Import and upload files into Descript

Import media into a project from your computer, an existing Descript project, a connected Zoom account, Google Drive, or by pasting a URL. This article covers all available import methods.

Before you begin

Make sure your file is in a supported format. Descript works with most common audio, video, image, and document types. See supported file types

This article covers:

Choose how to import your file

Each import method has its own guide. Choose the one that matches where your file is coming from:

  • Upload from your computer: Add locally saved audio, video, or image files to your project.
  • Import files from another project: Add content from an existing Descript project.
  • Import files from the Media Library: Add content already in the drive Media Library.
  • Import from Zoom: Connect your Zoom account to Descript to bring recordings into your project directly from the cloud.
  • Import from Google Drive: Connect your Google Drive account to Descript to bring media into your project directly from the cloud.
  • Import a slide deck (PDF): Drag and drop your PDF file into your project. Descript turns each slide into a media layer you can add to scenes and timelines.
  • Import with Edit in Descript: Bring recordings from partner tools like SquadCast and Riverside into Descript without downloading and re-uploading.

Track progress and cancel uploads

When you upload files into Descript, the Activity panel in the corner of the app shows what's happening with each file, no matter which import method you used.

The Activity panel showing the trash icon on an in-progress file row

To cancel a single file, hover over it in the Activity panel and click the trash icon. To cancel everything at once, click the X in the Activity panel header and confirm. Cancelling one file doesn't affect the others — they keep uploading.

You won't be charged any media minutes for cancelled uploads.

To upload a cancelled file later, drag it back in to start fresh.

Next steps after uploading

When you upload a file, it's stored in the Files section of the Project panel in the right-hand sidebar. From there: