---
title: "Shapefile upload says \"File missing\""
description: "Fix a shapefile upload that shows File missing. Add the missing .shp, .shx, .dbf, or .prj file so the Save button turns on."
sidebar:
  label: "Shapefile files missing"
---

If a shapefile row shows `File missing`, MangoMap has not received that extension. Add the missing file to clear the alert. Until you do, `4 files are required` shows under `Required files` and `Save` stays off.

<img src="/_assets/importing-data/troubleshoot-shapefile-missing-files--prj-missing.png" alt="Import data page with Data format set to Shapefile and the message 4 files are required. The .shp, .dbf, and .shx rows have full progress bars; the .prj row shows File missing with an Upload button, and Save is greyed out" width="1600" height="960" />

## Most likely cause: one of the four files wasn't included in the selection

A shapefile is four files: `.shp`, `.shx`, `.dbf`, `.prj`. MangoMap matches each uploaded file to its slot by extension. The most common cause is that the file picker included only some of the four files.

**How to verify.**

The row showing `File missing` names the missing extension. Check your source folder for a file with that extension.

**Fix.**

Click the `Upload` button on the `File missing` row to open the file picker again, and select the missing file.

## Less common: filename has a hidden second extension

On macOS and Windows, file extensions are often hidden by default. A file that looks like `roads` may actually be named `roads.shp.txt`. MangoMap matches extensions on the literal filename, so a hidden extension confuses the match.

**How to verify.**

- **macOS:** `Finder → Settings → Advanced → Show all filename extensions`.
- **Windows:** in File Explorer, `View → Show → File name extensions`.

If the file's actual name doesn't end in `.shp`, `.shx`, `.dbf`, or `.prj`, that's the cause.

**Fix.**

Rename the file so it ends in the correct extension.

## Less common: the source file truly doesn't exist

Sometimes the source tool didn't export all four files. The `.prj` is the most common one to be missing — older shapefile exports skip it.

**How to verify.**

Look in the source folder. If only three files are present, the missing file was never created.

**Fix.**

- **No `.prj`:** open the shapefile in QGIS (`Layer → Add Vector Layer`), set the layer's CRS, and re-export with `Layer → Export → Save Features As → ESRI Shapefile`. The new export will include a `.prj`.
- **No `.shx`:** regenerate the index with `ogrinfo -ro -al -so input.shp`. GDAL automatically creates a `.shx` when reading a `.shp` without one (provided you have write access to the folder).
- **No `.dbf`:** the shapefile cannot be used without it. The dataset has no attribute table; re-export from the source tool.

## If none of the above

Try uploading from a different browser, clearing the page, and selecting all four files at once. If the alert still appears, contact support with a directory listing showing the four file names.

## Related

- [How to import a shapefile](/docs/importing-data/import-shapefile)
- [Supported file formats and limits](/docs/importing-data/supported-formats)