Anthropic Files API
The Files API lets you upload and manage files for reuse across Messages, Batches, code execution, and Managed Agents without re-uploading content. 500 MB request limit; supports PDFs, images, Office documents, and plain text.
Operations 10
Each operation below carries the questions people ask an LLM about it and the instructions they give an agent to run it. Generated by API Evangelist overlay
2 of 10 operations are conformant: apis.io called them with no credentials and the responses matched this contract. Checked 2026-11-12. how this works · status file
Ask an LLM
“How do I upload a file so I can reference it in later requests?”
“Can I set an uploaded file to expire after a number of seconds?”
Tell an agent
Upload {file} and expire it after {expires_in_seconds} seconds.
On the plain endpoint, upload file {file}.
Ask an LLM
“Which files have I uploaded, listed without the beta query flag?”
“Can I look up several specific files by their IDs in one list call?”
Tell an agent
On the plain endpoint, list files {ids}.
List {limit} of my uploaded files per page without the beta flag.
Ask an LLM
“What's the name, size and type of a file I uploaded?”
“Can I read a file's metadata without adding the beta query flag?”
Tell an agent
Get metadata for file {file_id} on the plain endpoint.
Without the beta parameter, describe uploaded file {file_id}.
Ask an LLM
“How do I delete a file I uploaded, without the beta query flag?”
“Is deleting an uploaded file from /v1/files permanent?”
Tell an agent destructive · confirm first
Delete file {file_id} using the plain endpoint.
Without the beta parameter, erase uploaded file {file_id}.
Ask an LLM
“How do I download the actual contents of a stored file?”
“Can I fetch file bytes from /content without the beta query flag?”
Tell an agent
Download the contents of file {file_id} on the plain endpoint.
Without the beta parameter, save file {file_id} locally.
GET
/v1/files/{file_id}/content?beta=true
Download a file's content via the beta flag · Download File
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Ask an LLM
“Can I download a file an agent produced through the beta files endpoint?”
“What's the beta-flag way to get a file's raw bytes?”
Tell an agent
Download beta file {file_id} content.
With the beta flag, pull the bytes of file {file_id}.
Ask an LLM
“How do I read a file's metadata through the beta files endpoint?”
“Does the beta flag return the same file details as the plain call?”
Tell an agent
Get beta file metadata for {file_id}.
With the beta flag, show the details of file {file_id}.
Ask an LLM
“Can I delete an uploaded file through the beta files endpoint?”
“What's the beta-flag call to remove a stored file?”
Tell an agent destructive · confirm first
Delete beta file {file_id}.
With the beta flag, remove file {file_id} for good.
Ask an LLM
“How do I upload a file with the beta files endpoint?”
“Which beta-flag call stores a new file for later use in messages?”
Tell an agent
Upload beta file {file}.
With the beta flag, store {file} for use in later requests.
Ask an LLM
“Can I list only the files that belong to a particular scope, such as one session?”
“How do I page through files with before and after IDs using the beta flag?”
Tell an agent
List files in scope {scope_id}.
With the beta flag, list files uploaded after {after_id}.
Documentation
Specifications
Schemas & Data
JSONSchema
https://artifacts.apis.io/anthropic/json-schema/anthropic-file-metadata-schema-schema.json
JSONSchema
https://artifacts.apis.io/anthropic/json-schema/anthropic-beta-file-metadata-schema-schema.json
JSONSchema
https://artifacts.apis.io/anthropic/json-schema/anthropic-file-list-response-schema.json
JSONSchema
https://artifacts.apis.io/anthropic/json-schema/anthropic-beta-file-delete-response-schema.json
JSONSchema
https://artifacts.apis.io/anthropic/json-schema/anthropic-file-delete-response-schema.json