## Free Gemini Users Hit a Snag: File Upload Feature Mysteriously Vanishes for 2.5 Flash Model In a curious development, free users of Google's Gemini 2.5 Flash (preview) model have reportedly lost access to the file upload feature. As highlighted by *9to5Google*, this change appears to have occurred over the past day, leaving many users without a previously available and highly useful capability. ### What's Changed for Free Users? According to reports, the issue affects free Gemini users on both Android and iOS, as well as the web interface. * On **mobile platforms (Android and iOS)**, the ‘plus’ menu, which previously allowed file uploads, now shows the ‘Files’ and ‘Drive’ options grayed out. * On the **web version**, free users are reportedly restricted to image uploads only when using the Gemini 2.5 Flash (preview) model. This limitation means that functionalities such as document analysis, engaging in live chats about uploaded files, or obtaining audio summaries are currently unavailable for free users on this specific Gemini model. It's important to note that this restriction seems specific to the Gemini 2.5 Flash (preview) model for free-tier users. File uploads reportedly still function correctly for: * Free users on other models like Gemini 2.0 Flash and Gemini 2.5 Pro (preview). * Paid subscribers of the Gemini Advanced plan, who can still utilize file uploads with the Gemini 2.5 Flash model. This development is particularly puzzling given that Google had previously expanded file upload capabilities to free Gemini users. As reported by *Neowin* earlier, Google had quietly updated Gemini to allow free users to upload and analyze files, adding "Files" and "Drive" options alongside Camera and Gallery – a feature initially introduced for paid Gemini Advanced subscribers. ### A Glitch or a Shift in Strategy? The sudden disappearance of this feature has led to speculation. It could be a temporary glitch or an unintentional bug that Google's team might address soon. Users on platforms like Reddit have also begun noticing and discussing the change, with one user stating, "only in version 2.5 flash it doesn't let me upload files, but only images, while in the other versions it does, why? until yesterday it let." Alternatively, this could signify a more deliberate, albeit unannounced, decision to reserve this specific functionality within the newer 2.5 Flash model for paying subscribers. However, without official communication from Google, the exact reason remains unclear. For now, free users who relied on file uploads with the Gemini 2.5 Flash model will need to use alternative Gemini models or hope for a swift resolution. Many are keeping their fingers crossed that this is merely a temporary hiccup and that the functionality will be restored for all users soon.
