When will my document be read?
Updated 5 Oct 2026 · 3 min read
Adding a document and reading it are two separate steps. The moment a file is uploaded, it's safely in your vault and you can open it. Reading is when ViamOne works out what the document is, whose it is and which dates matter, so it can remind you before something expires. See What does ViamOne pick out of a document?.
Some documents are read straight away. Others wait a little while and are read together on a schedule set by your plan.
Read straight away
- Scans and photos taken in the ViamOne app, when your phone could make out the text
- Word and Excel files
- Text files, CSV files and saved emails
Read on your plan's schedule
- PDFs, unless they were scanned in the ViamOne app
- Photos and images uploaded from a computer, sent to your vault email, or copied from Google Drive or Dropbox
- Phone photos where the phone couldn't make out the text
These are read:
- Unlimited: within the hour
- Pro: within 2 hours
- Essential: within 4 hours
- Basic: overnight
It's the vault owner's plan that sets the schedule, for everyone in the vault.
See when a file will be read
ViamOne tells you whenever a file is waiting:
- Right after you upload, the upload card says when, for example "2 files will be read at 4:07 pm".
- In your Vault, a short note above your files says when the waiting ones will be read.
- On the document's own page, a blue bar shows the time. If a higher plan reads sooner, it says so, with an Upgrade link.
While a document waits, you can still open it, share it, rename it and move it to a folder.
Security: From the moment it uploads, a document can only be opened by people in your vault, whether it's been read yet or not.
While it's being read
When reading starts, the document page on viamone.com shows Processing and a row of steps as it goes. When it's done, you get a "Document ready" notification, and anything that needs doing, like a renewal, shows up on Home.
Tip: Need something read quickly? Scan it with Scan Document in the ViamOne app. Your phone reads the text as it uploads, so it usually doesn't wait. See How do I scan a document with my phone?.
Files that are never read
Documents in a private folder are stored and can be previewed, but ViamOne never reads them. See What is the private folder?.
Didn't work?
The time has passed and it still isn't read
When a lot of documents are waiting, reading can take a little longer than the time shown. If a document still says it's waiting well after that, see Why is my document stuck or not read?.
It says "Couldn't read this document"
ViamOne opened the file but couldn't make out any text, often because the scan is blurry, dark or password-protected. Scan or upload a clearer copy, then see How do I get ViamOne to read a document again?.
It says "Processing failed — retrying automatically"
Something went wrong partway through. ViamOne tries again on its own, so give it a while. If it doesn't clear, see Why is my document stuck or not read?.
Still need help?
Create a ticket and a person on our team will reply right here, on the support site.