Media question types

Last updated: 21 Nov 2025

Many data collection projects require more than just quantitative data. KoboToolbox allows you to capture various media files from respondents, including photos, audio recordings, videos, and files, to provide key qualitative information and add visual and auditory depth to your datasets.

The following media question types are available in the KoboToolbox Formbuilder:

Question type	Description
Photo	Capture or upload an image
Audio	Record or upload an audio file
Video	Record or upload a video file
File	Attach a file (e.g., .pdf, .docx)

The method of capturing or uploading media depends on whether you are using KoboCollect or Enketo web forms for data collection. In KoboCollect, you can either upload or record media files directly within the app. With Enketo, you can upload any media file, and record audio directly within the forms.

Note: KoboToolbox also supports background audio recordings for entire interviews or focus group discussions. When background audio recording is active on a form, Audio question types in KoboCollect are deactivated, as it is not possible to record audio using both features simultaneously. For more information, see Recording interviews with background audio recording.

This article covers the following topics:

• Adding media questions in the Formbuilder

• Default and advanced appearances of media questions

• Parameters for media questions

Adding media questions in the Formbuilder

To add media questions:

1. Click the button to add a new question.

2. Type the question text and click + ADD QUESTION.

3. Choose the desired question type (Photo, Audio, Video, or File).

Appearances of media questions

Media questions can display differently depending on whether you are using Enketo web forms or KoboCollect. You can also change the default appearance of media questions. This section details how each question type appears across both platforms, including default and advanced appearance options.

Default appearances

The table below shows how media questions are displayed by default in Enketo web forms and KoboCollect.

Advanced appearances

Only the Photo question type supports advanced appearances. These appearances alter how the question behaves in web forms and KoboCollect, enabling users to do more than just upload or capture images. With advanced appearances, you can draw sketches, add signatures, annotate images, and take selfies.

Available appearances include:

Appearance	Description
signature	Allows the user to capture a signature by signing directly on the device’s screen (e.g., for forms that require a digital signature for verification).
draw	Enables users to sketch or create drawings directly on the device’s screen (e.g., to capture illustrations or hand-drawn maps).
annotate	Allows the user to annotate an image by drawing or writing on it.
new	Prompts the user to take a new picture using the device camera (only available when using KoboCollect).
new-front	Prompts the user to take a new picture using the device’s front-facing camera (only available when using KoboCollect).

To add an advanced appearance:

1. Open the question settings by clicking Settings to the right of the question. This will take you to the Question Options tab.

2. In Appearance (Advanced), choose the desired appearance.

   • If the appearance is not listed, select Other and type the name of the appearance in the text box, exactly as written above.

Parameters for media questions

Beyond their basic function, media questions also offer advanced parameters that allow you to manage file sizes and restrict accepted file types.

Lowering image sizes

If your project involves collecting a significant amount of media, you might encounter difficulties uploading files to KoboToolbox, depending on your internet speed. Users of the Community Plan are also limited to 1GB of free file storage. Therefore, it is advisable to manage the file sizes of the media files you collect.

To define the maximum size of images collected using the Photo question type:

1. Open the question settings by clicking Settings to the right of the question. This will take you to the Question Options tab.

2. Set the max-pixels parameter to the value of your choice (e.g., 1000).

Note: You can also configure video resolution and image size in KoboCollect settings.

Restricting accepted file types

By default, the File question type accepts all file types. To restrict the type of files this question accepts:

1. Open the question settings by clicking Settings to the right of the question. This will take you to the Question Options tab.

2. In the Accepted Files text box, list the file extensions that you would like to allow, separated by a comma (e.g., .doc, .pdf, .xlsx)

Troubleshooting

Collecting multiple images or media files

Media question types only support uploading one file at a time. To allow users to upload multiple files, you can place the media question within a repeat group, or duplicate the media question in the form as many times as needed. You can use skip logic to display subsequent media questions only if the previous one is not blank.

Audio recording in Enketo prevents access to other questions

When a user records an audio question in Enketo, other questions are locked until the recording is complete. This ensures that the audio is fully captured before the user proceeds with the rest of the form.