Today I’ve been having lots of issues with knowledge files – for a while I was having trouble uploading a file (similar to this isue: Unable to upload documents). Now I was able to upload everything (as far as I can see) but my custom GPT is unable to access files in its knowledge base (even though they appear to have been uploaded). It seems aware of the presence of the files, but is unable to open or process them.
Error messages include:
I’m currently experiencing issues accessing files, including the “instructions-lookup.md” document. This prevents me from providing the specific instructions or details it contains. If you have any other questions or need assistance with something else, please let me know!
It appears that there is a temporary issue accessing files and executing certain operations that involve file reading or data processing within this environment. This issue affects the ability to access and provide specific information from uploaded documents and to perform some code-based tasks.
Is this a known issue? Has anyone figured out any workarounds?
Hi, I’ve also been experiencing a similar problem with the GPT Builder for some time, previously it was difficult to read the documents in the Knowledge but with a little help I managed to enter the information. But now it doesn’t read them to me at all and tells me that it can’t access and read the files. How can the problem be fixed? without being able to load and read documents with specific information the tool becomes unusable.
I’m in Italy and the message that the GPT Builder brings me is the following:
“Non posso accedere direttamente o leggere i file caricati, incluso “(File).docx”, attraverso il sistema attuale. Tuttavia, se hai domande specifiche sul contenuto o desideri discutere di punti particolari che puoi condividere qui, sarò lieto di offrire un’analisi o un commento basato sulle informazioni che fornisci.”
Traduction:
“I cannot directly access or read uploaded files, including “(File).docx”, through the current system. However, if you have specific questions about the content or would like to discuss any particular points you can share here, I will be happy to offer a analysis or comment based on the information you provide.”
I would like to understand how I can reuse the tool where I have already used a month’s worth of tokens inside, thanks.
This is also happening to me. The files that I uploaded to the Knowledge are accessible and it can work with them for a while, and then starting a different session it says it doesn’t have access. I think this behaviour beyond erratic is irritating, since I cannot rely on a strategy for it.
Best
M
I’ve also been facing this issue for the last 2 days; it cannot access the files with the CodeInterpreter tool. Always says “Internal Error,” and not able to access the file.
Has anybody resolved this issue? This is very bad for our users. Please help
Hi folks,
I have the same problem. My custom gpts can‘t read their knowledge files anymore. The files are formatted as simple markdown. In an earlier thread this problem is said to be solved. Unfortunately, I can‘t agree.
What can I do about it? Without the knowledge I provide gpt‘s answers are almost unusable.
Thanks in advance,
Lohmy
Here is some code from an answer where gpt tells, it can’t access files. Though, I don’t know whether it helps. It doesn’t seem to show any errors.
Versuchen wir erneut, die Dateien einzeln zu lesen und ihren Inhalt zu analysieren.
In my case md-files worked in builder but when using gpt. Changing files to txt solved it for me. Novice user comments I have used builder just few hours…
Thanks a lot for your interest. As you proposed I changed the extension of my knowledge files to .txt today. Apparently, it works. I thought markdown is an appropriate file format. However, I will watch out the next days.
July 2025 – Same problem: Custom GPTs can no longer read uploaded documents.
Context: I’ve developed multiple Custom GPT Assistants on the ChatGPT Plus platform (ChatGPT.com) to support professional training. These assistants are behaviorally constrained (strict factuality, no invention, structured responses), and rely on .docx files loaded into their knowledge base.
Everything worked fine for a few months (at least several weeks) until July 2025.
Suddenly, all three assistants:
Fail to extract precise content from uploaded .docx , .pdf , and .txt files (especially .txt documents longer than a few pages — which cannot contain internal tables of contents to help guide GPT navigation),
Invent responses or deny data that clearly exists in the documents,
Ignore updated files even after purging older versions,
Disregard their own behavioral instructions (e.g., avoiding fabricating false documentation instead of providing what’s in the course),
And no longer read manually uploaded files either.
I ran the exact same tests with a standard GPT (non-customized):
It could access and quote the content correctly,
Identify the proper section,
And follow factual logic without hallucinating.
Conclusion: the problem is isolated to Custom GPTs.
This is not a usage mistake, a one-time glitch, nor a formatting issue. All signs point to:
A systemic backend regression in how Custom GPTs process or index attached documents,
Or possibly a new undocumented constraint silently introduced in the document access layer (affecting .docx , .pdf , and long .txt files alike),
Notably, this bug was not present between early 2024 and mid-2025, suggesting a recent regression—not a persistent limitation.
I hope this helps clarify the issue and contributes to identifying its root cause.
Same/Similar problem. I can only upload 9 knowledge documents which are a blend of .xlsx and .docx files. These are not huge files by any means. Asking GPT the contents of these files produces an error indicating it cannot read the files.
Concerns about ChatGPT are unheard here, you can only commiserate.
Report the issue instead.
help.openai.com, then use the lower-right “bot” icon to send a message. Be authoritative that it is a bug breaking a previous working application with details, as you don’t want a wishy-washy bot response giving you tips or asking you to do performative time-wasting like “make a video”.
I have used builder just few hours…