---
title: You cannot see the Files tab
type: troubleshooting
section: spaces
summary: Files is on every channel; on a narrow window its name is hidden or the tabs collapse into a menu, and an empty channel reads No files yet.
applies_to:
  clients: [web]
sources:
  - evolve-front-end/components/team-chat/chrome/room-header.tsx
  - evolve-front-end/components/team-chat/files/team-chat-files-view.tsx
  - evolve-front-end/components/team-chat/kernel/team-chat-room-view-params.ts
  - evolve-front-end/app/i18n/locales/en/team-chat.json
verified:
  at: 2026-09-04
  env: code
  by: content-lane-spaces
ttl_days: 45
related: [spaces/the-files-tab, spaces/share-a-file, spaces/you-cannot-see-a-space]
aliases: [team-chat/files-tab-missing, spaces/files-tab-missing]
---

**Files** is present on every channel and every direct message. There is no setting, permission, or role that removes it, so if it looks absent one of the four causes below applies.

## The tab strip shows icons with no words

On a window narrower than roughly 1536 pixels the four tabs keep their icons and drop their names. **Files** is the folder icon, fourth from the left after **Messages**, **Pins**, and **Threads**. Point at it to confirm the name.

## The tab strip is a single menu

On a phone-width window the four tabs collapse into one control that shows only the tab you are on. Open it and choose **Files**.

You can also go straight there: add `?view=files` to the channel address.

## No files yet

The tab is open and working. The channel has never taken a file, so there is nothing to list. Share one and it appears; see [Share a file in a channel](/help/spaces/share-a-file).

A file you remember sending can be missing from the list on purpose. A file is left out while its scan has not cleared, if its scan blocked it, if its access window expired, or if the message it came from is no longer readable.

## Files could not be loaded.

The list failed to load. Choose **Retry**. If it keeps failing, check whether the channel itself still opens; a channel you have lost access to cannot list files either. See [You cannot see a Space](/help/spaces/you-cannot-see-a-space).

## Related

- [The Files tab](/help/spaces/the-files-tab)
- [Share a file in a channel](/help/spaces/share-a-file)
- [You cannot see a Space](/help/spaces/you-cannot-see-a-space)