Careeroza

File Upload

Upload with sendKeys

<input type="file" id="avatar-upload" accept="image/*">
Path photo = Path.of("src/test/resources/files/profile.jpg").toAbsolutePath();
driver.findElement(By.id("avatar-upload")).sendKeys(photo.toString());   // no OS dialog opens
driver.findElement(By.id("save-profile")).click();
System.out.println(wait.until(ExpectedConditions.visibilityOfElementLocated(By.cssSelector(".toast"))).getText());

Example

Output:

Run ProfilePhotoTest.main()

Example output

Profile photo updated

Rules

  • Send the absolute path of the file to the <input type="file"> element. Do not click "Browse": Selenium cannot control the operating system's file dialog.
  • If the input is hidden behind a styled button, it still usually accepts sendKeys. If not, make it visible with JavaScript first.
  • Multiple files: join paths with a newline, sendKeys(path1 + "\n" + path2), when the input has multiple.
  • On Selenium Grid, set ((RemoteWebDriver) driver).setFileDetector(new LocalFileDetector()) so the file is sent to the remote machine.

Note: Tools like AutoIT or Robot class were used for upload dialogs in old tutorials. You do not need them with sendKeys.