> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://www.mintlify.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Fix a static file that returns 404 on your docs site

> Diagnose why a file you added to your documentation repository (like a JSON, PDF, or image) does not load at its expected URL on your Mintlify site.

Mintlify serves static files from your documentation repository at the path that matches their location in the repo. If a file like `data/prices.json` returns `404` when you request `https://docs.example.com/data/prices.json`, work through the causes below. For an overview of how static file serving works and the list of supported file types, see [Files](/docs/create/files).

## Confirm the URL matches the repo path

The URL path mirrors the file's location in your repo. A file committed to the root of the repo as `prices.json` is served at `https://docs.example.com/prices.json`. A file at `data/prices.json` is served at `https://docs.example.com/data/prices.json`.

Common mistakes:

* Case mismatch. `Prices.json` and `prices.json` are different URLs.
* The file is only in a feature branch. Only files committed to the branch Mintlify builds are served.
* A typo in the extension. Mintlify serves the file at the exact filename it has in the repo.

Confirm the file exists on the deployed branch by opening it directly in your Git provider's web UI.

## Check that the file type is supported

Mintlify only serves the file types listed in [Supported file types](/docs/create/files#supported-file-types). Some types, like `.pdf`, `.txt`, `.xml`, `.csv`, and `.zip`, are only served on Enterprise plans. A file with an unsupported extension returns `404` even when it exists in the repo.

## Check the file size

Files must be less than 20 MB. Larger files are not served and must be hosted on an external CDN or object store.

## Rule out authentication

Static file serving is not supported for documentation sites with [authentication](/docs/deploy/authentication-setup) enabled. Direct URLs to files return `404` on authenticated sites even when the file exists and the user is signed in. Host the file on an external service if your site requires authentication.

## Rule out `.mintignore` and other exclusions

Check whether the file matches a pattern in `.mintignore`. Mintlify does not publish files that match `.mintignore` patterns, so they are not available at their URL. See [Exclude files from publishing](/docs/organize/mintignore).

Mintlify also automatically ignores directories like `node_modules`, `build`, `dist`, and `.git`. A file inside one of those directories is not served. Move the file to a directory that is not auto-ignored, like `assets/` or `data/`. See the full auto-ignored list in [Default ignored patterns](/docs/organize/mintignore#default-ignored-patterns).

## Redeploy after adding the file

Mintlify builds your documentation when you push to your deploy branch. A newly added file is only available after the next successful build. Open your dashboard's deployment history and confirm the commit that added the file was built successfully before you retest the URL.


## Related topics

- [Files](/docs/create/files.md)
- [Troubleshooting](/docs/api-playground/troubleshooting.md)
- [SEO](/docs/optimize/seo.md)