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Google Gemini File Upload and Reading: supported formats, limits, and enterprise use.

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Google Gemini supports file upload and reading across its consumer apps, developer tools, and enterprise platforms. This functionality enables users to query, summarize, and analyze documents, spreadsheets, audio, and other file types directly within Gemini’s ecosystem. In 2025, Google has clarified the different upload methods, size constraints, and parsing behaviors across Gemini Apps, the Gemini API, Vertex AI, and Google Drive integrations. The result is a multi-tiered system where everyday users, developers, and enterprises each encounter specific rules for how files are accepted and processed.

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How file uploads work in Gemini consumer apps.

In the Gemini web and mobile apps, users can attach files directly to a prompt. Uploads are limited to 10 files per prompt with a maximum size of 100 MB per file. This interface is designed for light research, personal productivity, and quick document analysis. Historically, the apps supported text documents and images but excluded audio and video. In 2025, Google began rolling out audio upload support, allowing formats such as MP3, M4A, and WAV with a cap of around 10 minutes per file.

Consumer uploads are session-bound: files are processed at prompt time and do not persist beyond the conversation. Gemini applies natural language understanding to extract text, summarize content, and answer queries, but large or complex documents can trigger usage throttles that count against the user’s daily quota.

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How developers use the Gemini API for file handling.

For developers, Gemini provides two main patterns: inline uploads for small files and the Files API for larger or persistent uploads. Inline uploads are best for lightweight documents under ~20 MB, which can be included directly in a request.

The Files API supports significantly larger files. General object storage rules allow up to 2 GB per file and 20 GB per project, with files retained for about 48 hours. However, when files are treated as documents for parsing, a stricter limit of 50 MB per PDF and 1,000 pages applies. These document-processing limits ensure predictable performance and enable text-aware features such as summarization and structured extraction.

This dual-layer system means developers must distinguish between storing files for multimodal prompts and using files as structured documents.

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File uploads and reading in Vertex AI.

For enterprises using Vertex AI, Google publishes clear constraints designed for reliability at scale. Uploads can include:

  • Up to 3,000 files per request

  • PDFs up to 1,000 pages each

  • Maximum file size of 50 MB via API or Cloud Storage URIs

  • Maximum file size of 7 MB when uploaded directly via console

Vertex AI connects Gemini Pro and Flash models to document understanding pipelines. This allows organizations to ingest large corpora of reports, contracts, or compliance files in a single operation. Access is governed by IAM roles, project quotas, and logging, ensuring alignment with enterprise governance requirements.

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How file reading functions after upload.

Gemini’s file-reading workflow depends on modality:

  • Text and documents: PDFs, DOCX, TXT, and other formats are parsed into text segments for summarization and question answering.

  • Tables and spreadsheets: XLSX and CSV files are structured into rows and columns, enabling direct analysis, charting, or export.

  • Images: Gemini extracts textual content via OCR and can describe diagrams or charts at a basic level.

  • Audio and video: In apps, audio is transcribed and summarized; in enterprise contexts, video summarization leverages captions and metadata rather than full semantic video analysis.

Reading is therefore not limited to simple display but involves structured indexing and semantic parsing, which allows context-aware queries across multiple files.

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Google Drive and Workspace integrations.

In Workspace, Gemini integrates directly with Google Drive, allowing users to open PDFs, videos, or folders and receive AI-generated summaries. PDFs are summarized automatically on open, folders can be condensed into summary cards, and videos can be processed using caption data to create outlines or key takeaways. Because the files remain stored in Drive, there is no separate “upload” step; the assistant simply reads the existing file in place.

This zero-copy integration ensures compliance with organizational storage policies while extending Gemini’s capabilities into productivity workflows.

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Table — Gemini file upload limits across contexts.

Surface

Files per prompt

Max file size

Pages per PDF

Notes

Gemini Apps (web/mobile)

10

100 MB

Unspecified

Supports documents and images; audio uploads rolling out, ~10 min cap

Gemini API (inline)

N/A

~20 MB

N/A

Lightweight uploads only

Gemini API (Files API)

N/A

2 GB/file, 20 GB/project

50 MB if parsed

Files retained ~48h; stricter rules for document parsing

Vertex AI (API/Cloud Storage)

Up to 3,000

50 MB (API/Cloud Storage), 7 MB (console)

1,000

Enterprise-grade quotas and governance controls

Drive/Workspace

N/A

N/A

N/A

Summaries generated on open; no manual upload required

This table highlights the significant variation in limits between consumer, developer, and enterprise environments.

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Operational recommendations for different users.

For individuals, Gemini Apps provide sufficient file handling for lightweight tasks such as summarizing reports, asking questions about PDFs, or transcribing audio notes. Users should be mindful of the 100 MB cap and the evolving rollout of audio support.

For developers, the Files API is the preferred option for workflows requiring repeated queries across the same files. When working with large PDFs, the 50 MB and 1,000-page restrictions apply, so splitting long documents may be necessary.

For enterprises, Vertex AI offers the most reliable path. It supports thousands of files per prompt, integrates with Cloud Storage for large datasets, and provides audit trails and IAM governance. For organizations already embedded in Google Workspace, Drive integration ensures files are processed within the existing security and compliance boundary.

By aligning file upload strategies with the chosen Gemini environment, users can maximize performance, maintain compliance, and scale document analysis effectively.

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