Inserting Images in an AI Conversation
Runeya lets you attach images to your messages in the free AI chat. The AI you have selected (Claude Code or Codex) will analyze those images and take them into account in its response.
Supported Formats and Limits
| What is accepted | Detail |
|---|---|
| Formats | JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP |
| Maximum size | 5 MB per image |
| Number of images | 5 images maximum per message |
Attaching an Image to a Message
- Open an AI conversation (the AI tab → New conversation or an existing conversation).
- Just above the text input area, find the paperclip button (📎 Attach image).
- Click the button — your operating system's file picker opens.
- Select one or more images (up to 5).
- Your images appear immediately as small thumbnails just above the text input area. A loading indicator is shown while each image is being prepared.
- Type your text message if needed (you can also send images without any text).
- Press Enter or click Send.
Your images will appear in the conversation history, attached to your message.
Removing an image before sending
Click the ✕ button in the top-right corner of a thumbnail to remove that image. You can add different ones in its place.
Enlarging an image in the history
Click any image in the conversation history to view it full-size. Close the viewer with the Escape key or by clicking outside the image.
Behavior by AI Provider
Claude Code
Claude Code supports images natively. When you send a message with images, they are transmitted directly to Claude, which can read, describe, analyze, or extract text from them.
Example use cases:
- Share a screenshot of an error message to get help debugging it.
- Show a diagram or chart to have it explained or commented on.
- Submit a UI mockup to receive design suggestions.
Codex (OpenAI)
Codex also supports images through its multimodal format. The experience in Runeya is identical — you attach images the same way. The visual analysis capabilities depend on the specific Codex model you have configured.
Models without visual support
Some older Codex models do not process images. If the AI does not seem to acknowledge your images in its response, check that you are using a recent model with multimodal support in Settings → AI.
Image Expiration
Images you send are stored temporarily on your machine. They are automatically deleted after 24 hours.
What you will see after expiration
If you return to an old conversation and the images have expired, they will display the message "Image expired" instead of the thumbnail. The image is no longer available.
┌──────────────┐
│ 🖼️ ⚠️ │
│ Image │
│ expired │
└──────────────┘How to resend an expired image
Expired images cannot be recovered automatically. To reuse them:
- Find the original image file on your computer.
- In a new conversation (or the same one if it is still open), click the 📎 Attach image button.
- Select the file again and send your message.
FAQ
The image button is not showing — what should I do?
The paperclip button (📎) is located just above the text input area. If it is not visible, make sure you are in a free AI conversation (not inside a Scenario). If the problem persists, reload the page.
My image was rejected because it is too large — what should I do?
The limit is 5 MB per image. To reduce a file's size:
- Export it at a lower quality from your image editor.
- Resize it (a width of 1,000–1,500 pixels is usually sufficient for a good analysis).
- Switch from PNG to JPEG if your image does not contain transparency.
My image was rejected because the format is not supported — what should I do?
Runeya only accepts JPEG, PNG, GIF, and WebP formats. If your image is in another format (BMP, TIFF, HEIC, etc.):
- Open it in an image editor or your system's preview app.
- Export / save it as JPEG or PNG.
- Then attach it to your message.
Can I send more than 5 images in a single message?
No. The limit is 5 images per message. If you need to share more, send multiple successive messages with up to 5 images each.
Sending is blocked while images are uploading — is that normal?
Yes. Runeya waits for all your images to be ready before letting you send the message. This is intentional — it ensures the AI receives all images. The wait is typically a few seconds.
An image in the history says "Image expired" — can I recover it?
No. Once expired (after 24 hours), the image is permanently deleted from your machine. Find the original file and send it again in a new message if needed.
Are my images sent to Runeya or a third-party server?
Images are stored temporarily on your own machine in a local folder (~/.runeya/tmp/images/). They are then transmitted to the AI provider you have configured (Anthropic for Claude, OpenAI for Codex) — just like your text messages. Runeya does not keep a copy on its own servers.