How to upload files to Microsoft Teams

To upload files to Microsoft Teams, open a channel’s Shared tab and select Upload, or use Attach file in a chat or channel message. Choose your file, let it upload, and send the message if you attached it to a conversation.

The instructions below cover Teams for work or school, primarily on desktop and the web. Menu placement can vary; some layouts still display Files instead of Shared. The illustrations highlight the controls to look for.

Choose where to upload your file

Your destination determines where the file is stored and who receives access. According to Microsoft’s file storage guide:

Standard channels use the team’s SharePoint site. Private and shared channels have separate sites, as explained in Microsoft’s collaboration architecture. Always open the intended channel before uploading.

1. Upload directly to a channel’s Shared tab

This method puts a document in the channel library without requiring a conversation post.

1. Open the team and channel. Select Shared, then In library if that view is available.

   

2. Select Upload, choose Files if a menu appears, select your document, and select Open. You can also drag files from your computer into the library.

   

3. Wait for the upload to finish, then confirm that the document appears in the file list. Open it to check that you selected the correct file.

   

These options follow Microsoft’s channel upload instructions. To draw attention to the document, share its link in a channel post with a short explanation.

2. Attach a file to a chat or channel message

Use this method when the file needs an accompanying message, whether you are sharing with one person, a group chat, or a channel.

1. Open the conversation and start a message or channel post. In the compose box, select Actions and apps, then Attach file.

   

2. Choose Upload from this device for a local file. To share something already stored online, choose Attach cloud files instead.

   

3. Select the document, add any context, and select Send. For larger files, watch the upload indicator until the attachment becomes available.

   

See Microsoft’s attachment instructions for supported attachment options. When sharing an existing cloud file, check its permissions. If Teams displays a Give access banner, review the recipients and select Update access before sending, following Microsoft’s sharing guidance.

3. Upload through SharePoint

You can also use the channel’s underlying document library in a browser. You need permission to contribute files; you do not normally need Microsoft 365 administrator access.

1. In the channel’s Shared library, open More commands and select Open in SharePoint. This opens the relevant channel location.

   

2. In that library or channel folder, select Upload, choose your file, and complete the upload. Return to the channel library to find the same document.

   

The navigation is documented in Teams–SharePoint integration documentation; contribution permissions are covered by SharePoint upload guidance. Changes to the connected files appear in Teams as well.

Upload files from the Teams mobile app

In a mobile chat or channel message, tap the plus sign, then Attach, and choose the file location. Select your document and send it. The available device and cloud locations depend on your phone and account. Find shared documents through the conversation’s file area afterward.

Why won’t a file upload or open?

• No upload permission: Ask the team owner or SharePoint administrator to check your access. Opening SharePoint does not bypass permissions.
• File too large or path too long: SharePoint’s file limits specify a 250 GB maximum per file and a 400-character decoded path limit, including the filename. Available storage can impose another constraint.
• Recipients cannot open it: Recheck the file’s sharing settings, especially for an existing cloud attachment or someone outside your organization.
• File seems missing: Check the original chat or channel’s Shared tab. In a channel, switch to In library to browse stored documents rather than only files and links shared in posts.