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Accepted File Types in Kivo

Kivo accepts uploads of any file type. This article covers file size guidance, which file types support in-platform preview, and which formats support real-time collaboration.

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Written by Casey Huxtable

Required Roles: Edit
Required Permissions: Upload or edit access within the target cabinet or folder


Overview

Kivo accepts uploads of any file type — there are no restrictions on what you can store in the platform. Whether you're uploading PDFs, Office documents, images, videos, zip archives, or anything else, Kivo will accept and store it.

That said, not every file type can be previewed directly in the browser or used for real-time collaboration. The sections below cover file size guidance, which formats support in-platform preview, and which formats unlock collaboration features.


File Size & Performance

Kivo does not enforce a strict file size limit, but file size does affect upload and preview performance.

  • Files up to a few hundred MB upload and preview without issues for most users on a standard connection.

  • Files approaching or exceeding 1 GB may experience slower upload speeds, delayed preview rendering, or timeouts depending on your network and the file type. For very large files, we recommend uploading during off-peak hours or on a fast, stable connection.

  • Video files are streamed rather than downloaded, so large video files are generally more practical to work with than equivalently sized document files.

If you're regularly working with very large files and experiencing issues, please reach out to Kivo support.


File Types That Support Preview

The following file types can be previewed directly in Kivo without downloading.

Documents

  • PDF — .pdf

  • Rich Text — .rtf

  • Plain Text & Data — .txt, .csv

Microsoft Office

  • Word — .docx

  • Excel — .xlsx

  • PowerPoint — .pptx

Images

  • .jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif, .bmp, .tif, .tiff, .svg

Video

  • .mp4, .webm, .ogg

Email

  • .eml, .msg

All other file types can still be uploaded and downloaded, but will not render a preview in the platform.


File Types That Support Collaboration

Kivo's real-time collaboration features — including co-authoring, in-document commenting, and live editing — are available for the following Microsoft Office formats:

  • Word documents — .docx

  • Excel spreadsheets — .xlsx

  • PowerPoint presentations — .pptx

Older Office formats such as .doc, .xls, and .ppt can be uploaded and downloaded, but do not support preview or live collaboration. Convert them to the modern format before uploading to unlock these features.

All other file types support viewing, versioning, and workflow participation, but not live co-editing.


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