diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 171cd8f..8954610 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -568,6 +568,7 @@ buck-out/
 # Custom rules (everything added below won't be overriden by 'Generate .gitignore File' if you use 'Update' option)
 
 backend/data
+backend/files
 .vite
 *.db
 package-lock.json
diff --git a/backend/requirements.txt b/backend/requirements.txt
index 45666b4..0570f52 100644
--- a/backend/requirements.txt
+++ b/backend/requirements.txt
@@ -16,4 +16,5 @@ httpx>=0.27.2
 rich>=13.9.4
 slowapi>=0.1.9
 firebase_admin>=7.1.0
-PyNaCl>=1.5.0
\ No newline at end of file
+PyNaCl>=1.5.0
+numpy
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/backend/services/main/main.py b/backend/services/main/main.py
index 64d13b5..513b3ee 100644
--- a/backend/services/main/main.py
+++ b/backend/services/main/main.py
@@ -163,8 +163,8 @@ if not _running_in_docker():
         app.mount("/internal/file_storage", file_storage_service_module.app)
         logger.info("Mounted messaging and file_storage services in development mode")
     except Exception as e:
-        # If mounting fails, continue without blocking startup; log for debugging
-        logger.warning(f"Failed to mount internal services for development: {e}")
+        import traceback
+        logger.warning("Failed to mount internal services for development: %s\n%s", e, traceback.format_exc())
 
 
 def _get_username_for_log(user) -> str | None:
diff --git a/backend/services/main/service_calls.py b/backend/services/main/service_calls.py
index da26a22..c6434f8 100644
--- a/backend/services/main/service_calls.py
+++ b/backend/services/main/service_calls.py
@@ -187,15 +187,22 @@ async def store_encrypted_file(
         }
     """
     mod = _get_file_storage_module()
+    # Build allowed users list once for both in-process and HTTP modes
+    allowed_user_ids: list[int] = []
+    if sender_id is not None:
+        allowed_user_ids.append(sender_id)
+    if recipient_id is not None:
+        allowed_user_ids.append(recipient_id)
+
     if mod:
         try:
-            # In-process: call the upload-base64 endpoint directly
-            return await mod.upload_base64_file(
-                None,  # request - not needed for in-process
+            # In-process: call internal function directly
+            return await mod.upload_base64_internal(
                 filename=filename,
                 data_b64=encrypted_file_data_b64,
                 content_type=content_type,
-            )  # type: ignore
+                allowed_user_ids=allowed_user_ids,
+            )
         except Exception as e:
             logger.error("In-process file_storage.store_encrypted_file failed: %s", e)
             raise
@@ -207,11 +214,6 @@ async def store_encrypted_file(
     try:
         try:
             import httpx
-            allowed_user_ids = []
-            if sender_id is not None:
-                allowed_user_ids.append(sender_id)
-            if recipient_id is not None:
-                allowed_user_ids.append(recipient_id)
 
             payload = {
                 "filename": filename,
@@ -225,11 +227,6 @@ async def store_encrypted_file(
                 return r.json()
         except Exception:
             from urllib import request
-            allowed_user_ids = []
-            if sender_id is not None:
-                allowed_user_ids.append(sender_id)
-            if recipient_id is not None:
-                allowed_user_ids.append(recipient_id)
 
             payload = {
                 "filename": filename,
@@ -396,7 +393,7 @@ async def process_message_with_files_in_messaging_service(
                 compliance_public_key_b64=compliance_public_key_b64,
                 sender_public_key_b64=sender_public_key_b64,
                 recipient_public_key_b64=recipient_public_key_b64,
-                files=[f["encrypted_file_data_b64"] for f in transport_files],
+                transport_files=transport_files,
             )
         except Exception as e:
             logger.error("In-process messaging.process_message_with_files failed: %s", e)
@@ -424,3 +421,163 @@ async def process_message_with_files_in_messaging_service(
         raise
 
