diff --git a/src/components/dashboard/messenger.tsx b/src/components/dashboard/messenger.tsx
index 345bd7a..12bda24 100644
--- a/src/components/dashboard/messenger.tsx
+++ b/src/components/dashboard/messenger.tsx
@@ -12,8 +12,37 @@
 
 import { type CSSProperties, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { Avatar, Btn, Field, Icon, Modal, PageHead, Pill, useToast } from "./ui";
-import { useMessengerData, useThread, type Membership, type UiConversation, type UiMessage, type UiPerson } from "@/lib/messenger-api";
+import { useMessengerData, useThread, type Membership, type UiAttachment, type UiConversation, type UiMessage, type UiPerson } from "@/lib/messenger-api";
 import { MessengerSocketProvider, useMessengerSocket } from "@/lib/messenger-socket";
+import { useUploadAttachment, useDownloadUrl, isImage, type UploadedAttachment } from "@/lib/media-api";
+
+const fmtBytes = (n: number) => (n < 1024 ? `${n} B` : n < 1048576 ? `${(n / 1024).toFixed(0)} KB` : `${(n / 1048576).toFixed(1)} MB`);
+
+/** Renders a message attachment — an inline image thumbnail, or a downloadable file chip. */
+function AttachmentView({ att }: { att: UiAttachment }) {
+  const getUrl = useDownloadUrl();
+  const [url, setUrl] = useState<string | null>(null);
+  useEffect(() => {
+    let alive = true;
+    getUrl(att.contentRef, att.mimeType).then((u) => { if (alive) setUrl(u); }).catch(() => {});
+    return () => { alive = false; };
+  }, [att.contentRef, att.mimeType, getUrl]);
+
+  if (isImage(att.mimeType)) {
+    return url ? (
+      // eslint-disable-next-line @next/next/no-img-element
+      <a href={url} target="_blank" rel="noreferrer"><img src={url} alt="attachment" style={{ maxWidth: 240, maxHeight: 240, borderRadius: 10, display: "block", marginTop: 6, border: "1px solid var(--border)" }} /></a>
+    ) : <div style={{ marginTop: 6, color: "var(--muted)", fontSize: 12 }}>Loading image…</div>;
+  }
+  return (
+    <a href={url ?? "#"} target={url ? "_blank" : undefined} rel="noreferrer"
+       style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 8, marginTop: 6, padding: "8px 12px", borderRadius: 10, background: "var(--panel-2)", border: "1px solid var(--border)", textDecoration: "none", color: "var(--text)", maxWidth: 240 }}>
+      <Icon name="file" size={18} />
+      <span style={{ flex: 1, minWidth: 0, whiteSpace: "nowrap", overflow: "hidden", textOverflow: "ellipsis", fontSize: 13 }}>Attachment</span>
+      <span style={{ color: "var(--muted)", fontSize: 12, flexShrink: 0 }}>{fmtBytes(att.sizeBytes)}</span>
+    </a>
+  );
+}
 
 const initialsOf = (name: string) =>
   name.split(/\s+/).filter(Boolean).slice(0, 2).map((p) => p[0]).join("").toUpperCase() || "?";
@@ -164,19 +193,37 @@ function ThreadView({ conv, nameOf, onError }: { conv: UiConversation; nameOf: (
     setTimeout(() => setFlashId((f) => (f === id ? null : f)), 1200);
   }
 
+  const uploadAttachment = useUploadAttachment();
+  const [staged, setStaged] = useState<UploadedAttachment | null>(null);
+  const [uploading, setUploading] = useState(false);
+  const fileRef = useRef<HTMLInputElement>(null);
+
   function onDraftChange(v: string) {
     setDraft(v);
     const now = Date.now();
     if (socket && now - typingSentAt.current > 2000) { socket.sendTyping(conv.threadId); typingSentAt.current = now; }
   }
 
