diff --git a/mediarepo-api/src/tauri_plugin/commands/file.rs b/mediarepo-api/src/tauri_plugin/commands/file.rs
index 799701b..98753bd 100644
--- a/mediarepo-api/src/tauri_plugin/commands/file.rs
+++ b/mediarepo-api/src/tauri_plugin/commands/file.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::tauri_plugin::commands::ApiAccess;
+use crate::tauri_plugin::commands::{ApiAccess, BufferAccess};
 use crate::tauri_plugin::error::PluginResult;
 use crate::tauri_plugin::utils::system_time_to_naive_date_time;
 use crate::types::files::{
@@ -99,6 +99,27 @@ pub async fn update_file_name(
     Ok(metadata)
 }
 
+#[tauri::command]
+pub async fn read_file(
+    api_state: ApiAccess<'_>,
+    buffer_state: BufferAccess<'_>,
+    hash: String,
+    mime_type: String,
+) -> PluginResult<Vec<u8>> {
+    if let Some(buffer) = buffer_state.get_entry(&hash) {
+        Ok(buffer.buf)
+    } else {
+        let api = api_state.api().await?;
+        let content = api
+            .file
+            .read_file(FileIdentifier::Hash(hash.clone()))
+            .await?;
+        buffer_state.add_entry(hash, mime_type, content.clone());
+
+        Ok(content)
+    }
+}
+
 /// Saves a file on the local system
 #[tauri::command]
 pub async fn save_file_locally(
diff --git a/mediarepo-api/src/tauri_plugin/commands/mod.rs b/mediarepo-api/src/tauri_plugin/commands/mod.rs
index 106a4d2..d90e9ff 100644
--- a/mediarepo-api/src/tauri_plugin/commands/mod.rs
+++ b/mediarepo-api/src/tauri_plugin/commands/mod.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ pub use file::*;
 pub use repo::*;
 pub use tag::*;
 
-use crate::tauri_plugin::state::{ApiState, AppState};
+use crate::tauri_plugin::state::{ApiState, AppState, BufferState};
 
 pub mod daemon;
 pub mod file;
@@ -14,3 +14,4 @@ pub mod tag;
 
 pub type ApiAccess<'a> = State<'a, ApiState>;
 pub type AppAccess<'a> = State<'a, AppState>;
+pub type BufferAccess<'a> = State<'a, BufferState>;
diff --git a/mediarepo-api/src/tauri_plugin/mod.rs b/mediarepo-api/src/tauri_plugin/mod.rs
index 1d5915b..97bc43b 100644
--- a/mediarepo-api/src/tauri_plugin/mod.rs
+++ b/mediarepo-api/src/tauri_plugin/mod.rs
@@ -54,7 +54,8 @@ impl<R: Runtime> MediarepoPlugin<R> {
                 resolve_paths_to_files,
                 add_local_file,
                 save_file_locally,
-                delete_thumbnails
+                delete_thumbnails,
+                read_file
             ]),
         }
     }