How to Attach and Send Files Over Email (Complete Guide)

PDF download Download Article
Learn how to attach files and send large files by email
PDF download Download Article

Do you need to send an email with files attached, but you're not sure how to do it? Or perhaps you need to send a large file and you don't know how to make it small enough to send it through email. In this step-by-step article, which features helpful tips from computer and tech specialist Luigi Oppido, we go over how to attach a file to an email and send large attachments in a variety of ways. Keep reading to learn more.

How to Email Files

First, start composing a new email. Click the paperclip button and find the file you want to attach. Open the file, and it will appear in your email as an attachment. If your file(s) are too big to attach, you can compress them, send them via Google Drive or Dropbox, or try a website that sends large email files.

Method 1
Method 1 of 5:

Attaching a File to an Email

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you haven't opened your email program, do so now.
  2. Enter the email's recipient(s) and subject. You can type out the body of your email, as well. If you want, you can also do this step after you've attached your file(s).
    Advertisement
  3. Depending on your email service, the button might also say Attach or Attachments .
  4. To attach the file, navigate to its location, then double-click the file to select it. The Browse window will close and you'll return to your email.
    • If you need to attach multiple files to one email that are in the same folder on your computer, there are a few ways to attach them at the same time:
      • If the files are in order, click the first file, hold down ⇧ Shift , then click the last file. Click Open to attach them.
      • If the files are not in order, hold down Ctrl (Windows) or ⌘ Command (Mac) while clicking each file. Once the last file has been selected, let go of the Ctrl or ⌘ Command key and then click Open .
      • If you want to send the entire folder, Oppido recommends uploading it to Google Drive or Dropbox . Or, if you're composing the email message in Gmail, Oppido suggests dragging the folder directly into the body of the message. "Gmail will offer to upload it to Google Drive and provide a link," he explains. When the recipient receives the link, they can choose which files to download.
    • Most email services will have a limit on how big the files you can attach are. File size is usually limited to a max of 20 to 25 MB. [1]
    • After you add any attachments, you'll see them listed either at the top or the bottom of the email.
  5. The email will be sent with your attachments immediately.
    6. Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 5:

Emailing Large Files

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you have a file that's too big to attach to an email, you can make it smaller by compressing it. Both Windows and Mac computers have the ability to compress files to make them smaller.
    • If you're sending someone a file that's 3 MB or larger, Oppido recommends uploading the file to Google Drive or Dropbox and sending the recipient a link to the file instead. "I like to be mindful of the person's email space," he explains.
  2. If you're on Mac, you'll need to hold down Ctrl and click.
    • If you're sending multiple large files, add them to a folder, then right-click on the folder. This will save you some time from having to individually compress each file.
  3. How you do this differs slightly between Windows and Mac:
    • Windows: Right-click the file and go to Send to… > Compressed (zipped) folder .
    • Mac: Ctrl + click the file and click Compress .
  4. You will now be able to send the compressed file.
  5. Enter the email's recipient(s) and subject. You can type out the body of your email, as well. If you want, you can also do this step after you've attached your file.
  6. Depending on your email service, the button might also say Attach or Attachments .
  7. To attach the file, simply double-click on the file to select it. The Browse window will close and you'll return to your email.
    • If your file is still too large, you can try sending it with Google Drive or Dropbox . There are also websites you can use to send large files.
    • If you are sending the file with Gmail, if the file is too big, Gmail will automatically use Google Drive to send the file. [2]
    • After you add your attachment, you'll see it listed either at the top or the bottom of the email.
  8. The email will be sent with your attachment immediately.
    9. Advertisement
Method 3
Method 3 of 5:

Using Google Drive

PDF download Download Article
  1. Go to Google Drive . If you're not already signed in, sign in now.
  2. It's in the top-left corner of the page.
  3. If all of the files you want to send are in one folder, you can click Folder Upload instead. Google Drive will zip the folder and upload that file to your Drive.
  4. If you need to upload multiple files that are in the same folder on your computer, there are two ways to select them at the same time:
    • If the files are in order, click the first file, hold down ⇧ Shift , then click the last file. Click Open to attach them.
    • If the files are not in order, hold down Ctrl while clicking each file. Once the last file has been selected, let go of the Ctrl key and then click Open .
  5. For each file you want to send in an email, right-click in Google Drive and choose Share > Copy link . Note that you can only copy one link at a time. If you need to send multiple links, you will need to return to Google Drive and copy each link in tandem after adding it to your email.
  6. Instead of attaching a file, you will be including the Google Drive link(s).
  7. Enter the email's recipient(s) and subject. You can also type out the body of your email.
  8. You can do this by right-clicking where you want to paste them in the email body and choosing Paste or by pressing Ctrl + V (Windows) or ⌘ Cmd + V (Mac).
  9. The email will be sent with your file links immediately.
    10. Advertisement
Method 4
Method 4 of 5:

