Common causes
The file was uploaded to the chat but not added to the project's Files section.
The file is still processing (large PDFs can take 30–60 seconds to index).
The file was uploaded under a different project than the one the AI is currently working in.
The filename contains unusual characters or the file is password-protected.
Fix it step by step
Open your project and click Files in the left sidebar. Confirm the document is actually listed there.
If it isn't, drag it onto the Files panel (not just the chat).
Wait until the processing indicator finishes, then refresh the chat.
Ask the AI again — see the tip below on what to reference.
If the file is a scan/image PDF, make sure OCR has completed — the icon turns solid when ready.
💡 Pro tip: reference the document's title, not the filename
The AI finds your document much more reliably when you refer to its title or subject (what the document actually is) rather than the literal filename. File names are often cryptic (TB-2025-0412_v3_FINAL.pdf) while titles are descriptive and easier for the AI to match.
👍 Good: "Summarise the requirements in the Schedule of Requirements."
👍 Good: "Look at the tender specifications for the cleaning contract and list the selection criteria."
👎 Weaker: "Read
TB-2025-0412_v3_FINAL.pdf."
If you do want to use the filename, paste it exactly as it appears in the Files panel — a single typo is enough to make the AI miss it.
Still not working? Re-upload the file under a simpler name (e.g. specs.pdf), or export it to PDF if it is a protected Word file.