> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://elephas.app/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Fix File Import Errors
> Every Elephas file import error mapped to a fix: unsupported type, too large, no readable text, permissions, PDF passwords, text recognition and web pages.
When a file cannot be added, Elephas tells you why, either in a notice when you add it or under the file's name in your Brain. Find the message below to see the cause and the fix. A failed file never affects the other files in your Brain.
## Before you start
* Open the Brain and look at its file list. A file that failed shows **Couldn't be read**, and the **Error** filter above the list shows only those files. The reason is written under the file's name.
* Files Elephas refuses before adding them, such as an unsupported type, do not appear in the list. You see a notice instead: "*file name* could not be imported." followed by the reason. When several files are refused at once, the notice gives the count.
* Check the [supported file types](/docs/brains-and-documents/supported-file-types) if you are not sure Elephas reads a format.
## Steps
In the Brain, choose the **Error** filter above the file list and read the line under the file's name.
Use the tables below. Most fixes happen outside Elephas, such as saving the file in another format or making it smaller.
For a file in the list, click **Retry** on its row, or open the row's **More** menu and choose **Retry**. For a refused file, add it again after fixing it.
## File messages
| Message | Cause | Fix |
| - | - | - |
| **This file type is not supported yet.** | The format is not one Elephas reads, for example Pages, Numbers, Keynote, HEIC photos, email files, audio or video. | Export or save it as PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, text, Markdown, CSV or HTML, then add that copy. |
| **This file is larger than the import limit.** | The file is over 200 MB, or an image is over 50 MB. | Split the file, or export a smaller version (for example, a PDF without embedded high-resolution images). |
| **This file has more content than Elephas can safely read.** | The file is within the size limit but holds more than Elephas can process safely, such as a spreadsheet over 2 million cells, an image over 50 million pixels, or an Office or EPUB file that unpacks to more than 1 GB. | Split it into smaller files, or remove sheets, images or pages you do not need. Then add it again. |
| **No readable text was found in this file.** | The file has no text Elephas can extract, for example an empty document, or slides that are only pictures. | Check the file opens and contains text. For scanned pages, see the text recognition row below. |
| **This file is not valid UTF-8 text.** | A `.txt`, `.csv` or `.tsv` file is saved in an older text encoding. | Open it in a text editor and save it as UTF-8, then add it again. |
| **This PDF is password-protected. Retry it and enter the password to add it.** | The PDF needs a password to open. | Click **Retry** and enter the password. Elephas uses it for this import only and does not keep it. See [password-protected PDFs](/docs/brains-and-documents/password-protected-pdfs). |
| **That password did not open this PDF. Retry to try another.** | The password you entered was wrong. | Click **Retry** and enter the correct password. |
| **Text recognition is not installed, so this image could not be read. Install it in Settings › Downloads, then retry.** | The component that reads scanned pages and images is missing. | Open **Settings › Downloads**, click **Download** next to **Text recognition for scanned pages**, then click **Retry**. |
| **Elephas was not allowed to read this file.** | Your computer did not give Elephas permission to read the file, or the file is locked by another app. | See [permission problems](#permission-problems) below. |
| **The file could not be found or opened.** | The file was moved, renamed or deleted before Elephas read it, or it is in a cloud folder that has not downloaded it to your computer. | Make sure the file is on your computer and opens normally, then add it again. |
| **The import was interrupted.** | Elephas was closed or your computer slept while the file was being read. | Click **Retry**. |
| **The import failed. You can retry or delete this document.** | Something else went wrong. Common causes: a password-protected Word, Excel or PowerPoint file, a damaged file, or reading that took longer than 2 minutes. | Remove the password from Office files (Elephas cannot open them) and add the file again. Otherwise click **Retry**. If it fails again, delete the file from the Brain, try a re-saved or smaller copy, and [contact support](/docs/troubleshooting/contact-support) if it still fails. |
## Folder messages
| Message | Cause | Fix |
| - | - | - |
| **This folder holds nothing Elephas can read.** | No file in the folder or its subfolders is a supported type. Hidden files and shortcuts (links) are skipped. | Check the folder holds supported files, or add the files directly. |
| **This folder holds too many files to add at once. Add a smaller folder, or the files you need.** | The folder holds more than 25,000 supported files. | Add its subfolders one at a time, or choose the files you need. |
Elephas looks up to 8 folder levels deep. Files nested deeper than that are not added. See [add files and folders](/docs/brains-and-documents/add-files-and-folders).
## Web page messages
| Message | Cause | Fix |
| - | - | - |
| **Enter a full web address starting with http\:// or https\://.** | The address is incomplete. | Paste the full address from your browser's address bar. |
| **The page could not be reached. Check your connection and retry.** | You are offline, or the site is down. | Check your connection, then click **Retry**. |
| **The website did not return the page.** | The site refused the request, the page needs you to sign in, or it no longer exists. | Open the address in your browser. Pages behind a sign-in cannot be added. Save the page as PDF from your browser and add the PDF instead. |
| **The page took too long to load.** | The site did not respond within 30 seconds. | Try again later, or save the page as PDF and add that. |
| **This page is larger than the import limit.** | The page is over 20 MB. | Save the part you need as PDF and add that. |
| **The page redirected too many times.** | The site sent Elephas through more than 5 redirects. | Open the address in your browser and copy the final address, then add that. |
| **This address is not a web page or a PDF.** | The address points to something else, such as an image, video or download. | Add the file itself, or link to the page that contains it. |
See [add web pages](/docs/brains-and-documents/add-web-pages).
## Permission problems
macOS may ask whether Elephas can access files in folders such as Desktop, Documents, Downloads, or a removable or network drive. If you clicked **Don't Allow**, open **System Settings › Privacy & Security › Files and Folders**, find **Elephas** and turn on the folder it needs. Then click **Retry**.
Files in iCloud Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive or Google Drive must be downloaded to your Mac first. Open the file once, or mark it to always keep on this device.
Check that your Windows account can open the file. Files on a network drive or in a protected folder may need your administrator. Files in OneDrive or other cloud folders must be available on this device: right-click the file and choose **Always keep on this device**. Then click **Retry**.
## How it works
When you add a file, Elephas copies it into its own storage and reads it on your computer. Indexing happens on your computer. Always. Nothing is uploaded to read your files, and a file that fails is never sent anywhere to be fixed.
Elephas protects itself from files that are too large or unusual by refusing them with a plain reason, instead of freezing or failing the whole batch. Each file is read on its own, so one failed file does not stop the others.
Scanned PDFs and images are read with text recognition on your computer. It reads English by default and handles up to 500 pages per document. See [scanned PDFs and images](/docs/brains-and-documents/scanned-pdfs-and-images-ocr).
## Troubleshooting
Elephas found an identical file already in the Brain and linked to it instead of adding a duplicate. Nothing failed.
Elephas added the file and notes pages it could not read, such as blank pages or pages with very faint text. The rest of the document works. A clearer scan reads better.
Big folders and long scans take time, and Elephas reads them in the background. See [performance and large libraries](/docs/brains-and-documents/performance-and-large-libraries).
## Related articles
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