AI ignores uploaded ZIP and generates a new app from scratch

Hi everyone,

I’m experiencing an issue when using Google AI Studio with an uploaded ZIP project.

When I upload a ZIP file containing my existing app and then ask the AI to make specific modifications (for example, update a component, fix a function, or refactor part of the code), the AI does not use the uploaded project as a base. Instead, it generates a completely new app from scratch, ignoring the contents of the ZIP file.

What I expected:

  • The AI should analyze the uploaded ZIP.

  • It should understand the existing structure and files.

  • It should modify only the requested parts of the project.

What actually happens:

  • The AI generates a brand-new project structure.

  • The original files from the ZIP are not referenced.

  • The response looks like a fresh app template instead of an edit.

Has anyone else experienced this?
Is there a specific way to prompt the AI so it works directly from the uploaded ZIP instead of rebuilding everything?

Thanks in advance!