---
key: upload-files-to-the-media-center
title: Upload files to the Media Center
audience: staff
section: resources
routes: ["/files"]
permissions: ["files.upload"]
features: ["files.core"]
since: 0.0.1
updated: 0.0.1
status: published
summary: Add photos, videos or documents to your organization's Media Center without attaching them to a record yet, then mark up an image and copy the result to the record that needs it.
keywords: [upload photo, add picture, upload document, bulk upload, annotate photo, draw on photo, markup, media library]
related: [find-a-file-in-the-media-center, create-a-work-order, create-a-task]
---

In the sidebar, open **Resources**, then **Media Center**. The page address is `/files`. Files you upload here are kept by your organization and show as **Unassigned** until they are attached to a record. To attach a file to a specific work order or account, upload it from that record's Files tab instead.

## Before you start

- Your role needs permission to upload files. Marking up a file that is attached to a record also needs the file permissions on that record.
- You have to be online. When you are offline the page shows **Offline** next to the buttons and **Upload** is greyed out.

## Steps

1. Press **Upload** at the top right. Your device's file picker opens.
2. Choose one or more files and confirm. Nova uploads up to three at a time and shows progress in the upload tray at the bottom of the screen.
3. Wait for the tray to finish. Each new file appears in the grid and Nova's safety scan runs on it; the indicator on the card updates when the scan is done.
4. To draw on an image, press **Mark up** on its card. If the image is attached to more than one record, the **Choose markup source** drawer asks which one to work from; each choice says whether the result can replace the original there or only be saved as a copy.
5. Make your marks in the editor and save. The marked-up version is saved as a copy, or replaces the original where that choice allowed it. An unassigned file's markup is saved as a new unassigned copy.

## What you see

- Open a supported attachment to preview it. **Previous file** and **Next file** move through the available files, including images, PDFs, Word documents, audio and videos. The counter shows your position. Left and right keyboard arrows also move between files when you are not using a media control. On a phone, use the same buttons; images can also be swiped when fitted to the screen. Word documents may take a moment to prepare.

- A file uploaded from this page has no location, so its card reads **Unassigned** and its **Details** drawer shows nothing under **Where used**.
- The upload tray is the only progress indicator. The page does not show a message when an upload finishes; the file simply appears in the grid.
- If one file in a batch fails, the tray names it and the others continue.

## If something looks different

- **Upload** is greyed out: you are offline, an upload is already running, or your role cannot upload.
- A file shows a warning indicator after upload: the safety scan flagged it. Open **Details** to read the status; a blocked file cannot be previewed or downloaded until it is cleared.
- **Mark up** is greyed out: the file is not an image, PDF or Word document, it was deleted, or your role cannot download it.
- The upload stalls on a large file: keep the tab open. Nova resumes interrupted uploads where it can; if the tray shows a failure, press **Upload** and choose the file again.

[[route:/files|Open the Media Center]]