# ChatGPT cannot read attached pdf **URL:** \ **Category:** Bugs\ **Tags:** chatgpt, pdf, file-uploads\ **Created:** [November 1, 2024, 7:49am UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/chatgpt-cannot-read-attached-pdf/1000099 "2024-11-01T07:49:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mr.violetery](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/user_avatar/community.openai.com/mr.violetery/32/490740_2.png) [@mr.violetery](https://community.openai.com/u/mr.violetery)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2024, 7:49am UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/chatgpt-cannot-read-attached-pdf/1000099/1 "2024-11-01T07:49:54Z")
I have been using chatgpt to help me read papers for months. But today it just says that it cannot read the attached pdf. I have searched the forum and still cannot solve the problem. Does anyone know how to fix it? ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/original/4X/2/b/d/2bd82670ba9aaf1ad4c7faab100184fc783bca42.png) I tried different models, including GPT-4 and 4o. They reply the same. ---
**Author:** ![worldpeacedel](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/user_avatar/community.openai.com/worldpeacedel/32/493427_2.png) [@worldpeacedel](https://community.openai.com/u/worldpeacedel)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 12:28pm UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/chatgpt-cannot-read-attached-pdf/1000099/2 "2024-11-05T12:28:54Z")
I can upload a blank image and then re-upload the file to read the paper normally. But I don’t know why it works this way. Maybe it’s a problem with the backend database? ---
**Author:** ![EricGT](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/user_avatar/community.openai.com/ericgt/32/20571_2.png) [@EricGT](https://community.openai.com/u/EricGT)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2024, 12:44pm UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/chatgpt-cannot-read-attached-pdf/1000099/3 "2024-11-05T12:44:52Z")
Works for me with model `GPT 4o` using ChatGPT Windows Desktop App Downloaded file [https://arxiv.org/pdf/1409.4842](https://arxiv.org/pdf/1409.4842) With ChatGPT used `Attach file` (paper clip icon) Prompt: `please read this pdf and summarize` Worked as expected. > **[ChatGPT - Inception Architecture Summary](https://chatgpt.com/share/672a12f2-4b08-8013-9437-7b51b8f8d438)** > > Shared via ChatGPT I don’t plan to erase the share in the next few hours, after that no promises. ---
**Author:** ![tonojulo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/user_avatar/community.openai.com/tonojulo/32/448828_2.png) [@tonojulo](https://community.openai.com/u/tonojulo)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2024, 3:07am UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/chatgpt-cannot-read-attached-pdf/1000099/4 "2024-11-30T03:07:41Z")
Same here. The crazy thing is that when I use a free version that I have access to, the file upload and reading works just fine. This free version has access to ChatGPT 4 for a limited time only. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/original/4X/9/8/5/985d90877c7800cf8d53de92521143e3fb8889d4.png) ---
**Author:** ![gpt\_friends2100](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/user_avatar/community.openai.com/gpt_friends2100/32/512016_2.png) [@gpt\_friends2100](https://community.openai.com/u/gpt_friends2100)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/chatgpt-cannot-read-attached-pdf/1000099/5 "2024-12-13T15:17:28Z")
Hello, i’ve managed to find a fix or some sense of why it might not be able to read the pdf, apparently there could be some update in chatgpt, so somehow the AdBlock or if ur using brave, Anti-shield could be affecting chatgpt, so i was speaking with chatgpt and why it couldn’t read and after several convos with chatgpt, i’ve managed to turn the anti-shield off and then i re-tested and it worked. ---
**Author:** ![maher\_latrice45](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/openai1/user_avatar/community.openai.com/maher_latrice45/32/511259_2.png) [@maher\_latrice45](https://community.openai.com/u/maher_latrice45)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2025, 2:20pm UTC](https://community.openai.com/t/chatgpt-cannot-read-attached-pdf/1000099/6 "2025-02-08T14:20:55Z")
Mine gotcorrect after taking a screenshot on ChatGPT telling me your message is blank and sending back to it and I said no this is not blank, and then it suddenly started reading my document