PrefectHQ/fastmcp · error · ValueError

File exceeds max size ( > )

Error message

File {f.get('name', '?')!r} exceeds max size ({_format_size(actual_size)} > {_format_size(provider._max_file_size)})

What it means

When files are uploaded, store_files computes the real size from the base64 payload (not the client-reported size) and rejects any file larger than the provider's configured _max_file_size with this ValueError. This guards memory and storage from oversized uploads.

Solutions

Reduce the file size before uploading (compress, crop, or split the file).
Raise the configured max_file_size on the FileUpload provider if policy allows.
Check the size limit client-side before uploading to give users early feedback.

Example fix

// before
FileUpload(max_file_size=1_000_000)
# uploading a 5 MB file fails
// after
FileUpload(max_file_size=10_000_000)  # or compress the file to < 1 MB

Defensive patterns

Strategy: validation

Validate before calling

import base64, os
MAX = provider_max_file_size
if os.path.getsize(path) > MAX:
    raise ValueError(f"{path} exceeds {MAX} bytes; compress or split before upload")
data = base64.b64encode(open(path, 'rb').read()).decode()
if _b64_decoded_size(data) > MAX:
    raise ValueError("decoded payload still exceeds limit")

Try / catch

try:
    store_upload(files)
except ValueError as e:
    if "exceeds max size" in str(e):
        compress_and_retry(files, target=max_file_size)

Prevention

Check file size client-side before upload
Configure max_file_size to match real user needs
Compress large files (zip, image downscale) before upload
Remember the limit is enforced on the base64-decoded size, not the client-reported size

When it happens

Trigger: Uploading a file whose decoded byte size exceeds provider._max_file_size to the FileUpload app's store tool.

Common situations: Users uploading large documents/images; the app configured with a small max_file_size; a client lying about the `size` field (the real base64-derived size is checked).

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of PrefectHQ/fastmcp@1f02114297 (2026-08-29). Data as JSON: /api/errors/b5ee381ca8dfa3ba. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at fastmcp_slim/fastmcp/apps/file_upload.py:290

            result["content_base64"] = entry["data"][:200] + "..."
        return result

    # ------------------------------------------------------------------
    # Tool registration
    # ------------------------------------------------------------------

    def _register_tools(self) -> None:
        provider = self

        @self.tool()
        def store_files(files: list[dict], ctx: Context) -> list[dict]:
            """Store uploaded files. Receives file objects with name, size, type, data (base64)."""
            for f in files:
                # Compute actual data size from the base64 payload rather
                # than trusting the client-reported ``size`` field.
                actual_size = _b64_decoded_size(f.get("data", ""))
                if actual_size > provider._max_file_size:
                    raise ValueError(
                        f"File {f.get('name', '?')!r} exceeds max size "
                        f"({_format_size(actual_size)} > "
                        f"{_format_size(provider._max_file_size)})"
                    )
            return provider.on_store(files, ctx)

        @self.tool(model=True)
        def list_files(ctx: Context) -> list[dict]:
            """List all uploaded files with metadata."""
            return provider.on_list(ctx)

        @self.tool(model=True)
        def read_file(name: str, ctx: Context) -> dict:
            """Read an uploaded file's contents by name."""
            return provider.on_read(name, ctx)

        @self.ui()
        def file_manager(ctx: Context) -> PrefabApp:

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