“Files” means several different things in HubSpot, and each has a different export. This guide separates the Files library, hidden CRM attachments, form uploads, email attachments and file properties, and says which route covers which. Last verified 11 November 2026 against HubSpot’s documentation and community threads.
The kinds of files
- Files library: what you see in the Files tool (images, documents, assets you uploaded for marketing).
- Record attachments: files attached to a note, task, call, meeting or email on a contact, company, deal or ticket. HubSpot stores these as hidden private files, so they do not show up in the library view. In our tests a file attached to a note in the HubSpot UI came back from the Files API with the access level HIDDEN_PRIVATE.
- Form uploads: files people upload in a form. They land in the Files tool as private files and the submitter’s record gets a file-type property or a link, depending on how the form is built (we did not test form variants).
- Email attachments: non-inline files of one-to-one emails sent or logged through HubSpot Sales are added to the record’s Attachments section; inline attachments are not (HubSpot’s help article, updated 22 December 2025).
- File properties: a property of the type file holds a file ID.
Which export covers which
| Kind | Per-record download | Files tool export | CSV export of records | API | Attachment Exporter |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Files library | No | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Record attachments | Yes | No (per community answers) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Form uploads | Only if attached to a record | Reportedly yes | No | Yes | Only as a file property or attachment on a record |
| Email attachments (non-inline) | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| File properties | Via the property | Not mapped to records | Shows an ID or URL, not the file | Yes | Yes |
The Files tool and CSV columns are from HubSpot’s export guide (updated 25 September 2026, which does not mention attachments) and community answers; check them in your account before relying on them.
What HubSpot documents
The guide “Export your content and data” covers the Files tool, CRM records and tasks, and says inbox and chat transcripts need the API, copying, PDF or a third-party tool. It does not describe a bulk attachment export. We found no HubSpot help page that describes a bulk download of attachments across records. A community answer from April 2025 says it is not possible natively (Export tickets attachments). A community idea about bulk managing CRM attachments is marked Delivered (12 June 2026) without saying what was delivered (thread); we could not confirm a bulk attachment export from it, so check your account.
The gaps
- The Files tool export has no information about which record a file belonged to.
- A CSV export of records has no files.
- Hidden attachments need the right permission in the API.
Closing the gap
Full disclosure: we built Attachment Exporter: Bulk File Download, which exports the files attached to notes, emails, calls, meetings and tasks, plus file properties, for many records at once as zips with a CSV manifest. It only reads from HubSpot. Scans and the audit are free, the first export of up to 250 files is free, then one-off packs from USD 49. It installs from our site, not the HubSpot Marketplace. It does not export the Files library, form submissions as such or email bodies, and files HubSpot marks sensitive are listed as restricted instead of downloaded.
More detail
FAQ
Are record attachments in the Files tool? Not in the normal library view: HubSpot stores them as hidden private files.
Does “Export all files” include attachments on notes? Community answers say it exports the files library and needs manual matching; we could not confirm it either way from HubSpot documentation.
How do I export a form upload? Look for it in the Files tool first (untested by us); if it is on a record, use the record’s attachments or file property.
Do email attachments count? Non-inline attachments of emails sent or logged through HubSpot Sales are added to the record’s Attachments; inline ones are not.
Questions or corrections: support@kayabyte.dev. HubSpot is a registered trademark of HubSpot, Inc. Kayabyte is an independent developer and is not affiliated with HubSpot or the other products named here.
Originally published at kayabyte.dev. AI-assisted: this guide was drafted with AI assistance.
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