+  async function onPickFile(file: File | undefined) {
+    if (!file) return;
+    setUploading(true);
+    try { setStaged(await uploadAttachment(file)); }
+    catch (e) { onError((e as Error).message); }
+    finally { setUploading(false); if (fileRef.current) fileRef.current.value = ""; }
+  }
+
   async function submit() {
     const text = draft.trim();
-    if (!text || sending) return;
+    if ((!text && !staged) || sending) return; // allow an attachment with no text
     const parent = replyTo?.id;
-    setDraft(""); setReplyTo(null); setSending(true);
-    try { await t.send(text, parent ? { parentInteractionId: parent } : undefined); }
-    catch (e) { setDraft(text); onError((e as Error).message); }
+    const att = staged;
+    setDraft(""); setReplyTo(null); setStaged(null); setSending(true);
+    try {
+      await t.send(text, {
+        ...(parent ? { parentInteractionId: parent } : {}),
+        ...(att ? { attachment: { contentRef: att.contentRef, mimeType: att.mimeType, sizeBytes: att.sizeBytes } } : {}),
+      });
+    } catch (e) { setDraft(text); setStaged(att); onError((e as Error).message); }
     finally { setSending(false); }
   }
 
@@ -227,14 +274,27 @@ function ThreadView({ conv, nameOf, onError }: { conv: UiConversation; nameOf: (
         </div>
       )}
 
-      <footer style={{ display: "flex", gap: 8, padding: 14, borderTop: "1px solid var(--border)" }}>
+      {staged && (
+        <div style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 8, margin: "0 14px", padding: "8px 12px", borderRadius: 10, background: "var(--panel-2)", border: "1px solid var(--border)" }}>
+          <Icon name={isImage(staged.mimeType) ? "image" : "file"} size={16} />
+          <span style={{ flex: 1, minWidth: 0, whiteSpace: "nowrap", overflow: "hidden", textOverflow: "ellipsis", fontSize: 13 }}>{staged.filename}</span>
+          <span style={{ color: "var(--muted)", fontSize: 12 }}>{fmtBytes(staged.sizeBytes)}</span>
+          <button onClick={() => setStaged(null)} style={{ background: "none", border: "none", color: "var(--muted)", cursor: "pointer", fontSize: 16 }} aria-label="Remove attachment">×</button>
+        </div>
+      )}
+
+      <footer style={{ display: "flex", gap: 8, padding: 14, borderTop: "1px solid var(--border)", alignItems: "center" }}>
+        <input ref={fileRef} type="file" hidden onChange={(e) => void onPickFile(e.target.files?.[0])} />
+        <button onClick={() => fileRef.current?.click()} disabled={uploading} title="Attach a file" style={{ ...actionBtnStyle, width: 38, height: 38, flexShrink: 0, opacity: uploading ? 0.5 : 1 }}>
+          {uploading ? "…" : "📎"}
+        </button>
         <input
           ref={inputRef}
           value={draft} onChange={(e) => onDraftChange(e.target.value)}
           onKeyDown={(e) => { if (e.key === "Enter" && !e.shiftKey) { e.preventDefault(); void submit(); } }}
           placeholder="Type a message…" style={inputStyle}
         />
-        <Btn icon="send" onClick={() => void submit()} disabled={sending || !draft.trim()}>Send</Btn>
+        <Btn icon="send" onClick={() => void submit()} disabled={sending || (!draft.trim() && !staged)}>Send</Btn>
       </footer>
     </>
   );
@@ -274,15 +334,17 @@ function MessageBubble({
       )}
 
       <div style={{ display: "flex", alignItems: "center", gap: 6, flexDirection: msg.mine ? "row-reverse" : "row" }}>
-        <div style={{
-          background: msg.mine ? "var(--grad-brand)" : "var(--panel)", color: msg.mine ? "#fff" : "var(--text)",
-          padding: "8px 12px", borderRadius: 14,
-          borderBottomRightRadius: msg.mine ? 4 : 14, borderBottomLeftRadius: msg.mine ? 14 : 4,
-          border: msg.mine ? "none" : "1px solid var(--border)",
-          whiteSpace: "pre-wrap", wordBreak: "break-word", fontSize: 14,
-        }}>
-          {msg.text}
-        </div>
+        {(msg.text || !msg.attachment) && (
+          <div style={{
+            background: msg.mine ? "var(--grad-brand)" : "var(--panel)", color: msg.mine ? "#fff" : "var(--text)",
+            padding: "8px 12px", borderRadius: 14,
+            borderBottomRightRadius: msg.mine ? 4 : 14, borderBottomLeftRadius: msg.mine ? 14 : 4,
+            border: msg.mine ? "none" : "1px solid var(--border)",
+            whiteSpace: "pre-wrap", wordBreak: "break-word", fontSize: 14,
+          }}>
+            {msg.text}
+          </div>
+        )}
         {hover && (
           <div style={{ display: "flex", gap: 2, position: "relative" }}>
             <button onClick={() => setPicker((p) => !p)} title="React" style={actionBtnStyle}>🙂</button>
@@ -298,6 +360,12 @@ function MessageBubble({
         )}
       </div>
 