 
+async def init_resumable_upload_in_storage(
+    filename: str,
+    total_size: int,
+    allowed_user_ids: list[int],
+    chunk_size: int | None = None,
+    timeout: float = 10.0,
+) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    mod = _get_file_storage_module()
+    if mod:
+        try:
+            return await mod.init_resumable_upload_internal(
+                filename=filename,
+                total_size=total_size,
+                allowed_user_ids=allowed_user_ids,
+                chunk_size=chunk_size,
+            )
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error("In-process file_storage.init_resumable_upload failed: %s", e)
+            raise
+
+    file_storage_url = os.getenv("FILE_STORAGE_URL") or os.getenv("FILE_STORAGE_SERVICE_URL") or "http://127.0.0.1:8302"
+    url = f"{file_storage_url.rstrip('/')}/uploads/resumable/init"
+    payload = {
+        "filename": filename,
+        "total_size": total_size,
+        "allowed_user_ids": allowed_user_ids,
+    }
+    if chunk_size is not None:
+        payload["chunk_size"] = chunk_size
+
+    import httpx
+    async with httpx.AsyncClient(timeout=timeout) as client:
+        r = await client.post(url, json=payload)
+        r.raise_for_status()
+        return r.json()
+
+
+async def get_resumable_upload_status_in_storage(
+    upload_id: str,
+    user_id: int,
+    timeout: float = 10.0,
+) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    mod = _get_file_storage_module()
+    if mod:
+        try:
+            return await mod.get_resumable_upload_status_internal(upload_id, user_id)
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error("In-process file_storage.get_resumable_upload_status failed: %s", e)
+            raise
+
+    file_storage_url = os.getenv("FILE_STORAGE_URL") or os.getenv("FILE_STORAGE_SERVICE_URL") or "http://127.0.0.1:8302"
+    url = f"{file_storage_url.rstrip('/')}/uploads/resumable/{upload_id}"
+
+    import httpx
+    async with httpx.AsyncClient(timeout=timeout) as client:
+        r = await client.get(url, headers={"X-User-ID": str(user_id)})
+        r.raise_for_status()
+        return r.json()
+
+
+async def upload_resumable_chunk_in_storage(
+    upload_id: str,
+    user_id: int,
+    offset: int,
+    data_b64: str,
+    timeout: float = 30.0,
+) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    mod = _get_file_storage_module()
+    if mod:
+        try:
+            return await mod.upload_resumable_chunk_internal(
+                upload_id, user_id, offset, data_b64
+            )
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error("In-process file_storage.upload_resumable_chunk failed: %s", e)
+            raise
+
+    file_storage_url = os.getenv("FILE_STORAGE_URL") or os.getenv("FILE_STORAGE_SERVICE_URL") or "http://127.0.0.1:8302"
+    url = f"{file_storage_url.rstrip('/')}/uploads/resumable/{upload_id}"
+    payload = {
+        "offset": offset,
+        "data_b64": data_b64,
+    }
+
+    import httpx
+    async with httpx.AsyncClient(timeout=timeout) as client:
+        r = await client.patch(url, json=payload, headers={"X-User-ID": str(user_id)})
+        r.raise_for_status()
+        return r.json()
+
+
+async def complete_resumable_upload_in_storage(
+    upload_id: str,
+    user_id: int,
+    timeout: float = 10.0,
+) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    mod = _get_file_storage_module()
+    if mod:
+        try:
+            return await mod.complete_resumable_upload_internal(upload_id, user_id)
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error("In-process file_storage.complete_resumable_upload failed: %s", e)
+            raise
+
+    file_storage_url = os.getenv("FILE_STORAGE_URL") or os.getenv("FILE_STORAGE_SERVICE_URL") or "http://127.0.0.1:8302"
+    url = f"{file_storage_url.rstrip('/')}/uploads/resumable/{upload_id}/complete"
+
+    import httpx
+    async with httpx.AsyncClient(timeout=timeout) as client:
+        r = await client.post(url, json={"upload_id": upload_id}, headers={"X-User-ID": str(user_id)})
+        r.raise_for_status()
+        return r.json()
+
+
+async def get_resumable_upload_data_in_storage(
+    upload_id: str,
+    user_id: int,
+    timeout: float = 30.0,
+) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    mod = _get_file_storage_module()
+    if mod:
+        try:
+            return await mod.get_resumable_upload_data_internal(upload_id, user_id)
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error("In-process file_storage.get_resumable_upload_data failed: %s", e)
+            raise
+
+    file_storage_url = os.getenv("FILE_STORAGE_URL") or os.getenv("FILE_STORAGE_SERVICE_URL") or "http://127.0.0.1:8302"
+    url = f"{file_storage_url.rstrip('/')}/uploads/resumable/{upload_id}/data-b64"
+
+    import httpx
+    async with httpx.AsyncClient(timeout=timeout) as client:
+        r = await client.get(url, headers={"X-User-ID": str(user_id)})
+        r.raise_for_status()
+        return r.json()
+
+
+async def delete_resumable_upload_in_storage(
+    upload_id: str,
+    user_id: int,
+    timeout: float = 10.0,
+) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+    mod = _get_file_storage_module()
+    if mod:
+        try:
+            return await mod.delete_resumable_upload_internal(upload_id, user_id)
+        except Exception as e:
+            logger.error("In-process file_storage.delete_resumable_upload failed: %s", e)
+            raise
+
+    file_storage_url = os.getenv("FILE_STORAGE_URL") or os.getenv("FILE_STORAGE_SERVICE_URL") or "http://127.0.0.1:8302"
+    url = f"{file_storage_url.rstrip('/')}/uploads/resumable/{upload_id}"
+
+    import httpx
+    async with httpx.AsyncClient(timeout=timeout) as client:
+        r = await client.delete(url, headers={"X-User-ID": str(user_id)})
+        r.raise_for_status()
+        return r.json()
+
+
diff --git a/backend/services/messaging/main.py b/backend/services/messaging/main.py
index 5bb43da..4149f25 100644
--- a/backend/services/messaging/main.py
+++ b/backend/services/messaging/main.py
@@ -187,6 +187,7 @@ class ProcessMessageWithFilesFile(BaseModel):
     A single transport-encrypted file blob (base64 of nonce||ciphertext).
     """
     encrypted_file_data_b64: str
+    filename: str = "file"
 
