Upload failures

Overview

Uploads can fail because of unsupported types, size limits, network drops, malware scanning blocks, or temporary processing errors. The batch status on Add Documents shows which files need attention.

Why this feature exists

Getting materials into the case is the foundation of Timeline, Insights, and Ask Sera.

Symptoms

• File rejected before upload starts
• Progress bar stuck or batch marked failed
• Some files succeed while others fail
• Error about type, size, or unsafe content

Likely causes

• Unsupported file type or extension
• File larger than the per-file limit
• Unstable network connection
• Corrupted or password-protected PDF
• Security scan blocking a suspicious payload

Step-by-step

1. 1

   Check file type and size

   Use PDF, JPEG, PNG, HEIC, WebP, GIF, or TXT within the size limit. Convert other formats first.

2. 2

   Retry a single file

   Re-upload the failed item alone to isolate whether the issue is the file or the batch.

3. 3

   Remove passwords and repair PDFs

   Export an unprotected PDF from the source app if the file is encrypted or known-corrupt.

4. 4

   Switch networks and retry

   Move from unstable Wi‑Fi to a steadier connection, then resume Add Documents.

5. 5

   Confirm the correct case is selected

   Uploads attach to the current case — verify the case selector before retrying a large batch.

Best practices

• Upload in smaller batches when connectivity is weak.
• Name files clearly before upload for easier Evidence review.

Productivity tips

• After success, glance at What Sera Found — new materials often create useful recommendations.

Common mistakes

• Uploading .docx or .zip without converting.
• Closing the tab mid-upload on a large batch.

When to contact support

Contact support if supported, unprotected files under the size limit fail repeatedly after a network change and single-file retries.

Frequently asked questions

Screenshots

Helpful links

• Add Documents
• Evidence
• What Sera Found

Related articles

• What file types are supported?

  PDFs, common images (JPEG, PNG, HEIC, WebP, GIF), and plain text (.txt) — up to size limits per file.

• Large PDF uploads

  Succeed with big PDFs by respecting size limits, splitting binders, and allowing extra processing time.

• OCR problems

  Improve text extraction when scans are unreadable, empty, or poorly recognized.

• Slow processing

  Understand why organization takes time and what you can do while Sera works.