diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8273b37..f45841d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ WantedBy=multi-user.target
 server {
     listen 80;
     server_name forensic-pathways.yourdomain.com;
+    client_max_body_size 50M; # Important for uploads
     
     location / {
         proxy_pass http://localhost:4321;
diff --git a/src/pages/contribute/knowledgebase.astro b/src/pages/contribute/knowledgebase.astro
index 31af7d0..43d6807 100644
--- a/src/pages/contribute/knowledgebase.astro
+++ b/src/pages/contribute/knowledgebase.astro
@@ -310,6 +310,13 @@ class KnowledgebaseForm {
 
   private handleFiles(files: File[]) {
     files.forEach(file => {
+      // Client-side validation before upload
+      const validation = this.validateFileBeforeUpload(file);
+      if (!validation.valid) {
+        this.showMessage('error', `Cannot upload ${file.name}: ${validation.error}`);
+        return;
+      }
+
       const fileId = Date.now() + '-' + Math.random().toString(36).substr(2, 9);
       const newFile: UploadedFile = {
         id: fileId,
@@ -323,6 +330,38 @@ class KnowledgebaseForm {
     this.renderFileList();
   }
 
+  private validateFileBeforeUpload(file: File): { valid: boolean; error?: string } {
+    const maxSizeBytes = 50 * 1024 * 1024; // 50MB
+    if (file.size > maxSizeBytes) {
+      const sizeMB = (file.size / 1024 / 1024).toFixed(1);
+      const maxMB = (maxSizeBytes / 1024 / 1024).toFixed(0);
+      return { 
+        valid: false, 
+        error: `File too large (${sizeMB}MB). Maximum size: ${maxMB}MB` 
+      };
+    }
+
+    // Check file type
+    const allowedExtensions = [
+      '.pdf', '.doc', '.docx', '.txt', '.md', '.markdown', '.csv', '.json', 
+      '.xml', '.html', '.rtf', '.yaml', '.yml', '.zip', '.tar', '.gz', 
+      '.rar', '.7z', '.png', '.jpg', '.jpeg', '.gif', '.webp', '.svg', 
+      '.mp4', '.webm', '.mov', '.avi'
+    ];
+    
+    const fileName = file.name.toLowerCase();
+    const hasValidExtension = allowedExtensions.some(ext => fileName.endsWith(ext));
+    
+    if (!hasValidExtension) {
+      return {
+        valid: false,
+        error: `File type not allowed. Allowed: ${allowedExtensions.join(', ')}`
+      };
+    }
+
+    return { valid: true };
+  }
+
   private async uploadFile(fileId: string) {
     const fileItem = this.uploadedFiles.find(f => f.id === fileId);
     if (!fileItem) {
@@ -345,22 +384,17 @@ class KnowledgebaseForm {
       });
 
       console.log('[UPLOAD] Response status:', response.status);
-      console.log('[UPLOAD] Response headers:', Object.fromEntries(response.headers.entries()));
 
-      // FIXED: Read the response body only once
-      let responseData: any;
       let responseText: string;
+      let responseData: any;
       
       try {
-        // Try to read as text first (works for both JSON and plain text)
         responseText = await response.text();
         console.log('[UPLOAD] Raw response:', responseText.substring(0, 200));
         
-        // Then try to parse as JSON
         try {
           responseData = JSON.parse(responseText);
         } catch (parseError) {
-          // If JSON parsing fails, treat as plain text
           responseData = { error: responseText };
         }
       } catch (readError) {
@@ -377,22 +411,11 @@ class KnowledgebaseForm {
         
         this.showMessage('success', `Successfully uploaded ${fileItem.name}`);
       } else {
-        // Enhanced error handling with single response read
-        let errorMessage = `Upload failed with status ${response.status}`;
         
-        if (responseData && responseData.error) {
-          errorMessage = responseData.error;
-        } else if (responseText) {
-          errorMessage += ` (${responseText.substring(0, 100)})`;
-        }
-        
-        // Log additional details if available
         if (responseData && responseData.details) {
           console.error('[UPLOAD] Error details:', responseData.details);
-          errorMessage += ` (Details: ${responseData.details.join(', ')})`;
         }
         
-        throw new Error(errorMessage);
       }
     } catch (error) {
       console.error('[UPLOAD] Upload error for', fileItem.name, ':', error);