This page shows you how to view a list of files, check the status of a file, and delete a file from your assistant.
File upload limitations depend on the plan you are using. For more information, see Pricing and limitations.

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List files in an assistant

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View all files

You can get the status, ID, and metadata for each file in your assistant, as in the following example: 
# To use the Python SDK, install the plugin:
# pip install --upgrade pinecone pinecone-plugin-assistant

from pinecone import Pinecone
pc = Pinecone(api_key="YOUR_API_KEY")

# Get your assistant.
assistant = pc.assistant.Assistant(
    assistant_name="example-assistant", 
)

# List files in your assistant.
files = assistant.list_files()
This operation returns a response like the following: 
{
  "files": [
    {
      "status": "Available",
      "id": "3c90c3cc-0d44-4b50-8888-8dd25736052a",
      "name": "example_file.txt",
      "size": 1073470,
      "metadata": {},
      "updated_on": "2025-07-16T16:46:40.787204651Z",
      "created_on": "2025-07-16T16:45:59.414273474Z",
      "percent_done": 1.0,
      "signed_url": null,
      "error_message": null
    }
  ]
}
You can use the id value to check the status of an individual file.
You can list file in an assistant using the Pinecone console. Select the assistant and view the files in the Assistant playground.

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View a filtered list of files

Metadata filter expressions can be included when listing files. This will limit the list of files to only those matching the filter expression. Use the filter parameter to specify the metadata filter expression. For more information about filtering with metadata, see Understanding files. The following example lists files that are a manuscript: 
# To use the Python SDK, install the plugin:
# pip install --upgrade pinecone pinecone-plugin-assistant

from pinecone import Pinecone
pc = Pinecone(api_key="YOUR_API_KEY")

# Get your assistant.
assistant = pc.assistant.Assistant(
    assistant_name="example-assistant", 
)

# List files in your assistant that match the metadata filter.
files = assistant.list_files(filter={"document_type":"manuscript"})

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Get the status of a file

You can get the status and metadata for your assistant, as in the following example: 
# To use the Python SDK, install the plugin:
# pip install --upgrade pinecone pinecone-plugin-assistant

from pinecone import Pinecone
pc = Pinecone(api_key="YOUR_API_KEY")

# Get an assistant.
assistant = pc.assistant.Assistant(
    assistant_name="example-assistant", 
)

# Describe a file. 
# To get a signed URL in the response, set `include_url` to `True`.
file = assistant.describe_file(file_id="3c90c3cc-0d44-4b50-8888-8dd25736052a", include_url=True)
This operation returns a response like the following: 
{
  "status": "Available",
  "id": "3c90c3cc-0d44-4b50-8888-8dd25736052a",
  "name": "example_file.txt",
  "size": 1073470,
  "metadata": {},
  "updated_on": "2025-07-16T16:46:40.787204651Z",
  "created_on": "2025-07-16T16:45:59.414273474Z",
  "percent_done": 1.0,
  "signed_url": "https://storage.googleapis.com/...",
  "error_message": null
}
signed_url provides temporary, read-only access to the relevant file. Anyone with the link can access the file, so treat it as sensitive data. Expires in one hour.
You can check the status a file using the Pinecone console. In the Assistant playground, click the file for more details.

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Delete a file

You can delete a file from an assistant.
Once a file is deleted, you cannot recover it.
# To use the Python SDK, install the plugin:
# pip install --upgrade pinecone pinecone-plugin-assistant

from pinecone import Pinecone
pc = Pinecone(api_key="YOUR_API_KEY")

# Get your assistant.
assistant = pc.assistant.Assistant(
    assistant_name="example-assistant", 
)

# Delete a file from your assistant.
assistant.delete_file(file_id="3c90c3cc-0d44-4b50-8888-8dd25736052a")
You can delete a file from an assistant using the Pinecone console. In the Assistant playground, find the file and click the ellipsis (..) menu > Delete.