# gt: General Translation CLI tool: gt upload
URL: https://generaltranslation.com/en-US/docs/cli/reference/commands/upload.mdx
---

title: gt upload
description: Upload source files and translations to the General Translation platform. API reference for the gt upload command.

---

Uploads your project's source files and any existing translations to the General Translation platform, syncing local files so they can be managed, enqueued, and tracked. Pair it with [`gt enqueue`](/docs/cli/reference/commands/enqueue) and [`gt download`](/docs/cli/reference/commands/download) to split translation across CI stages. See [Manage translations](/docs/cli/guides/managing-translations#split).

*Note: For production use only. Requires a production `GT_API_KEY` and `GT_PROJECT_ID`.*

```bash
npx gt upload
```

## How it works [#how-it-works]

1. Reads `gt.config.json` to determine which files to upload.
2. Collects all translatable source files.
3. Hashes each file to generate a `fileId` (from its path) and `versionId` (from its content).
4. Queries the API to determine which files are new or changed.
5. Detects file moves — same content, different path — and preserves existing translations.
6. Uploads new and changed source files, along with any local translation files.

## Flags [#flags]

`upload` accepts the same flags as [`gt translate`](/docs/cli/reference/commands/translate#flags). The flags most commonly used with it are below; the linked reference above lists the complete set.

| Parameter | Description | Type | Optional | Default |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `--api-key <key>` | Production API key. | `string` | Yes | `GT_API_KEY` |
| `--project-id <id>` | Project ID. | `string` | Yes | `GT_PROJECT_ID` |
| `-c, --config <path>` | Path to the config file. | `string` | Yes | `gt.config.json` |
| `--locales <locales...>` | Extra target locales, appended to config locales. | `string[]` | Yes | — |
| `--default-locale <locale>` | Source locale for the project. | `string` | Yes | `en` |
| `--timeout <seconds>` | Request timeout in seconds. | `number` | Yes | `900` |
| `--dry-run` | Collect files and report them without uploading. | `boolean` | Yes | `false` |

## Example [#example]

```bash
# Stage 1: upload source files (this command)
npx gt upload

# Stage 2: enqueue translations
npx gt enqueue

# Stage 3: download when ready
npx gt download
```

## Other notes [#notes]

- `upload` collects translatable source files of every configured type (JSON, YAML, Markdown, MDX, and more) and any local translation files.
- Because it hashes each file by path and content, moved files (same content, new path) keep their existing translations instead of being re-translated.