# Get a file

> A file, with a fresh url that reads it for an hour.

`GET /v1/files/{id}`

A file, with a fresh `url` that reads it for an hour.

Needs a key with the `messages:read` scope. [Keys and scopes](https://usebluebot.com/docs/concepts/api-keys)

## Path parameters

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `id` | string | Yes | The file’s id. Starts with `file_` |

## Example

```bash
curl "https://usebluebot.com/api/v1/files/file_1Hq2LxW9cVbN3mKpRtYs0a" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $BLUEBOT_API_KEY"
```

```ts
import BlueBot from '@usebluebot/sdk';

const client = new BlueBot({ apiKey: process.env.BLUEBOT_API_KEY });

const file = await client.files.get('file_1Hq2LxW9cVbN3mKpRtYs0a');
console.log(file);
```

```python
import os
from bluebot import BlueBot

client = BlueBot(api_key=os.environ["BLUEBOT_API_KEY"])

file = client.files.get("file_1Hq2LxW9cVbN3mKpRtYs0a")
print(file)
```

## Response

`200`: The file.

| Field | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `id` | string | Yes | A file_ id. Starts with `file_` |
| `object` | "file" | Yes |   |
| `name` | string or null | Yes | The file name, as it was uploaded or as Messages named it. |
| `content_type` | string | Yes | The media type. |
| `size` | integer | Yes | Bytes. |
| `kind` | string | Yes | What the file is, for showing it: an image, a video, audio, a voice memo, a PDF, a contact card or another file. One of `image`, `video`, `audio`, `voice_memo`, `pdf`, `contact_card`, `file` |
| `status` | string | Yes | `ready` when BlueBot has the bytes; `waiting` while the Mac uploads them (usually seconds); `too_large` for an attachment over 25 MB, which the Mac never uploads; `deleted` once 30 days have passed. One of `ready`, `waiting`, `too_large`, `deleted` |
| `url` | string or null | Yes | Reads the file for an hour. Null unless `status` is `ready`. |
| `url_expires_at` | timestamp or null | Yes | When `url` stops working. |
| `transcript` | string or null | Yes | For a voice memo, the words the Mac transcribed on the device, when the owner turned transcription on. |
| `transcript_language` | string or null | Yes | The transcript’s language, such as `en-US`. |
| `created_at` | timestamp | Yes | When BlueBot first knew of the file. |

The answer, `200`:

```json
{
  "id": "file_1Hq2LxW9cVbN3mKpRtYs0a",
  "object": "file",
  "name": "listing-412-oak.jpg",
  "content_type": "image/jpeg",
  "size": 482113,
  "kind": "image",
  "status": "ready",
  "url": "https://usebluebot.com/files/f/2Bf8QzD4kJmA6nXwEuTr1c?sig=…",
  "url_expires_at": "2026-11-13T20:41:00.000Z",
  "transcript": null,
  "transcript_language": null,
  "created_at": "2026-11-13T19:40:00.000Z"
}
```

## Errors

Every refusal has the same envelope and a page of its own. These are the ones this operation can give.

| Code                                                    | Status | What it means                                                                                                                               |
| ------------------------------------------------------- | ------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [`unauthorized`](https://usebluebot.com/docs/errors/unauthorized)             | 401    | The request carried no key, or a key BlueBot doesn’t know: mistyped, revoked, or a test key sent to the live API.                           |
| [`insufficient_scope`](https://usebluebot.com/docs/errors/insufficient_scope) | 403    | The key doesn’t carry the scope the endpoint needs. Each endpoint’s reference names its scope.                                              |
| [`rate_limited`](https://usebluebot.com/docs/errors/rate_limited)             | 429    | Too many requests. A key may make 120 requests a minute. The `RateLimit` header says how many are left, and `Retry-After` how long to wait. |
| [`internal`](https://usebluebot.com/docs/errors/internal)                     | 500    | Something went wrong on BlueBot’s side. It was reported. Send the request again; with an Idempotency-Key that is always safe.               |
| [`not_found`](https://usebluebot.com/docs/errors/not_found)                   | 404    | There is no such thing on this account. Ids are prefixed by kind, so a message id starts with `msg_`.                                       |

## Try it