File Upload Survey Questions

File upload questions let respondents attach a document or image as their answer instead of typing or selecting one. They are useful for collecting signed consent forms, receipts or proof-of-purchase, portfolio or writing samples, screenshots, and any other artifact that exists as a file rather than as text.

Use file upload when the artifact itself matters. If you only need a short written answer, Text Response is easier for respondents to complete and for you to analyze at scale.

• Instructions field: tells respondents which file to attach and in what format.
• Per-question size limit: set a maximum file size for this question, in megabytes.
• Platform ceiling: every file upload question is capped at 10 MB, since files are stored inline with the response rather than in separate cloud storage.
• Accepted file types: choose which file types respondents may upload, from .pdf, .doc, .docx, .txt, .csv, .xls, .xlsx, .jpg/.jpeg, and .png. All are allowed by default; narrow the list to, for example, accept only PDFs for a consent form. The file picker only offers the selected types, and a file of any other type is rejected when the response is submitted.

1. Step 1: Open Block Builder. Open the survey and select the block where the upload belongs.

   Step 1: Open Block Builder

2. Step 2: Add a File Upload question. Choose File Upload from the question type selector.

   Step 2: Choose File Upload question type

3. Step 3: Write clear instructions. Tell respondents exactly what to attach, since there is no preview of the file's expected contents. Instrument Review flags an upload question that doesn't say what to send.

   Step 3: Write instructions

4. Step 4: Set the maximum file size. Choose a limit large enough for a real file but small enough to keep response rows a manageable size. The platform enforces a hard 10 MB ceiling regardless of this setting.

   Step 4: Set maximum file size

5. Step 5: Choose the accepted file types. Under Accepted file types, pick whichever of the three views is quickest — they all edit the same list, so a change in one shows up in the others:

   • Presets turns whole groups on or off: Documents (.pdf, .doc, .docx, .txt), Spreadsheets & Data (.csv, .xls, .xlsx), and Images (.jpg, .png). Presets combine, so Documents plus Images accepts both.
   • Select Each lists every supported type with its own switch.
   • Type a List takes a comma-separated list of extensions, such as pdf, docx, png. The leading dot and capitalization don't matter. The list is saved when you press Enter or click away; anything unsupported is pointed out and left off, and Escape discards your edit.

   At least one type must stay on. Respondents see the accepted types listed under the upload button.

   Step 5: Choose accepted file types

6. Step 6: Preview the upload flow. Attach a test file and confirm it appears with its name and size before publishing.

   Step 6: Preview the upload flow

Each response exports as a downloadable file for that question, and the response table in Export has a download button for each uploaded file so you can open one without exporting everything. Files are stored inline with the response rather than in separate cloud storage, so keep the maximum file size reasonable — large attachments from many respondents increase the size of exported response data.

• Signature Survey Questions for capturing a drawn signature instead of a document
• Consent and Screening in Research Surveys
• Text Response Survey Questions
• Privacy and Anonymity in Research Surveys