Sending files via Pronote is not just about clicking on a paperclip. The permissions vary according to the user profile, the accepted formats depend on the server configuration of the institution, and the mobile application does not replicate all the functions of the web interface. Here, we detail the technical points that most tutorials gloss over.
Attachment Sending Rights According to Pronote Profile
The behavior of the messaging module changes radically from one type of account to another. A teacher can attach files to assignments, individual messages, and course content. A student, on the other hand, generally only has the attachment option in discussions and when submitting assignments.
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Parents have the most restrictions. Depending on the institution’s policy, the addition of attachments may be disabled for parents in certain sections (absences, school life), while remaining accessible in direct messaging. This configuration is decided in the Pronote administration console, not in the application itself.
Before searching for an elusive button, we recommend checking with the institution what rights are activated for your profile. A parent who does not see the paperclip icon in a discussion does not have a display bug: they probably do not have permission. To better understand the complete procedure, you can send an attachment on Pronote with Web Professor by following each illustrated step.
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Accepted Formats and Size Limits on Pronote
Pronote does not accept just any file. The institution’s server applies restrictions on the weight and type of document. Common formats (PDF, JPEG, PNG, DOCX) generally pass without difficulty in most cases. Executable files (.exe, .bat) are systematically blocked.
The size limit varies from one institution to another, as it depends on the server settings chosen by the Pronote administrator. When a file is rejected for exceeding size, the error message is often vague.
Several workarounds exist:
- Compress images before sending, either using a native tool on the phone or with a compression app. A photo file taken in high resolution easily exceeds the allowed threshold.
- Convert a Word or PowerPoint document to PDF, which often reduces the total file size while preserving the layout.
- Split a large document into several lighter files, sent in successive messages within the same discussion.
If the file remains too large after compression, some teachers accept a link to an online storage service. But this practice depends on each teacher and is not part of Pronote’s native functions.
Sending an Attachment from the Pronote Mobile App
The mobile application has evolved since the first versions widely used during the 2020 lockdown. Today, the addition of attachments is done directly from the photo gallery or file manager of the phone, without necessarily going through a computer.
The procedure on a smartphone follows this logic:
- Open the Pronote app and access the “Discussions” menu.
- Create a new discussion or open an existing thread with the relevant recipient.
- Tap the paperclip icon (or the “+” sign, depending on the version), then select the file from the gallery or file explorer.
- Write the accompanying message, specify the subject if the discussion is new, and then confirm the sending.
On some Android models, the default file manager does not offer all folders. If your document does not appear in the list, use a third-party file explorer to move it to the “Downloads” folder before restarting the procedure.
Special Case of Submitting Assignments on Mobile
Submitting assignments uses a different path than messaging. You need to go through the “Assignments” section, select the relevant assignment, and then use the “Submit my work” button. The paperclip icon only appears if the teacher has activated online submission for that specific assignment.
We regularly observe students attempting to send their assignments via direct message to the teacher, failing to find the submission button. The work then arrives outside the correction circuit, complicating tracking for the teacher and potentially leading to a submission considered as not done.
Resolving Common Errors When Sending on Pronote
Three situations repeatedly arise in the reports received by the institution’s digital referents.
The first: the paperclip button is missing. As explained above, this relates to the profile rights or the assignment settings. No manipulation on the user’s side can force its appearance.
The second: the file seems to send but the recipient does not receive it. This occurs when the network connection is unstable at the time of sending. On mobile, switching from Wi-Fi to cellular data (or vice versa) during the upload sometimes causes a silent failure. We recommend checking in the discussion that the file appears as a visible attachment after sending.
The third: a rejected file format without a clear explanation. Some institutions block .pages files (Apple format) or .odt files (LibreOffice) without the error message mentioning the format as the cause. Converting to PDF before sending systematically eliminates this type of problem.
The reflex to adopt remains simple: PDF for text documents, JPEG for photos of handwritten copies, and post-sending verification in the discussion thread. These three habits cover almost all use cases on Pronote.