Built-in storage
Every new AI Search instance comes with built-in storage and a built-in vector index, powered by R2 and Vectorize. You can upload files directly to an instance without setting up either service yourself.
Instances created after April 16, 2026 include built-in storage. You can upload files directly using the Items API or the dashboard.
Instances created before this date do not include built-in storage and do not support the Items API. You can see which of your instances have built-in storage on the dashboard under AI > AI Search. Select your instance and check the Overview tab to see if it includes built-in storage.
Go to AI SearchAll instances created before this date will be automatically migrated to managed infrastructure on June 3, 2026. For details, refer to Limits & pricing.
Upload files to an instance using the Items API (Workers binding or REST API) or the Items tab in the dashboard (AI > AI Search > your instance > Items). You can also list, view, and delete uploaded files through the Items API or the dashboard.
For supported file types, refer to Supported file types.
Files uploaded to built-in storage are indexed immediately. External data sources like websites and R2 buckets are indexed on a sync schedule.
An instance can use built-in storage alongside an external data source. The available external data sources are:
- Website: crawl and index a website that you own
- R2 Bucket: index documents stored in a Cloudflare R2 bucket
For example, an instance can be backed by a website for shared documentation while also accepting file uploads through the Items API for additional content.
For instances with built-in storage, R2 storage, Vectorize, and Browser Run are included. Workers AI and AI Gateway usage is billed separately. For full details, refer to Limits and pricing.