How to build a file manager in Bubble

A simple file manager in Bubble is built by storing uploaded files as File fields in your database, displaying them in a repeating group, and giving users actions like upload, download, rename, and delete. The core idea: use Bubble’s built‑in file uploader to save files to the File Manager, attach them to a “File” datatype you create, and control visibility using Privacy Rules.

Core Structure to Build

You first create a datatype, often called User File, which holds info about each uploaded file. Then you place a File Uploader element for adding files and a Repeating Group to list them. Each row represents one stored file record and gives actions like rename or delete.

• Create datatype User File with fields: file (file), filename (text), owner (User).
• Add a File Uploader on the page and run a workflow “When FileUploader’s value is uploaded → Create a new User File”.
• Place a Repeating Group showing Search for User Files filtered by Current User.
• Inside each cell, show filename, a “Download” link (the file field’s URL), and buttons for rename and delete.

Rename and Delete

Rename is just updating the record’s text field. Delete uses “Make changes to a thing” or “Delete a thing”. Deleting the thing removes the file from Bubble storage automatically unless it’s referenced elsewhere.

// Rename workflow
Step 1: Make changes to User File
filename = Input A's value

// Delete workflow
Step 1: Delete thing → Current cell's User File

Privacy Rules

To ensure users only see their own files, open Data → Privacy → User File and create a rule:

• When This User File's owner is Current User → allow view and modify

Leave all other access denied so users cannot load others’ file URLs.

Optional Features

You can add folders by creating another datatype Folder and linking files to a folder field, or add multi-file uploads using Bubble’s “Enable multiple files” option in the File Uploader.