--- title: "Attach files in chat" slug: "attach-files-in-chat" updated: 2026-07-23T10:06:56Z published: 2026-07-23T10:06:56Z canonical: "help.8x8.com/attach-files-in-chat" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.8x8.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Attach files in chat While chatting with a colleague in **8x8 Work for Desktop**, you can attach a file or image you are discussing to make your conversation more efficient and productive. Let's say you are discussing a document that you have access to, but your colleague does not. Instead of having to email the document, you can quickly and easily attach it in the chat to give your colleague better context for your conversation. > [!NOTE] > **Note:** > > This feature is part of the New Chat Experience, which is [available based on your organization's requirements](/documentation/docs/faq-messages#new-chat-ex). If you wish to explore the New Chat Experience, [click here](https://support.8x8.com/us/Cloud_Phone_Service/Voice/Virtual_Office_Desktop/New_Chat_Experience_for_Virtual_Office_Desktop_FAQ) to learn more. ## Features - Send any type of file; attach images, PDFs, brief audio recordings, and more! - Attach and send files up to: - 50 MB in size at a time for IM chat. - 2MB in size at a time for SMS chat. - Send unlimited files over time free of charge. - Quickly attach images and files in chats with individual colleagues or teams. **To attach files in chat:** 1. While in an IM or SMS chat, click **Attach ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon_Attach_18x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A12%3A30Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A12%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6Bj7EP5Ad2x4OSAhxbVkGtzTNHekvCma89VoI0FDRxE%3D)** in your text entry bar to open a file selection window on your computer. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/Messages_AttachFile.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A12%3A30Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A12%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6Bj7EP5Ad2x4OSAhxbVkGtzTNHekvCma89VoI0FDRxE%3D) 2. Select one or more files to upload. The total file size you can send per message depends on the type of chat: - IM chat: up to 50MB - SMS chat: up to 2MB 3. Once the file finishes uploading, you can send the file by itself, with other files, or with an accompanying message. Once the file is sent, the other party in the chat can download and open the file. ## Shared documents option All attachments or links shared in room or in 1:1 conversations are now organized in one place and you can easily access them by going to the **More Options![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon_more_options_9x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A12%3A30Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A12%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6Bj7EP5Ad2x4OSAhxbVkGtzTNHekvCma89VoI0FDRxE%3D)** > **View shared documents ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-open-doc.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A12%3A30Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A12%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6Bj7EP5Ad2x4OSAhxbVkGtzTNHekvCma89VoI0FDRxE%3D)** option. The shared attachments and links list may contain: - Links posted to that room/conversation for Google Docs, Google Drive, Sharepoint, Onedrive. - File attachments posted to that room/conversation. **To view all the attachments/links shared in a room or an 1:1 conversation:** 1. While you are in **Messages ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-messages-menu_19x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A12%3A30Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A12%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6Bj7EP5Ad2x4OSAhxbVkGtzTNHekvCma89VoI0FDRxE%3D)** chat room 1:1 conversation, in the conversation panel, click the **More Options![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon_more_options_9x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A12%3A30Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A12%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6Bj7EP5Ad2x4OSAhxbVkGtzTNHekvCma89VoI0FDRxE%3D)** on the right top of the conversation panel, and select **View shared documents ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-open-doc_19x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A12%3A30Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A12%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6Bj7EP5Ad2x4OSAhxbVkGtzTNHekvCma89VoI0FDRxE%3D)**from the list. 2. In the **Shared documents** panel, on the right-side of the page,a list of all the shared documents in that room/conversation displays chronologically. 3. Select the document you are looking for and choose one of the available options: - Click **Jump to message ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-jump-to-message_13x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A12%3A30Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A12%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6Bj7EP5Ad2x4OSAhxbVkGtzTNHekvCma89VoI0FDRxE%3D)** to jump to the message containing that link or file - Click **Preview ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-preview-doc.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A12%3A30Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A12%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6Bj7EP5Ad2x4OSAhxbVkGtzTNHekvCma89VoI0FDRxE%3D)** to view the full image size within the app. - Click **Open ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-open-doc_19x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A12%3A30Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A12%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6Bj7EP5Ad2x4OSAhxbVkGtzTNHekvCma89VoI0FDRxE%3D)** to open the related page in a browser. - Click **Download ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-download-doc_20x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A12%3A30Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A12%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6Bj7EP5Ad2x4OSAhxbVkGtzTNHekvCma89VoI0FDRxE%3D)** to download the attachment locally. > [!NOTE] > **Note:** > > The attachment deleted doesn’t display in the shared documents list. ![shared-files-conversation_thumb_0_125.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/shared-files-conversation_thumb_0_125.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A12%3A30Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A12%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6Bj7EP5Ad2x4OSAhxbVkGtzTNHekvCma89VoI0FDRxE%3D) ### Open shared files directly from the conversation When files are shared in **8x8 Work for Desktop** conversations, you can now open them with one click using your computer's default application. Previously, opening files in **8x8 Work for Desktop** conversations required several steps: downloading the file, locating it on the device, and then opening it, making the process inconvenient and time-consuming. T**o open an attachment from an 8x8 conversation:** - While you are in **Messages ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-messages-menu_19x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A12%3A30Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A12%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6Bj7EP5Ad2x4OSAhxbVkGtzTNHekvCma89VoI0FDRxE%3D)**conversation, you received an attachment, click **Open ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-open-file_17x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A12%3A30Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A12%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6Bj7EP5Ad2x4OSAhxbVkGtzTNHekvCma89VoI0FDRxE%3D)**to launch the file in your default application. > [!NOTE] > **Note:** > > You cannot open an executable file, but you can download it by clicking **Download ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-download_15x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A12%3A30Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A12%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6Bj7EP5Ad2x4OSAhxbVkGtzTNHekvCma89VoI0FDRxE%3D)**. ![Open an attached file to an 8x8 conversation](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/open-attached-file-to-conversation.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A12%3A30Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A12%3A30Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=6Bj7EP5Ad2x4OSAhxbVkGtzTNHekvCma89VoI0FDRxE%3D)