+      {msg.attachment && (
+        <div style={{ marginTop: 4, display: "flex", justifyContent: msg.mine ? "flex-end" : "flex-start" }}>
+          <AttachmentView att={msg.attachment} />
+        </div>
+      )}
+
       {msg.reactions && msg.reactions.length > 0 && (
         <div style={{ display: "flex", gap: 4, marginTop: 3, flexWrap: "wrap" }}>
           {msg.reactions.map((r) => (
diff --git a/src/lib/media-api.ts b/src/lib/media-api.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3a3f73d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/media-api.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+"use client";
+
+// Media (attachment) helpers over the be-crm data door (crm.media.*). The browser transfers bytes
+// DIRECTLY to IIOS storage via the signed URLs — be-crm only mints them. Used by Messenger + Mail.
+
+import { useCallback } from "react";
+import { useAppShell } from "@abe-kap/appshell-sdk/react";
+
+export interface UploadedAttachment { contentRef: string; mimeType: string; sizeBytes: number; filename: string }
+
+export const MAX_ATTACHMENT_BYTES = 26 * 1024 * 1024; // matches IIOS's cap
+
+export function isImage(mime?: string | null): boolean {
+  return !!mime && mime.startsWith("image/");
+}
+
+/** Upload a File → { contentRef, mimeType, sizeBytes, filename }. Throws on oversize / failure. */
+export function useUploadAttachment() {
+  const { sdk } = useAppShell();
+  return useCallback(async (file: File): Promise<UploadedAttachment> => {
+    if (file.size > MAX_ATTACHMENT_BYTES) throw new Error("File is too large (max 25 MB).");
+    const mime = file.type || "application/octet-stream";
+    const { objectKey, uploadUrl } = (await sdk.command("crm.media.presignUpload", { mime, sizeBytes: file.size })) as { objectKey: string; uploadUrl: string };
+    const res = await fetch(uploadUrl, { method: "PUT", body: file });
+    if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Upload failed (${res.status}).`);
+    return { contentRef: objectKey, mimeType: mime, sizeBytes: file.size, filename: file.name };
+  }, [sdk]);
+}
+
+/** Mint a short-lived signed URL to display/download an attachment by its contentRef. */
+export function useDownloadUrl() {
+  const { sdk } = useAppShell();
+  return useCallback(async (contentRef: string, mime?: string): Promise<string> => {
+    const { url } = (await sdk.command("crm.media.presignDownload", { contentRef, ...(mime ? { mime } : {}) })) as { url: string };
+    return url;
+  }, [sdk]);
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/messenger-api.ts b/src/lib/messenger-api.ts
index e52e858..4c05cc2 100644
--- a/src/lib/messenger-api.ts
+++ b/src/lib/messenger-api.ts
@@ -28,9 +28,11 @@ export interface UiConversation {
   participants: string[]; unread: number; lastMessage?: string; lastAt?: string;
 }
 export interface UiReaction { emoji: string; count: number; mine: boolean }
+export interface UiAttachment { contentRef: string; mimeType: string; sizeBytes: number }
 export interface UiMessage {
   id: string; actorId: string | null; senderId?: string | null; text: string; at: string; mine: boolean;
   parentInteractionId?: string | null;
+  attachment?: UiAttachment;
   reactions?: UiReaction[];
 }
 
