diff --git a/internal/api/routes/files.go b/internal/api/routes/files.go
index 28accb4..db70537 100644
--- a/internal/api/routes/files.go
+++ b/internal/api/routes/files.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package routes
 
 import (
-	"encoding/base64"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
@@ -42,8 +41,9 @@ func RegisterFileRoutes(cfg *types.StereoConfig, api *gin.RouterGroup) {
 			return
 		}
 
-		b64, err := convertToBase64(filePath)
-		if err != nil {
+		if file.Size <= 0 {
+			c.JSON(400, gin.H{"error": "file size must be greater than zero"})
+			return
 		}
 
 		fileMeta := types.File{
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func RegisterFileRoutes(cfg *types.StereoConfig, api *gin.RouterGroup) {
 			Path:      filePath,
 			Owner:     uid,
 			CreatedAt: time.Now(),
-			Base64:    b64,
+			Size:      file.Size,
 		}
 
 		if err := cfg.Database.Create(&fileMeta).Error; err != nil {
@@ -142,13 +142,3 @@ func RegisterFileRoutes(cfg *types.StereoConfig, api *gin.RouterGroup) {
 		c.JSON(200, files)
 	})
 }
-
-func convertToBase64(filePath string) (string, error) {
-	file, err := os.ReadFile(filePath)
-	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
-	}
-
-	b64 := base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(file)
-	return b64, nil
-}
diff --git a/internal/types/types.go b/internal/types/types.go
index 6120f08..99e5186 100644
--- a/internal/types/types.go
+++ b/internal/types/types.go
@@ -26,6 +26,6 @@ type File struct {
 	ID        string    `gorm:"primaryKey"`
 	Path      string    `gorm:"not null;index"`
 	Owner     string    `gorm:"not null;index"`
+	Size      int64     `gorm:"not null;type:bigint"`
 	CreatedAt time.Time `gorm:"autoCreateTime"`
-	Base64    string    `gorm:"type:text"`
 }