Updated · Originally published
It’s 4:55 p.m. on a Friday. You’ve closed the deal, and you have gathered every document you need—quotes, invoices, and signed contracts. You’re ready to wrap up and record everything properly.
You open the client’s Account record in Dynamics 365, go to the Timeline, and reach for the paperclip icon, hoping to attach everything in one go.
You try to select all the files, but using Ctrl+Click or Shift+Click doesn’t work. Only one file gets selected at a time.
You try again. Maybe selecting several files with the mouse and dragging and dropping will work? No luck—just the one file.
It seems you're stuck uploading your documents one by one. Wait, when you upload the second document, it replaces the first one?
Ah, you have to click Add note and close first, and then click that paperclip icon again to add the second document to another note. And then, repeat and repeat...
That smooth, triumphant finish to the week? Gone.
If this rings true, you’re far from alone. The struggle is real. Many users expect modern cloud systems like Dynamics 365 to handle batch uploads easily—only to run into unhelpful limits right where it matters the most.
What Dynamics 365 Notes Actually Allow: The Reality
If you’re using Dynamics 365 Sales, Customer Service, or a model-driven Power Apps app, when you try to attach files using the Notes (aka the timeline/annotation) feature, you get the File Upload dialog to select your files.
This is where the limitation is. You can only select a single file, and this isn’t a bug. It’s by design. To make matters worse, if you repeat the procedure, the second file you upload actually replaces the first one, and you end up with one file per note anyway.
Want to attach 10 files? You must repeat: create a new note, click on the paperclip, select, upload, close note—ten times. Most documentation and , including Microsoft Learn, confirm this single-file restriction per note due to the Annotation entity’s structure.
However, our testing revealed a lesser-documented behavior in the web client: using HTML5 drag-and-drop, you can attach multiple files to a single note. To do this, start by opening a File Explorer window where you can see the multiple files you want to attach. Create a new note by clicking "Enter a note…" (not the paperclip), and then select and drag multiple files from the File Explorer window onto the note area. To finish, click "Add note and close." Contrary to most sources, which state each file creates a separate note, this method attaches all files to one Annotation record.
The main limitation applies to image files (e.g., .jpg, .png): these are embedded inline in the note’s text body, rather than being listed as standard attachments like other file types (e.g., .pdf, .docx).
What About Business Central?
From the 2024 Wave 2 (BC25) release in Oct 2024, multi-file uploads are supported in Dynamics 365 Business Central. But it must be implemented by developers, so that users can then have file drop zones and upload actions that allow multiple files . More in
This does not change how Notes work in Dynamics 365 Sales, Customer Service, or other model-driven apps.
Can I Upload Multiple Files Anywhere in Dynamics 365?
Yes! The most popular way to achieve this involves 2 steps:
- SharePoint Integration
If you set up document management, aka SharePoint integration in Dynamics 365, the Documents tab lets you upload multiple files, but you must upload them one by one, as you again use the File upload dialog. Also, those files are not attachments and won’t appear under “Notes.” They’re stored separately. - Third-party tools / Custom Controls
There are add-ons, PCF (Power Apps Component Framework) controls, or ISV tools that extend or replace the Notes upload experience. These can allow selecting multiple files and uploading them together.
The Most Practical Solution: Drag & Drop Metadata for Dynamics 365 CE
If you're looking for a quick win without heavy development, and you are using Dynamics 365 CE already, stands out as the most practical option. This lightweight add-on integrates with Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (CE), allowing you to simply drag and drop multiple files directly onto the Documents tab—bypassing the single-file headache entirely.
This lightweight add-on integrates with Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement (CE), allowing you to simply drag and drop multiple files directly onto the Documents tab—bypassing the single-file headache entirely.
Here's why it's a game-changer: You can upload one or dozens of documents in seconds, and it automatically handles metadata tagging (like document type, status, or responsible person) right in the drag-and-drop interface. No need to switch to SharePoint or create separate notes—files attach as proper annotations, with instant sync to SharePoint for storage and compliance. It's user-friendly for non-tech teams, supports mandatory fields to keep things organized, and works on web, mobile, and even older SharePoint versions (2016+). Setup is straightforward via the app catalog, and it boosts productivity by enabling faster searches and automated workflows without the usual IT overhead. In short, it's the "set it and forget it" fix that turns Friday afternoons into victory laps.
A More Complex Alternative: Custom PCF Development
For teams that need maximum flexibility or specific integrations, a more advanced option is building a custom Power Apps Component Framework (PCF) control. This involves developers coding a reusable web component (using TypeScript, React, or similar) that embeds a multi-file uploader directly into your model-driven forms or timelines. You could extend the Notes entity to support batch uploads, custom validation, and even AI-powered tagging.
The upside? Total control—you tailor it to your exact workflows, like auto-generating metadata from file names or integrating with external APIs. But here's the complexity: It requires coding expertise, testing across browsers/devices, and ongoing maintenance for Dynamics updates. Expect 2-4 weeks of dev time, plus costs for a specialist (or your internal team). It's ideal for large enterprises with unique needs, but if speed and simplicity are key, skip this for the drag-and-drop tool above.
Tips: What You Can Do Now
I know what it feels like—being frustrated, losing time, feeling limited by what should've been basic functionality. Here are some practical tips to reduce the pain today:
- Map out how frequently your team needs to attach multiple files vs single files. If it's rare, maybe the manual way is tolerable in the short term.
- Prioritize the Drag & Drop Metadata tool if multi-file uploads are a daily pain—it's the easiest path to implement and scales effortlessly.
- If multi-file uploads are important, bring up the requirement with your Microsoft partner or internal dev team now. Use one of the tools above, or budget for a PCF control or ISV add-on.
- Train users on the SharePoint Documents way so you can use that as a fallback—set expectations clearly.
- Before choosing any third-party tool, test it: try upload performance, usability (if you'll be using mobile browsers, make sure to test on those), and ask about version upgrades and potential support.
Final Thoughts
You’re definitely not alone. Every admin, every power user, at some point, hits the “one file at a time” wall with Dynamics 365. The limitation is frustrating because it slows you down right when you're rushing, especially at the end of the week or when client deadlines loom.
But the good news is: there are options. Start with something practical like Drag & Drop Metadata to get immediate relief, or go custom if you need bespoke power. You can start small (use SharePoint) or invest (tools, development) to make your life and your users’ lives much smoother.
References
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