@@ -78,7 +80,7 @@ export interface MessengerData {
 export interface ThreadData {
   loading: boolean; error: string | null;
   messages: UiMessage[];
-  send: (content: string, opts?: { parentInteractionId?: string }) => Promise<void>;
+  send: (content: string, opts?: { parentInteractionId?: string; attachment?: UiAttachment }) => Promise<void>;
   react: (interactionId: string, emoji: string) => void;
   typingUserIds: string[];
   seenIds: Set<string>;
@@ -236,11 +238,12 @@ function useLiveThread(threadId: string): ThreadData {
     return out;
   }, [seenIds, messages]);
 
-  const send = useCallback(async (content: string, opts?: { parentInteractionId?: string }) => {
+  const send = useCallback(async (content: string, opts?: { parentInteractionId?: string; attachment?: UiAttachment }) => {
     if (socket && socketReady) {
       await socket.send(threadId, content, opts); // echoes back over the socket as a 'message' event
     } else {
-      const m = (await sdk.command("crm.messenger.send", { threadId, content })) as MessageDTO;
+      // REST fallback carries the attachment ref too; a socket reconnect will replace with the live copy.
+      const m = (await sdk.command("crm.messenger.send", { threadId, content, ...(opts?.attachment ? { attachment: opts.attachment } : {}) })) as MessageDTO;
       if (m.actorId) setMyActorId(m.actorId);
       q.refetch();
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/messenger-socket.tsx b/src/lib/messenger-socket.tsx
index 4222211..39ae6c0 100644
--- a/src/lib/messenger-socket.tsx
+++ b/src/lib/messenger-socket.tsx
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ export interface MessengerSocket {
   ready: boolean;
   myUserId?: string;
   openThread: (threadId: string) => Promise<UiMessage[]>;
-  send: (threadId: string, content: string, opts?: { parentInteractionId?: string }) => Promise<void>;
+  send: (threadId: string, content: string, opts?: { parentInteractionId?: string; attachment?: { contentRef: string; mimeType: string; sizeBytes: number } }) => Promise<void>;
   subscribe: (threadId: string, cb: (m: UiMessage) => void) => () => void;
   /** Fires for EVERY inbound message regardless of thread — drives live sidebar previews. */
   onAnyMessage: (cb: (threadId: string, m: UiMessage) => void) => () => void;
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ const toUi = (m: Message, myUserId?: string): UiMessage => ({
   id: m.id, actorId: m.senderActorId ?? null, senderId: m.senderId ?? null, text: m.content ?? "", at: m.createdAt,
   mine: !!myUserId && m.senderId === myUserId,
   ...(m.parentInteractionId ? { parentInteractionId: m.parentInteractionId } : {}),
+  ...(m.attachment ? { attachment: { contentRef: m.attachment.contentRef, mimeType: m.attachment.mimeType, sizeBytes: m.attachment.sizeBytes } } : {}),
   reactions: toReactions(m.annotations, myUserId),
 });
 
@@ -113,10 +114,14 @@ function LiveSocketProvider({ children }: { children: ReactNode }) {
     return res.history.map((m) => toUi(m, myRef.current));
   }, []);
 
-  const send = useCallback(async (threadId: string, content: string, opts?: { parentInteractionId?: string }) => {
+  const send = useCallback(async (threadId: string, content: string, opts?: { parentInteractionId?: string; attachment?: { contentRef: string; mimeType: string; sizeBytes: number } }) => {
     const s = socketRef.current;
     if (!s) throw new Error("Not connected");
-    await s.sendMessage(threadId, content, opts?.parentInteractionId ? { parentInteractionId: opts.parentInteractionId } : undefined);
+    const sendOpts = {
+      ...(opts?.parentInteractionId ? { parentInteractionId: opts.parentInteractionId } : {}),
+      ...(opts?.attachment ? { attachment: opts.attachment } : {}),
+    };
+    await s.sendMessage(threadId, content, Object.keys(sendOpts).length ? sendOpts : undefined);
   }, []);
 
   const subscribe = useCallback((threadId: string, cb: (m: UiMessage) => void) => msgReg.add(threadId, cb), [msgReg]);