file library (when available)

### `selectFiles`

```tsx
selectFiles: () => Promise<Array<{ fileId: string; fileName?: string; mimeType?: string }>>
```

Opens ChatGPT's file library picker and returns app-authorized files selected by the user. Feature-detect before using — this method may not be available on all host versions.

### `getDownloadUrl`

```tsx
getDownloadUrl: (file: { fileId: string }) => Promise<{ downloadUrl: string }>
```

Get the download URL of a file. Returns a promise that resolves with a `downloadUrl` that can be used to fetch the file content.

- `file: { fileId: string }`
  - An object containing the `fileId` of the file to download

<Note>
Works for files uploaded by the view, files selected via `selectFiles()`, or files provided via tool/file params.
</Note>

## Examples

### Image Upload and Preview

```tsx
import { useFiles } from "skybridge/web";
import { useState } from "react";

function ImageUploader() {
  const { upload, getDownloadUrl } = useFiles();
  const [previewUrl, setPreviewUrl] = useState<string | null>(null);
  const [isUploading, setIsUploading] = useState(false);

  const handleUpload = async (event: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
    const file = event.target.files?.[0];
    if (!file) return;

    setIsUploading(true);
    try {
      const { fileId } = await upload(file);
      const { downloadUrl } = await getDownloadUrl({ fileId });
      setPreviewUrl(downloadUrl);
    } catch (error) {
      console.error("Upload failed:", error);
    } finally {
      setIsUploading(false);
    }
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <input
        type="file"
        accept="image/*"
        onChange={handleUpload}
        disabled={isUploading}
      />
      {isUploading && <p>Uploading...</p>}
      {previewUrl && <img src={previewUrl} alt="Preview" />}
    </div>
  );
}
```

### Upload to File Library

```tsx
import { useFiles } from "skybridge/web";
import { useState } from "react";

function LibraryUploader() {
  const { upload } = useFiles();
  const [fileId, setFileId] = useState<string | null>(null);

  const handleUpload = async (event: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
    const file = event.target.files?.[0];
    if (!file) return;

    // Save to the user's ChatGPT file library
    const { fileId } = await upload(file, { library: true });
    setFileId(fileId);
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <input type="file" onChange={handleUpload} />
      {fileId && <p>Saved to library: {fileId}</p>}
    </div>
  );
}
```

### Select Files from Library

```tsx
import { useFiles } from "skybridge/web";
import type { FileMetadata } from "skybridge/web";
import { useState } from "react";

function FileSelector() {
  const { selectFiles, getDownloadUrl } = useFiles();
  const [files, setFiles] = useState<FileMetadata[]>([]);

  const handleSelect = async () => {
    const selected = await selectFiles();
    setFiles(selected);
  };

  const handleDownload = async (fileId: string) => {
    const { downloadUrl } = await getDownloadUrl({ fileId });
    window.open(downloadUrl, "_blank");
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <button onClick={handleSelect}>Select from Library</button>
      <ul>
        {files.map((file) => (
          <li key={file.fileId}>
            {file.fileName ?? file.fileId}
            {file.mimeType && <span> ({file.mimeType})</span>}
            <button onClick={() => handleDownload(file.fileId)}>
              Download
            </button>
          </li>
        ))}
      </ul>
    </div>
  );
}
```

### Document Manager

```tsx
import { useFiles } from "skybridge/web";
import { useState } from "react";

type Document = {
  name: string;
  fileId: string;
};

function DocumentManager() {
  const { upload, getDownloadUrl } = useFiles();
  const [documents, setDocuments] = useState<Document[]>([]);

  const handleUpload = async (event: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
    const file = event.target.files?.[0];
    if (!file) return;

    const { fileId } = await upload(file);
    setDocuments((prev) => [...prev, { name: file.name, fileId }]);
  };

  const handleDownload = async (doc: Document) => {
    const { downloadUrl } = await getDownloadUrl({ fileId: doc.fileId });
    window.open(downloadUrl, "_blank");
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <input type="file" onChange={handleUpload} />
      <ul>
        {documents.map((doc) => (
          <li key={doc.fileId}>
            {doc.name}
            <button onClick={() => handleDownload(doc)}>Download</button>
          </li>
        ))}
      </ul>
    </div>
  );
}
```

### Multiple File Upload

```tsx
import { useFiles } from "skybridge/web";
import { useState } from "react";

function MultiFileUploader() {
  const { upload } = useFiles();
  const [uploadedIds, setUploadedIds] = useState<string[]>([]);
  const [progress, setProgress] = useState<number>(0);

  const handleUpload = async (event: React.ChangeEvent<HTMLInputElement>) => {
    const files = Array.from(event.target.files || []);
    if (files.length === 0) return;

    const ids: string[] = [];
    for (let i = 0; i < files.length; i++) {
      const { fileId } = await upload(files[i]);
      ids.push(fileId);
      setProgress(((i + 1) / files.length) * 100);
    }
    setUploadedIds(ids);
    setProgress(0);
  };

  return (
    <div>
      <input type="file" multiple onChange={handleUpload} />
      {progress > 0 && <progress value={progress} max={100} />}
      {uploadedIds.length > 0 && (
        <p>Uploaded {uploadedIds.length} files</p>
      )}
    </div>
  );
}
```

## See also

- [`FileRef`](/api-reference/file-ref): Helper schema and types for ChatGPT file references in tool inputs and output.