File Upload Field Setup and Limits

Allow users to upload files through your forms - perfect for job applications, support tickets, and document collection.

What Is the File Upload Field?

The File Upload field lets form visitors attach files when submitting your form. Common use cases:

  • Job applications (resumes, portfolios)
  • Support tickets (screenshots, logs)
  • Document submissions (contracts, forms)
  • Image submissions (photos, artwork)
  • File sharing (reports, presentations)

Plan Requirement: File upload fields are available on all FormRobin plans (Free and Individual).

Adding a File Upload Field

  1. Open your form in the Form Editor
  2. Click the + button (dashed line) to add a new field

FormRobin form editor showing the + button to add new fields

  1. Select File upload from the field type list

Field type selector showing File upload option highlighted

  1. Configure the field:
    • Label: Question text (e.g., "Upload your resume")
    • Description: Optional help text
    • Required: Toggle whether file upload is mandatory
  2. Click Save or continue editing

File upload field configuration showing label, description, and upload area

File Upload Field Options

  • Label: The question or instruction text
  • Description: Additional guidance for users
  • Required: Make file upload mandatory or optional
  • File types allowed: Restrict accepted file types (All, Images, PDF, Word, Excel, Text, or Archives)
  • Maximum file size (MB): Set the max file size from 1MB to 50MB (default: 10MB)

Note: Each file upload field accepts one file per submission.

File Upload Limits

File Size Limit

FormRobin lets you configure the maximum file size per upload field:

  • Default: 10MB per file
  • Configurable range: 1MB to 50MB per field
  • Per-field setting: Each file upload field has its own maximum size control

To change the file size limit, edit your file upload field and adjust the Maximum file size (MB) input. Files exceeding the configured limit will be rejected with a "file too large" error.

File Type Restrictions

You can restrict which file types users are allowed to upload using the File types allowed dropdown in the field settings. Available options:

  • All file types (default) - Accept any file
  • Images - .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif, .webp
  • PDF documents - .pdf
  • Word documents - .doc, .docx
  • Excel files - .xls, .xlsx
  • Text files - .txt
  • Archive files - .zip, .rar

Note: When a file type restriction is set, users who attempt to upload a disallowed file type will see a "This file type is not allowed" error.

Number of Files

  • One file per field: Each file upload field accepts a single file
  • Multiple fields: Add multiple file upload fields if you need users to upload several files

💡 Tip: If you need users to upload multiple files, add multiple file upload fields to your form with clear labels (e.g., "Upload Resume", "Upload Cover Letter", "Upload Portfolio").

File Storage

Uploaded files are:

  • Stored securely on AWS S3 servers
  • Linked to the form submission/response
  • Accessible via the Responses dashboard
  • Downloadable by the form owner
  • Not publicly accessible (private URLs)

Viewing Uploaded Files

  1. Go to Forms → select your form
  2. Click the Responses tab
  3. Click on a specific response
  4. Uploaded files appear with download links
  5. Click the file name or Download to save it

User Experience

When users submit a form with file upload:

  1. User clicks Choose File or Browse
  2. Selects a file from their device
  3. File name appears in the field
  4. User submits the form
  5. File uploads during submission (may take a few seconds)
  6. Success message appears when upload completes

Best Practices

  • Set expectations: Use the description field to specify accepted formats and size limits
  • Be specific: Label clearly ("Upload Resume (PDF only)" vs "File")
  • Mention size limit: Remind users of the file size limit in the description
  • Provide alternatives: For large files, consider linking to cloud storage instead
  • Test uploads: Submit test files to ensure the field works correctly
  • Privacy notice: Inform users how their files will be used and stored
  • Multiple files: Add multiple file upload fields if you need several files

Security Considerations

  • Private storage: Files are not publicly accessible
  • Owner only: Only the form owner can download uploaded files
  • AWS S3: Files stored on secure cloud infrastructure
  • Virus risk: Always scan downloaded files with your antivirus software
  • Sensitive data: Consider encryption requirements for confidential files

Limitations

  • File size: Maximum 50MB per file (configurable per field, default 10MB)
  • One file per field: Each file upload field accepts only one file
  • Preset type categories only: File type restrictions use predefined categories (Images, PDF, Word, Excel, Text, Archives) rather than custom extension lists
  • No virus scanning: FormRobin doesn't automatically scan files for viruses
  • No preview: Cannot preview images or documents before downloading
  • No editing: Users cannot edit or replace files after submission

Troubleshooting

Issue: "File too large" error when uploading.

Fix: The file exceeds the configured size limit for that field (default 10MB, max 50MB). You can increase the limit in the file upload field settings, or ask users to compress the file, reduce image quality, or split large documents.

Issue: Upload button doesn't respond or file doesn't attach.

Fix: Check browser console for JavaScript errors. Try a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari). Disable browser extensions that might interfere. Ensure the file name doesn't contain special characters.

Issue: Cannot download uploaded files from responses.

Fix: Ensure you're the form owner (only owners can download files). Check that files were actually uploaded (look for file names in the response). Try a different browser or clear browser cache. Contact support if files appear but won't download.

Issue: Certain file types won't upload.

Fix: Check the File types allowed setting on the upload field - it may be restricted to a specific category (e.g., Images only). Change it to "All file types" to accept any file. Note that executable files (.exe, .bat, .sh, .app) may still be blocked for security.

Issue: Need to collect multiple files from users.

Fix: Add multiple file upload fields to your form. Label each clearly (e.g., "Resume", "Cover Letter", "Portfolio Sample 1", "Portfolio Sample 2").

FAQ

Q: What's the maximum file size I can upload?

A: The default maximum file size is 10MB per file, but you can configure this from 1MB to 50MB per field using the Maximum file size (MB) setting in the field editor.

Q: Can I upload multiple files to one field?

A: No, each file upload field accepts one file. To collect multiple files, add multiple file upload fields to your form.

Q: Can I restrict uploads to specific file types (e.g., PDF only)?

A: Yes! Use the File types allowed dropdown in the file upload field settings to restrict uploads to Images, PDF, Word, Excel, Text, or Archive files. When set, FormRobin will reject files that don't match the selected type.

Q: How long are uploaded files stored?

A: Files are stored indefinitely on AWS S3 along with form responses unless you delete the response or form.

Q: Can form visitors see files uploaded by others?

A: No. Files are private and only visible to the form owner.


Need help with file uploads? Contact our support team - we're here to help!

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