Slack File Size Limit: Uploads, Storage & Retention (2026)
Slack lets you upload files up to 1 GB each, on every plan — Free, Pro, Business+, and Enterprise Grid all share the same per-file cap (Slack: Add files to Slack). The bigger constraint isn’t the file size, it’s how long files stick around: on the Free plan you can only see the last 90 days of history.
The Limits at a Glance
Per-file upload
- 1 GB maximum per file, regardless of plan (Slack help).
- Audio and video clips are capped at 5 minutes each (Slack: Record audio and video clips).
Storage / retention
- Free plan: you can view and search only the most recent 90 days of messages and files; anything older than one year is permanently deleted (Slack: Usage limits for free workspaces).
- Paid plans (Pro and up): full message and file history with configurable retention (Slack: Feature limitations on the free version).
How the Free-Plan 90-Day Window Actually Works
On the Free plan, files aren’t deleted at 90 days — they’re hidden. You can still upload as much as you want, but you and your teammates can only view and search the last 90 days of messages and files (Slack). Older content stays in the workspace, dormant, and instantly becomes visible again the moment you upgrade to a paid plan.
The exception is the one-year cliff. Since August 26, 2024, any data in a Free workspace that is more than one year old is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered, even by upgrading later (Slack). So a file you shared 14 months ago on a Free plan is gone for good.
How to Share Files Bigger Than the Limit
- Link from cloud storage instead of uploading. Drop a Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, or OneDrive link into the message — there’s no 1 GB ceiling on a link, and teammates open the original.
- Compress before sending. Zip large folders or export video at a lower bitrate to slip under 1 GB.
- Split the file. Break a large archive into multiple parts, each under the cap, and upload them together.
- Use a transfer service. WeTransfer, Smash, or similar tools generate a download link you can paste into Slack for one-off large sends.
- Record clips short. For screen recordings over 5 minutes, record to your machine and share via a cloud link rather than Slack’s built-in clip tool.
Troubleshooting
Why does Slack say my file is too large?
Your file is over the 1 GB per-file cap that applies on every Slack plan (Slack). Compress it, split it, or share a cloud-storage link instead.
Do older files get deleted on the Free plan?
Files older than 90 days are hidden from view and search, not deleted — until they pass one year, at which point Free-plan data is permanently removed (Slack).
Does upgrading bring back my hidden files?
Yes, for anything under one year old. Upgrading to a paid plan restores access to all messages and files that haven’t already crossed the one-year deletion point (Slack).
Why is my Slack clip cut off?
Audio and video clips recorded inside Slack are limited to 5 minutes (Slack). For anything longer, record locally and share a link.
Quick Reference
| Item | Free | Paid (Pro+) |
|---|---|---|
| Max file size | 1 GB per file | 1 GB per file |
| File/message history | Last 90 days visible | Full history |
| One-year deletion | Yes (data >1 yr removed) | No |
| Clip length | 5 minutes | 5 minutes |
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Related guides: Slack vs Teams · How to Share a File in Teams
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