---
title: "Load media from S3 and other cloud storage"
description: "Import images, videos, and audio files from S3, GCS, HTTP URLs, or local paths into Pixeltable tables."
url: "https://www.pixeltable.com/notebooks/data-import-s3"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Load media from S3 and other cloud storage

Import images, videos, and audio files from S3, GCS, HTTP URLs, or local paths into Pixeltable tables.

- **Type:** Notebook
- **Group:** Data Import/Export

## How it works

You insert media URLs as references. Pixeltable stores the URLs and automatically downloads/caches files when you access them through queries or computed columns.

## What it covers

- Reference media files by URL (S3, HTTP, local paths)
- Automatic caching of remote files on access
- Process files lazily without bulk downloads

## What it uses

- **Install:** `pip install pixeltable`
- **Pixeltable calls:** `pxt.create_table()`, `insert()`, `add_computed_column()`

## A look at the code

```python
# Add computed columns for image properties
images.add_computed_column(width=images.image.width)
images.add_computed_column(height=images.image.height)
```

## Open it

- **Open in Colab:** https://colab.research.google.com/github/pixeltable/pixeltable/blob/release/docs/release/howto/cookbooks/data/data-import-s3.ipynb
- **Docs page:** https://docs.pixeltable.com/howto/cookbooks/data/data-import-s3
- **Source on GitHub:** https://github.com/pixeltable/pixeltable/blob/release/docs/release/howto/cookbooks/data/data-import-s3.ipynb