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643 votes
Thanks for your expressions and feedback in a bulk download or print facility for Files (either from the Files library or at an individual transaction level)
We know that bulk operations can be handy, however at this time we have no plans to develop this functionality. We know it might seem like a small feat, however often even small change is more tightly woven and intricate to solve beneath the surface.
While we understand this must be frustrating to hear, we’re currently focused on making improvements in other areas of Xero and are unable to prioritise a bulk download or print feature right now.
However, in situations like these there are often connected apps through the Xero App Store that may be able to assist. We appreciate and will revise solutions that could fulfil needs in this space, but want to be honest this isn’t something we have plans for…An error occurred while saving the comment 
Campbell Green
supported this idea
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An error occurred while saving the comment Campbell Green
commented
There is no denying it, this one has been requested for years and definitely has merit.
Let me explain really briefly why this is not an easy or a possible task for Xero, or anyone to implement with a great deal of success.
The challenge with implementing a bulk export and print feature in Xero isn’t just about downloading files—it’s about how those files behave when printed, specifically Excel spreadsheets (XLSX), a file format Xero allows to be used as an attachment.
Unlike PDFs or images, Excel files aren’t designed for printing. They often span multiple pages, have variable layouts, and require manual formatting (like adjusting orientation, scaling, or selecting print areas) to look right on paper. Automating this process reliably across hundreds of files is extremely difficult, and that’s likely why Xero hasn’t offered a bulk print option—it’s not just a technical hurdle, it’s a formatting nightmare.
That said, the next best solution would be a bulk download/export of all attachments related to an invoice, organised in a logical folder structure. This would allow users to manually handle printing of complex files like XLSX while still saving time on retrieval.
If you're looking for a solution today, check out Control-C.com or find us in the Xero App Store - we are a certified Xero App Partner.
We currently offer exporting of an invoice, complete with its attachments and are about to release a bulk export of invoices and attachments, making it easier to manage your data - however printing Excel files will always need your manual touch. The good thing is you don't have to manually download your attachments one at a time through Xero, we do this for you. We will be creating subfolders by Contact, with all the invoices and their related attachments in separate subfolders by invoice.
I hope that helps clarify why this request is more complex than it seems. The expectation is unreasonable from a technical perspective and nothing to do with Xero's inability to deliver a complete solution for this request. For those wanting a more detailed drill into the reason why, please read the attached document.
I hope this is received by the Xero community as a helpful response (with a solution), as to why Xero are not going to build this anytime soon. I am sure Kelly would love to close this request after all these years. ;-)
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6 votes
An error occurred while saving the comment Campbell Green
commented
Hello there, have you considered using Control-C‘s platform as it is all ‘read only’ with daily versioning of all transactions? We have a lot of data forensic experts and auditors using our service. If you’re interested send me an email to campbell@control-c.com
Thanks Diana for your thoughtful reply—and I completely agree, having access to your attachments in bulk is essential, especially for audit or compliance purposes.
Just to clarify, the original request was for the ability to "bulk export and print" attachments from Xero. What you’ve described—QuickBooks Online exporting attachments into a ZIP file—is exactly what Control-C offers for Xero. We provide a bulk export of all invoice-related attachments in a structured format, ready for printing. Like QuickBooks, we don’t automatically print Excel (XLSX) files, because as we pointed out, those still require manual formatting and printing due to their variable layout.
So yes, the technology to bulk export is achievable (and we’ve built it), but the “print” part—especially for Excel files—is where things get tricky. QuickBooks doesn’t print XLSX files either; it simply gives you access to them in bulk, which is what most users need. If that’s the goal, Control-C already delivers that functionality for Xero.
Appreciate your engagement on this—it’s exactly the kind of feedback that helps move things forward.