 
 class ProcessMessageWithFilesRequest(ProcessMessageRequest):
@@ -200,13 +201,13 @@ class ProcessMessageWithFilesRequest(ProcessMessageRequest):
 # Health Checks
 # ============================================================================
 
-@app.get("/health")
+@app.get("/health", response_model=None)
 async def health_check():
     """Health check endpoint for messaging service."""
     return {"status": "healthy", "service": "messaging"}
 
 
-@app.get("/")
+@app.get("/", response_model=None)
 async def root():
     """Root endpoint for messaging service."""
     return {"message": "FromChat Messaging Service", "status": "operational"}
@@ -216,7 +217,7 @@ async def root():
 # Ephemeral Key Endpoints
 # ============================================================================
 
-@app.get("/key/transport/public")
+@app.get("/key/transport/public", response_model=None)
 async def get_transport_public_key():
     """
     Return the current ephemeral transport public key for client-side message encryption.
@@ -304,7 +305,7 @@ async def process_message(
         raise
 
 
-@app.post("/process")
+@app.post("/process", response_model=None)
 async def process_message_http(request: ProcessMessageRequest):
     """
     HTTP endpoint for processing encrypted messages.
@@ -328,10 +329,11 @@ async def process_message_with_files(
     compliance_public_key_b64: str,
     sender_public_key_b64: str,
     recipient_public_key_b64: str,
-    files: list[str],
+    transport_files: list[dict],
 ):
     """
     In-process helper: process message + transport-encrypted files with one MEK.
+    transport_files: list of {"encrypted_file_data_b64": str, "filename": str}
     """
     private_key = _get_ephemeral_private_key()
 
@@ -343,8 +345,10 @@ async def process_message_with_files(
     )
 
     plaintext_files: list[bytes] = []
-    for encrypted_file_data_b64 in files:
-        transport_blob = base64.b64decode(encrypted_file_data_b64)
+    filenames: list[str] = []
+    for tf in transport_files:
+        enc_b64 = tf.get("encrypted_file_data_b64", "")
+        transport_blob = base64.b64decode(enc_b64)
         plaintext_files.append(
             decrypt_transport_blob(
                 client_public_key_b64=sender_public_key_b64,
@@ -352,17 +356,19 @@ async def process_message_with_files(
                 ephemeral_private_key=private_key,
             )
         )
+        filenames.append(tf.get("filename", "file"))
 
     return process_encrypted_message_and_files(
         plaintext_message=plaintext_message,
         plaintext_files=plaintext_files,
+        filenames=filenames,
         compliance_public_key_b64=compliance_public_key_b64,
         sender_public_key_b64=sender_public_key_b64,
         recipient_public_key_b64=recipient_public_key_b64,
     )
 
 
-@app.post("/process-with-files")
+@app.post("/process-with-files", response_model=None)
 async def process_message_with_files_http(request: ProcessMessageWithFilesRequest):
     """
     Process an encrypted message and its files using a single MEK.
@@ -373,6 +379,10 @@ async def process_message_with_files_http(request: ProcessMessageWithFilesReques
     - MEK is wrapped for compliance, sender, and recipient (stored on DM envelope)
     """
     try:
+        transport_files = [
+            {"encrypted_file_data_b64": f.encrypted_file_data_b64, "filename": f.filename}
+            for f in request.files
+        ]
         return await process_message_with_files(
             client_public_key_b64=request.client_public_key_b64,
             transport_nonce_b64=request.transport_nonce_b64,
@@ -380,7 +390,7 @@ async def process_message_with_files_http(request: ProcessMessageWithFilesReques
             compliance_public_key_b64=request.compliance_public_key_b64,
             sender_public_key_b64=request.sender_public_key_b64,
             recipient_public_key_b64=request.recipient_public_key_b64,
-            files=[f.encrypted_file_data_b64 for f in request.files],
+            transport_files=transport_files,
         )
     except Exception as e:
         logger.exception("Failed to process message with files: %s", e)
diff --git a/backend/services/messaging/processor.py b/backend/services/messaging/processor.py
index d745cae..e282f14 100644
--- a/backend/services/messaging/processor.py
+++ b/backend/services/messaging/processor.py
@@ -9,10 +9,12 @@ This module handles the core envelope encryption workflow:
 5. Store encrypted message + wrapped keys
 """
 
+import io
 import logging
 import json
 import time
 import base64
+from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Dict, Any, Optional
 from cryptography.hazmat.primitives.asymmetric.x25519 import X25519PrivateKey
 