Using Dropbox

PDF download Download Article
  1. Go to Dropbox . If you're not already signed in, do so now.
  2. It's right underneath the search bar, next to the side panel.
  3. If all of the files you want to send are in one folder, you can click Folder instead. Dropbox will zip the folder and upload that file for you.
  4. If you need to upload multiple files that are in the same folder on your computer, there are two ways to select them at the same time:
    • If the files are in order, click the first file, hold down ⇧ Shift , then click the last file. Click Open to attach them.
    • If the files are not in order, hold down Ctrl while clicking each file. Once the last file has been selected, let go of the Ctrl key and then click Open .
  5. For each file you want to send in an email, right-click in Dropbox and choose Copy link . Note that you can only copy one link at a time. If you need to send multiple links, you will need to return to Dropbox and copy each link in tandem after adding it to your email.
  6. Instead of attaching a file, you will be including the Dropbox link(s).
  7. Enter the email's recipient(s) and subject. You can also type out the body of your email.
  8. You can do this by right-clicking where you want to paste them in the email body and choosing Paste or by pressing Ctrl + V (Windows) or ⌘ Cmd + V (Mac).
  9. The email will be sent with your file links immediately.
    10. Advertisement
Method 5
Method 5 of 5:

Using a Website

PDF download Download Article
  1. There are a few websites that will email large files for you, such as Mega Upload, WeTransfer, and Filemail.com.
    • Oppido generally recommends uploading files to sites like Google Drive and Dropbox over lesser-known cloud storage sites, especially if the file you're sending is private or something you want to remain available for download for a long time.
    • Each site has a different file size limit. WeTransfer has a limit of 2GB for free, whereas Filemail has a limit of 5GB.
    • The site you use may require you to create an account before you can use it.
  2. If you need to upload multiple files that are in the same folder on your computer, there are two ways to select them at the same time:
    • If the files are in order, click the first file, hold down ⇧ Shift , then click the last file. Click Open to attach them.
    • If the files are not in order, hold down Ctrl (Windows) or ⌘ Command while clicking each file. Once the last file has been selected, let go of the Ctrl or ⌘ Command key and then click Open .
  3. Each site is laid out slightly differently, but there will be clearly marked fields that ask for the recipient's email address, your email address, the email's subject, and the email's message.
  4. Click the Send or Transfer button to send your email immediately.
    5. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    Can I send myself an email?
    Community Answer
    Yes, just put your email in the "To" box at the top of an email draft and then send the message. You will receive it in your inbox as normal, just from your own email.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 10
  • Question
    How do I send email with attachments with an Android phone?
    Community Answer
    The attachments you can use include pictures, links, other emails, and any other app that allows you to share to email. You go to the app (say "Camera" for example), click share, and click Mail.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 6
  • Question
    How do I receive files in email?
    Community Answer
    You will receive the link for the files if the files are included in the email. You should be able to choose whether to open or save the files from there.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 3 Helpful 3
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      • Do not confuse "amount of information" with "number of files". A single 1MB file is the same as ten 100KB files.
        Thanks
        Helpful 0 Not Helpful 1
      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Open EML Files on Windows, Mac, iPad, iPhone, & Android
      2 Simple Ways to Email Pictures from a Cell Phone
      How to
      Email a Scanned Document as a PDF
      How to
      Email Large Video Files From a Computer
      How to
      Reduce the Size of Pictures Included in an Email Message
      23 Polite Ways to Say “Please Find Attached” in Emails
      How to
      Send a Zip File: A Step-by-Step Guide
      How to
      Attach Photos and Videos to Emails on an iPhone or iPad
      How to
      Send Photos via Email in 5 Versions of Windows
      How to
      Add Documents in Gmail
      How to
      Email Audio Files
      4 Quick Ways to Email Video Clips in Gmail on Phone or Web
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/reduce-attachment-size-to-send-large-files-with-outlook-8c698842-b462-4a4c-8d53-5c5dd04f77ef
      2. ↑ https://support.google.com/mail/answer/6584?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=Desktop#zippy=,attachment-size-limit

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 169,887 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • Fatema K.

        Nov 7, 2016

        "Very well detailed and easy to understand. I always understand everything when I read your articles. Very helpful ..." more
      Share your story

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement