How to Upload Documents
Learn about the different ways to upload and analyze your documents
Last updated: May 7, 2026
ExplainMyLetter offers multiple convenient ways to upload your documents. Choose the method that works best for you.
Upload Methods
Drag and Drop
The quickest way to upload files. Simply drag your document from your file explorer directly into the upload area on the dashboard.
How it works:
- Open your file explorer or finder
- Locate the document you want to analyze
- Drag it over the upload area on the dashboard
- Drop the file when the area highlights
- Click "Analyze" to process your document
File Picker
Use the traditional file browser to select your document. Perfect for mobile devices or if you prefer clicking instead of dragging.
How it works:
- Click the "Choose File" or "Browse" button
- Navigate to your document in the file browser
- Select the file and click "Open"
- Review the file preview
- Click "Analyze" to start processing
Paste Text Directly
Got text from an email or website? Just paste it directly without creating a file first.
How it works:
- Copy the text from your source (email, PDF, website)
- Click "Or paste text directly" to expand the text area
- Paste your text into the box
- Click "Analyze Document" — we'll generate a title for you automatically
On Desktop: Drag and drop is fastest for files.
On Mobile: Use the file picker for documents or paste text for emails and web content.
Supported File Formats
We support the most common document and image formats to ensure you can analyze virtually any letter or document you receive:
Document Formats
- PDF (.pdf)
- Text Files (.txt)
- Plain Text (pasted)
Image Formats
- JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg)
- PNG (.png)
- (Text must be clearly visible)
Upload Requirements & Tips
Maximum file size is 10MB. Most documents are well under this limit. If your file is too large, try:
- • Compressing the PDF
- • Reducing image resolution
- • Copying and pasting the text instead
For images with text (photos of documents), ensure:
- • Text is clearly readable and in focus
- • Good lighting without shadows or glare
- • Document is flat (not wrinkled or folded)
- • Image is taken straight-on (not at an angle)
PDFs: we extract the text on our server, redact identifiers (PESEL, NIP, IBAN, Steuer-ID, email, phone, postal codes), then send only redacted text to Mistral AI in the EU. The original PDF is discarded after processing.
Photos & scans:we use Mistral's OCR endpoint (EU-hosted, no-training contract) to extract text from the image. The extracted text is then redacted before the explanation model sees it.
Pasted text: redacted, then sent to Mistral. Originals discarded after processing.
Full details in the Privacy Policy.
Troubleshooting Upload Issues
File won't upload
- Check that the file format is supported
- Verify the file size is under 10MB
- Ensure you have a stable internet connection
- Try refreshing the page and uploading again
Upload is slow
- Large files take longer to upload
- Check your internet connection speed
- Consider compressing PDFs or reducing image sizes
Can't see preview after upload
- The file preview may not be available for all formats
- You can still analyze the document without a preview
- Try a different browser if the issue persists
If you continue to experience upload problems, please contact our support team with details about the file format, size, and any error messages you're seeing.