> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.narrative.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Upload Your Data
> Add your first dataset to Narrative I/O
In this tutorial, you'll upload your first dataset to Narrative I/O. By the end, your data will be ready for normalization and querying.
This tutorial is part of the First Steps series. Complete [Create an Account](/getting-started/create-account) before starting.
## Prerequisites
* A Narrative I/O account
* A CSV file to upload
Don't have a dataset handy? Download this [sample CSV of top domains](https://github.com/fffaraz/datasets/blob/master/top500Domains.csv) to follow along.
## What you'll learn
* How to navigate to the Datasets page
* How to upload a CSV file
* How to verify your dataset was created successfully
## Steps
In the left sidebar, click **My Data**, then select **Datasets**.
This takes you to [https://app.narrative.io/platform/my-data/datasets](https://app.narrative.io/platform/my-data/datasets), where you can see all your existing datasets and their statuses.
Click **New Dataset** to begin the upload process.
You'll land on the dataset creation page at [https://app.narrative.io/platform/my-data/new-dataset](https://app.narrative.io/platform/my-data/new-dataset). This is where you'll upload your file and configure your dataset.
Upload your CSV file using one of these methods:
* **Drag and drop**: Drag your file directly onto the upload area
* **File picker**: Click the upload area to browse and select your file
Once you select a file, the platform begins processing:
* The file uploads to Narrative's servers
* The system infers your schema from the data
* Initial validation checks run automatically
Narrative also supports JSON files. For connecting external data sources like cloud storage or databases, see the [Connectors reference](/reference/connectors).
After a successful upload, you're redirected to your dataset's overview page.
The URL follows this pattern: `https://app.narrative.io/platform/my-data/dataset/{id}#overview`
On this page you'll see:
* **Dataset name and metadata**: Basic information about your upload
* **Status indicator**: Confirms the dataset was created successfully
* **Navigation tabs**: Access to Overview, Schema, Records, and Mappings
Your dataset now exists in Narrative and is ready for the next step: normalization.
## Verify it worked
To confirm your upload succeeded:
1. Navigate back to **My Data** → **Datasets**
2. Find your new dataset in the list
3. Check that the status shows the upload is complete
4. Click into the dataset and select the **Records** tab to preview your data
You should see your CSV data displayed with the columns the system inferred from your file.
## What you accomplished
* Navigated to the dataset management interface
* Uploaded a CSV file as a new dataset
* Verified the dataset was created and is ready for normalization
## Troubleshooting
| Issue | Solution |
| ------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Upload fails or times out | Check file size limits; try a smaller file or split into chunks |
| File format not supported | Ensure your file is a valid CSV or JSON format |
| Dataset shows 0 records | Verify the file has data rows, not just headers |
| Schema looks incorrect | Check that your CSV uses consistent delimiters and quoting |
## Next steps
Map your data to Narrative's standard schema
Set up connectors for cloud storage and databases