file search api always returning empty results with 200 status - /files/v3/files/search?limit=5

Developer Support APIs & Integrations
1

chandrajeets1_0-1758865574103.png
chandrajeets1_0-1758865574103.png1134×557 50.5 KB

however get file api is working fine.
Is there anything I’m missing or it’s an issue? can someone please take a look.

2

Hey, @chandrajeet-s1 :waving_hand: Do you get the same result if you send the same request but either increase or remove the limit param? Additionally, the documentation mentions this detail: “Does not display hidden or archived files”

Talk soon! — Jaycee

3

I used your request URL and received the expected response:

{
 "results": [
 {
 "id": "80275019363",
 "createdAt": "2022-07-26T22:22:04.890Z",
 "updatedAt": "2022-07-26T22:22:08.489Z",
 "name": "chonkly",
 "path": "chonkly.gif",
 "size": 4204275,
 "height": 470,
 "width": 480,
 "encoding": "unknown",
 "type": "IMG",
 "extension": "gif",
 "defaultHostingUrl": "URL",
 "url": "URL",
 "isUsableInContent": true,
 "access": "PUBLIC_INDEXABLE",
 "fileMd5": "5398ba2f315a745f...",
 "sourceGroup": "CONTENT",
 "archived": false
 },
 {
 "id": "92107510025",
 "createdAt": "2022-11-17T23:46:02.834Z",
 "updatedAt": "2022-11-17T23:46:02.835Z",
 "parentFolderId": "92105487368",
 "name": "BobsBugersData-csv-2",
 "path": "/Bobs files/BobsBugersData-csv-2.csv",
 "size": 359,
 "encoding": "unknown",
 "type": "DOCUMENT",
 "extension": "csv",
 "defaultHostingUrl": "URL",
 "url": "URL",
 "isUsableInContent": true,
 "access": "PRIVATE",
 "fileMd5": "a5147ce13825c4d587...",
 "sourceGroup": "CONTENT",
 "archived": false
 },
 {
 "id": "92710213697",
 "createdAt": "2022-11-22T19:28:56.952Z",
 "updatedAt": "2022-11-22T19:28:56.953Z",
 "parentFolderId": "92105487368",
 "name": "BobsBugersData-csv-2-1",
 "path": "/Bobs files/BobsBugersData-csv-2-1.csv",
 "size": 359,
 "encoding": "unknown",
 "type": "DOCUMENT",
 "extension": "csv",
 "defaultHostingUrl": "URL",
 "url": "URL",
 "isUsableInContent": true,
 "access": "PRIVATE",
 "fileMd5": "a5147ce13825c4d5879d648...",
 "sourceGroup": "CONTENT",
 "archived": false
 },
 {
 "id": "106021908843",
 "createdAt": "2023-03-10T19:40:58.101Z",
 "updatedAt": "2023-03-10T19:40:58.102Z",
 "parentFolderId": "92105487368",
 "name": "This is a testerr PDF",
 "path": "/Bobs files/This is a testerr PDF.pdf",
 "size": 4747,
 "encoding": "unknown",
 "type": "DOCUMENT",
 "extension": "pdf",
 "defaultHostingUrl": "URL",
 "url": "URLf",
 "isUsableInContent": true,
 "access": "PRIVATE",
 "fileMd5": "a3d244f76a62c22dff513...",
 "sourceGroup": "CONTENT",
 "archived": false
 },
 {
 "id": "131572924204",
 "createdAt": "2023-08-24T20:34:54.911Z",
 "updatedAt": "2023-08-24T20:35:01.096Z",
 "name": "Spider_Man_meme",
 "path": "Spider_Man_meme.jpg",
 "size": 96841,
 "height": 1050,
 "width": 1400,
 "encoding": "jpeg",
 "type": "IMG",
 "extension": "jpg",
 "defaultHostingUrl": "URL",
 "url": "URL",
 "isUsableInContent": true,
 "access": "PUBLIC_INDEXABLE",
 "fileMd5": "c8b996a9d27c82fe0f...",
 "sourceGroup": "CONTENT",
 "archived": false
 }
 ],
 "paging": {
 "next": {
 "after": "AAAABQ",
 "link": "https://api.hubapi.com/files/v3/files/search?limit=5&after=AAAABQ"
 }
 }
}

Talk soon! — Jaycee

4

Hey @s1-sandbox ,
The Files search endpoint in HubSpot uses POST because it relies on a JSON body to pass search parameters like query terms, filters, limits, and offsets. A GET request can’t reliably carry this structured payload, so calling it with query strings will just return an empty result. To use it successfully, send a POST with `Content-Type: application/json`, include the query object in the body, and authenticate with a token issued for the same portal that has the `files` scope. If you need hidden files, add the `files_ui_hidden.read` scope. Note that archived, hidden, or private files are excluded from search by design, though you can still fetch them directly by ID.
I hope this provides the clarity you were looking for. If it resolves your question, kindly mark it as the accepted solution and upvote it to assist others in the community.