---
title: "Retrieve file content"
method: GET
path: "/files/{file_id}/content"
tags: ["Files"]
---

# Retrieve file content

`GET /files/{file_id}/content`

Returns a response containing the contents of the specified file.

## Path parameters

- `file_id` string, required

## Response `200`

OK

## Other responses

- `400` — The file cannot be downloaded for its purpose or the account does not have permission to download it.
- `404` — The file was not found.
- `429` — Too many file requests. Reduce the request rate and try again later.
- `500` — The file could not be downloaded because of a server error.

## Changes

- **2026-09-26** `222f167a2327` — 1 breaking, 1 info
  - removed the media type `application/json` for the response with the status `200`
  - added the media type `application/octet-stream` for the response with the status `200`
- **2026-09-25** `cda988e2e364` — 4 info
  - added the non-success response with the status `400`
  - added the non-success response with the status `404`
  - added the non-success response with the status `429`
  - added the non-success response with the status `500`

[Change history](https://skmtc.dev/openai/apis/openapi/changes/files/:file_id/content/get.md)

---

[API](https://skmtc.dev/openai/apis/openapi.md) · [All operations](https://skmtc.dev/openai/apis/openapi/llms.txt) · [OpenAPI document](https://skmtc.dev/openai/apis/openapi/revisions/4b75527da17b?raw)