File Manager & Attachments
File Manager & Attachments
Every Frappe document can have files attached. The File Manager is the underlying system.
Attaching to a document
On any document form: drag a file onto the page, or click the attach icon. The file is saved as a File record and linked via attached_to_doctype + attached_to_name.
Public vs Private
| Privacy | Accessed via | Permission check |
|---|---|---|
| Public | /files/<filename> |
None — anyone with URL |
| Private | /private/files/<filename> |
Yes — Frappe permission check on parent doc |
Default is per-field on the DocType. Sensitive attachments (signed PDFs, payslips, contracts) should always be Private.
Storage backends
| Backend | Where files live |
|---|---|
| Local filesystem (default) | sites/<site>/public/files/ and private/files/ |
| S3-compatible | Configure S3 File Storage with bucket + access keys |
Migration: existing files stay where they are; new files write to the new backend.
File Manager view
Home → File Manager is a Dropbox-like browser of all files. Folders, search, image preview. System Manager sees everything; regular users see files via the permission of the parent doc.
Lifecycle hooks
On insert/delete, Frappe runs file hooks — apps can subscribe for virus scanning, image resizing, OCR, EXIF stripping. Useful when integrating with antivirus or compliance tooling.
Limits
| Setting | Default |
|---|---|
| Max file size | 25 MB (configurable via System Settings → Max File Size) |
| Total disk usage | Visible in System Settings |
| File types | All allowed by default; restrict via System Settings → Allow / Restrict File Types |
Storage on Frappe Cloud and Prilk-managed plans is metered — check your plan.