diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 26b0dfa9e..dcb85c02d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -223,6 +223,16 @@ await client.files.create({
 });
 ```
 
+To retrieve uploaded file contents, use `files.content()` and consume the returned
+web standard `Response`:
+
+```ts
+const response = await client.files.content('file-abc123');
+const fileContents = await response.arrayBuffer();
+```
+
+For text files, you can use `await response.text()` instead.
+
 ## Webhook Verification
 
 Verifying webhook signatures is _optional but encouraged_.
diff --git a/src/resources/files.ts b/src/resources/files.ts
index 227128209..374a5f5a3 100644
--- a/src/resources/files.ts
+++ b/src/resources/files.ts
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ export class Files extends APIResource {
 
 export type FileObjectsPage = CursorPage<FileObject>;
 
-export type FileContent = string;
+export type FileContent = Response;
 
 export interface FileDeleted {
   id: string;