Uploading ZIP Files

Last updated: February 9, 2026

You can upload ZIP archives to process multiple files at once. Metal will automatically extract the contents and process each supported file individually.

How It Works

  1. Upload your ZIP file (up to 2 GB).

  2. Metal extracts the contents of the archive automatically.

  3. Each supported file inside the ZIP is processed individually as its own document.

  4. The original ZIP archive is removed after extraction -- you will see the individual files listed as separate documents.

Limits

  • Maximum ZIP size: 2 GB

  • Maximum individual file size: Each file inside the ZIP must be under 200 MB

  • Files inside the ZIP must be in a supported file format

What Gets Skipped

The following items inside a ZIP are automatically skipped during extraction:

  • Unsupported file types -- files that are not in the supported formats list are ignored

  • macOS resource forks -- system files in the __MACOSX/ folder are discarded

  • Hidden files -- dot-prefixed files (e.g., ._document.pdf) are ignored

  • Empty entries -- zero-byte files are skipped

You will not receive individual error messages for skipped files. Only supported files that meet the size requirements will be extracted and processed.

Tips for Best Results

  • Flatten your folder structure before zipping. Deeply nested folders are supported, but a flat structure makes it easier to review your uploaded documents.

  • Remove unnecessary files from the ZIP before uploading to speed up processing.

  • Check individual file sizes -- if a file inside the ZIP exceeds 200 MB, it will be skipped even if the overall ZIP is under 2 GB.

Integration Imports

If you are importing files through an integration such as Egnyte or SharePoint, ZIP files are not supported via those channels. To upload a ZIP archive, use the direct upload feature instead.