---
title: "Files and links"
space: "Raven"
url: "https://docs.frappe.io/raven/messages/files-and-links"
updated: "2026-10-19"
---

Send files and images with your messages, and open them in the viewer. Links in a message show a preview under it.

## Attach files

Use any of these:

- Click the **Attach file** button (paperclip) under the message box and choose one or more files.
- Drag files from your computer into the conversation. **Drop files to upload** shows while you drag.
- Copy a file or an image and paste it into the message box.

The files show in the message box while they upload. Click an image or a PDF to preview it. Click the **x** next to a file to remove it. Add a message if you like, then send. The files and your text are posted together.

If you send before the uploads finish, the message goes out when they are done. If an upload fails, remove that file and try again.

:::note
Your site can limit the size and the type of files. A file that is too large or of a type that is not allowed is not added, and a message tells you why. A System Manager sets these limits in **System Settings** in Desk.
:::

## How images show

One image shows on its own. Two to four images sent together show as a stack. Five or more show as a carousel that you page through.

<picture>
  <source srcset="/files/raven-dark-messages-images.webp" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)">
  <img src="/files/raven-light-messages-images.webp" alt="Three images sent together, shown as a stack" width="728">
</picture>

To show two to four images as a grid instead:

1. Open **Settings > Appearance**.
2. Change **Image group layout** to **Grid**.

This setting is kept on the device and browser you set it on.

## The viewer

Click an image or a file to open it in the viewer.

<picture>
  <source srcset="/files/raven-dark-messages-image-viewer.webp" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)">
  <img src="/files/raven-light-messages-image-viewer.webp" alt="An image open in the viewer">
</picture>

- When several files were sent together, page through them with the arrows, the **Left** and **Right** arrow keys, or the thumbnails at the bottom.
- Zoom an image with the zoom buttons, the mouse wheel or a pinch on a trackpad.
- PDFs open inside the viewer. Videos and audio play in it.
- Files the viewer cannot show have a **Download** button.
- Click **Download** to save the file, or **Share** to share it.
- Press **Esc** or click **Close** to close the viewer.

<picture>
  <source srcset="/files/raven-dark-messages-file-viewer.webp" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)">
  <img src="/files/raven-light-messages-file-viewer.webp" alt="A PDF open in the viewer">
</picture>

## File actions

Point to a message with files and click **More actions** (**⋯**).

| Action | What it does |
| :--- | :--- |
| Copy file link | Copies a link to the file. |
| Download | Downloads the file. |
| Download all | Downloads every file that was sent together. |
| Attach to document | Attaches the file to a document from any Frappe app. The file stays on the message too. |

## Link previews

When a message has a link, a preview of the page shows under it. Only the first link in a message gets a preview.

<picture>
  <source srcset="/files/raven-dark-messages-link-preview.webp" media="(prefers-color-scheme: dark)">
  <img src="/files/raven-light-messages-link-preview.webp" alt="A preview card under a message with a link" width="728">
</picture>

Some links show the content itself:

- Videos and music from YouTube, Vimeo, Loom, Spotify, SoundCloud, Apple Music and Apple Podcasts play in the message.
- Reddit posts show in the message.
- Zoom, Google Meet and Frappe Meet links show a meeting card with a **Join** button.
- Links to a Raven message, thread, channel or direct message show a card that opens it.

Admins can turn off previews for some sites. See [Link preview settings](wiki:0f340d3789c8).

### Choose how previews show

1. Open **Settings > Appearance**.
2. Change **Link previews**.

| Option | What it does |
| :--- | :--- |
| **Preview card** | Shows a card under the message. This is the default. |
| **On hover** | Hides the card. Point to the link to see the preview. |

This setting changes only the preview card. Video, music and meeting previews always show.

## On the mobile app

Tap **+** in the message box, then tap **Camera**, **Photos** or **Files**. On Android, you can also tap **Video** to record a video.

To change the image layout on the mobile app, tap **Profile > Preferences** and change **Image group layout**. On the mobile app, link previews always show as cards.