Most uploads go smoothly, but here's what to do if a file won't upload, gets stuck, or isn't processing the way you'd expect.
File won't upload
If an upload fails immediately, check the following:
File format: Confirm the file is a supported format. Anara supports PDF, DOCX, PPTX, XLSX, EPUB, images, audio, and 20 other formats. See What file types does Anara support? for the complete list.
Internet connection: Large uploads require a stable connection throughout. If the upload cuts out mid-way, reconnect and try again.
File size: Very large files may time out on slow connections. Try uploading on a faster network, or split a large document into smaller parts.
File shows "Content unavailable"
This means Anara couldn't extract text from the file. The most common causes:
Scanned PDFs: If the PDF is a scanned image with no embedded text, there is nothing to extract. Run it through an OCR tool to convert it to a searchable PDF, then re-upload.
Image-only documents: PDFs made entirely of figures, charts, or photos without a text layer will show this status.
Copy-protected PDFs: Some PDFs have restrictions that block text extraction.
Corrupted files: Try re-downloading or re-exporting the file from its source and uploading again.
File shows "Abstract only"
This happens when you import a paper by URL or DOI and the full text isn't publicly accessible online. Anara retrieved the metadata and abstract, but the paper is behind a paywall.
To get full text: download the PDF through your institution's library access and upload it directly to Anara.
Upload appears stuck
Most files process in under a minute. Very large documents, like books or lengthy reports, may take a few minutes longer.
If a file seems stuck: refresh the page and check whether the status has updated. If it remains stuck for more than 10 minutes, delete it and upload again.
AI can't find information in my document
Check the Full text column for the file in your library. If it shows Abstract only or Content unavailable, the text wasn't extracted and the AI cannot read the content. Follow the steps above for whichever status applies.
Tip: The AI only works with what's been extracted. A file that shows "Available" in the Full text column can be searched and cited; one that shows "Content unavailable" cannot.
Still having trouble?
Open the Support menu at the bottom of the left sidebar, click Contact us, and describe the issue. Include the file name and the status it shows in your library. The support team can help diagnose processing issues that simple re-uploads don't resolve.