@@ -147,9 +149,41 @@ def process_encrypted_message(
         raise
 
 
+_IMAGE_EXTENSIONS = frozenset({".png", ".jpg", ".jpeg", ".gif", ".webp"})
+_THUMB_SIZE = 80
+
+
+def _generate_thumbnail(image_bytes: bytes) -> tuple[str | None, list[int]]:
+    """Generate tiny JPEG thumbnail (Telegram-style). Returns (base64_jpeg, [w,h]) or (None, [1,1]) on error."""
+    try:
+        from math import gcd
+        from PIL import Image
+        img = Image.open(io.BytesIO(image_bytes))
+        img = img.convert("RGB")
+        if hasattr(img, "info") and img.info:
+            img.info.pop("icc_profile", None)
+        w, h = img.size
+        g = gcd(w, h) if h else 1
+        aspect_wh = [w // g, h // g] if g else [1, 1]
+        if w > _THUMB_SIZE or h > _THUMB_SIZE:
+            scale = min(_THUMB_SIZE / w, _THUMB_SIZE / h)
+            new_w = max(1, int(w * scale))
+            new_h = max(1, int(h * scale))
+            img = img.resize((new_w, new_h), Image.Resampling.LANCZOS)
+        buf = io.BytesIO()
+        img.save(buf, format="JPEG", quality=85, optimize=True)
+        jpeg_b64 = base64.b64encode(buf.getvalue()).decode("ascii")
+        logger.info("THUMB: Image %dx%d -> thumb %dx%d, b64len=%d", w, h, img.width, img.height, len(jpeg_b64))
+        return (jpeg_b64, aspect_wh)
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.warning("THUMB: Generation failed: %s", e)
+        return (None, [1, 1])
+
+
 def process_encrypted_message_and_files(
     plaintext_message: bytes,
     plaintext_files: list[bytes],
+    filenames: list[str],
     compliance_public_key_b64: str,
     sender_public_key_b64: str,
     recipient_public_key_b64: str,
@@ -160,29 +194,61 @@ def process_encrypted_message_and_files(
     - Generates one random MEK
     - Encrypts message and each file with AES-GCM using that MEK (unique nonce per item)
     - Wraps the MEK for compliance, sender, and recipient
-
     Returns:
         {
             "message": {"nonce": str, "ciphertext": str},
             "files": [{"nonce": str, "ciphertext": str}, ...],
-            "compliance_wrapped_mek": str,
-            "sender_wrapped_mek": str,
-            "recipient_wrapped_mek": str,
+            ...
         }
     """
     start_time = time.time()
+    if len(filenames) != len(plaintext_files):
+        filenames = [f"file_{i}" for i in range(len(plaintext_files))]
 
     # One MEK for everything in this envelope
     mek = generate_mek()
 
+    # Build message plaintext: when we have files, use JSON with text + fileThumbnails + fileAspectRatios + fileSizes
+    file_thumbnails: list[str] = []
+    file_aspect_ratios: list[list[int]] = []
+    file_sizes: list[int] = []
+    for i, f_bytes in enumerate(plaintext_files):
+        name = filenames[i] if i < len(filenames) else ""
+        file_sizes.append(len(f_bytes))
+        if Path(name).suffix.lower() in _IMAGE_EXTENSIONS:
+            thumb_b64, wh = _generate_thumbnail(f_bytes)
+            file_thumbnails.append(thumb_b64 or "")
+            file_aspect_ratios.append(wh)
+        else:
+            file_thumbnails.append("")
+            file_aspect_ratios.append([1, 1])
+
+    if plaintext_files:
+        msg_obj = {
+            "text": plaintext_message.decode("utf-8", errors="replace"),
+            "fileThumbnails": file_thumbnails,
+            "fileAspectRatios": file_aspect_ratios,
+            "fileSizes": file_sizes,
+        }
+        logger.info(
+            "THUMB: Message with %d files, thumbnails=%s, aspectRatios=%s",
+            len(file_thumbnails),
+            [f"len={len(t)}" if t else "empty" for t in file_thumbnails],
+            file_aspect_ratios,
+        )
+        plaintext_to_encrypt = json.dumps(msg_obj, ensure_ascii=False).encode("utf-8")
+    else:
+        plaintext_to_encrypt = plaintext_message
+
     # Encrypt message
-    msg_nonce, msg_ciphertext = encrypt_message(plaintext_message, mek)
+    msg_nonce, msg_ciphertext = encrypt_message(plaintext_to_encrypt, mek)
 
     # Encrypt files (same MEK, per-file nonce)
-    files_out: list[Dict[str, str]] = []
-    for f_bytes in plaintext_files:
+    files_out: list[Dict[str, Any]] = []
+    for i, f_bytes in enumerate(plaintext_files):
         f_nonce, f_ciphertext = encrypt_message(f_bytes, mek)
-        files_out.append({"nonce": f_nonce, "ciphertext": f_ciphertext})
+        entry: Dict[str, Any] = {"nonce": f_nonce, "ciphertext": f_ciphertext}
+        files_out.append(entry)
 
     # Derive wrap keys deterministically (same as existing flow)
     compliance_key_bytes = base64.b64decode(compliance_public_key_b64)