How to Send a Word Document

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No matter your platform, there’s no shortage of ways to send a Microsoft Word document to anyone on the Internet. Most cloud services (such as Google Drive and Dropbox) feature the ability to send documents directly from their desktop and mobile apps. You can also attach a document to an email or Facebook chat. And if you have mail program set up on your computer, you can even send your document without leaving Microsoft Word.

Quick Steps

  1. Save your Word document to your computer.
  2. Go to your email provider and compose a new email to your recipient.
  3. Click the attachment button, which is usually a paperclip.
  4. Select your document and add it to your message before sending the email.
Method 1
Method 1 of 8:

Attaching a Document to a Gmail or Yahoo! Message

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  1. Mail account. You can attach your Word document to a message in Gmail or Yahoo! Mail on a computer or by using either service’s app for mobile devices.
    • Most free mail sites and apps are similar. These instructions may also help you use providers other than Gmail and Yahoo.
  2. In both mobile apps, the “Compose” icon is a pencil. [1] A new message window will appear.
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  3. The file selection box will appear on most platforms. [2]
    • If you’re using the Yahoo! Mail app on a mobile device, tap the + sign, and then tap the second icon (a sheet of paper) in the resulting toolbar. [3] The file selection window should now appear.
  4. You can skip this step if you’re not using the Gmail app on a mobile device.
    • Choose “Insert from Drive” if the document is saved to your Google Drive.
    • Choose “Attach File” if the document is saved to your phone or tablet.
  5. Browse to the location of your Word document and double-click (or tap) to attach it.
    • If you’re attaching from Google Drive, tap the file you want to attach, and then tap “Select”.
  6. Enter the desired recipient’s email address into the “To:” field, then add your subject and message content.
  7. When the recipient opens the email, they’ll find the option to open or download the file to their computer or mobile device.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 8:

Attaching a Document in Mail for iPhone or iPad

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  1. To use this method, make sure Mail is properly configured to send mail from your email account. [4]
    • You’ll be able to attach a document that’s on your device or in your iCloud Drive.
    • If you have the Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive apps installed on your device, you’ll have the option to attach a document from one of those accounts.
  2. The icon looks like a square with a pencil.
  3. field. This should be the address of the person to whom you’ll be sending the document.
  4. Enter a subject into the “Subject” field and type a note to the recipient in the main text area.
  5. A black bar will appear containing several options from which to choose. [5]
  6. The file navigator will open to your iCloud drive by default.
  7. If the document is not located in your iCloud drive, choose it from any of the folders listed (including Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive, if applicable).
    • If you don’t see an icon for the cloud service you use, tap “More,” and then select your service. Flip the switch to the “On” position to enable it, and then use the back button to return to the Locations screen.
  8. You’ll be returned to the email message you previously composed. This message now has your document attached.
  9. The file will be delivered to the appropriate email account.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 8:

Attaching a Document in Mail for Mac

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  1. To use this method, you’ll need to have the Mail app configured to send mail through your email account. If you haven’t already done so, do it now.
  2. You could also click the New Message icon (a square with a pencil) or click File > New Message. [6]
  3. This icon appears in the upper right area of the New Message Window.
  4. You can hold down the ⌘ Cmd key as you click if you want to select multiple files.
  5. Type the recipient’s email address into the “To:” field, a subject in the “Subject:” field, and a note in the large text area.
  6. Click the paper airplane icon at the top left corner of the message to send the email and its attached document.
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Method 4
Method 4 of 8:

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  1. If your Word document is located in your Google Drive, it’s easy to share it with others. Accessing your Drive is different depending on your platform: [7]
    • Mobile: Launch the Google Drive app on your device.
    • Desktop: Log in to http://drive.google.com in your web browser.
  2. If you don’t see it in the main folder, you may have to look in some of the subfolders.
    • If you haven’t yet uploaded the document from your computer, click New > File Upload, and then double-click the Word document. [8]
  3. Skip this step if you’re using the web version of Drive.
  4. Skip this step if you’re using the mobile app.
    • Another way to do this is to single-click the document and then click the Share icon (the outline of a person’s head with a plus sign.)
  5. If this person is one of your Google contacts, you can just start typing their name and then select the correct person from the search results.
  6. By default, Drive gives the person permission to edit the document in your Google Drive.
    • Leave this alone if you’re sharing the document with someone and you both plan to make edits.
  8. An email will be sent to the recipient containing information on how to access the document. They’ll be able to view it online or download it to their computer.
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Method 5
Method 5 of 8:

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  1. If you’re a Dropbox user, you can use the service to share documents with anyone on the web. Using this method will send a message to the recipient that includes a link to the document. The recipient will be able to download the document by accessing that link (and they won’t need a Dropbox account).
    • You’ll need to have a Dropbox account to use this method.
    • You should also have the application installed on your device. If you’re using a computer, you can use the web version by signing in to http://www.dropbox.com.
  2. If you haven’t uploaded the Word document to your Dropbox, do so now.
    • Mobile app: Tap the “+” icon and then select “Upload files.” Navigate to the document you want to upload, and then tap “Upload File.”
    • Desktop app: If the folder where the file’s stored is not already synced with Dropbox, drag the file from its current location to the Dropbox folder.
    • Dropbox.com: Navigate to the folder where you’d like to store the file, then click the “Upload” icon to select your document.
  3. This step is a little different depending on your platform: [9]
    • Mobile: Tap the downward-pointing arrow next to your Document and select “Share.”
    • Desktop: Right-click (or Ctrl + Click ) the document in the Dropbox application, then click “Share…”
    • Dropbox.com: Hover the mouse over the document file and select “Share” (when the menu appears).
  4. If you’re using a mobile device, you’ll see this option under “These People”. [10]
  5. Enter this into the “To:” field. To add multiple recipients, separate each email address with a comma (,).
  6. The button name depends on your application. [11]
    • If you’re using the Dropbox.com site, the button will say “Share.” An email will now be sent to the email address(es) you provided.
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Method 6
Method 6 of 8:

Attaching a Document to a Facebook Message

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  1. If you have a Word document on your computer that you want to send to someone else, you can do so using the web version of Facebook. [12]
    • For this method to work, both you and the person to whom you’d like to send the document need to have Facebook accounts.
    • The Facebook Messenger app does not support attaching documents saved to your phone, other than photos or videos
  2. You will be attaching the document to a chat message.
    • Click the mail icon at the top right area of Facebook and select “New Message.”
    • Start typing the person’s name into the “To:” field and then click their name when it appears in the search results.
  3. Now you’ll be able to navigate to the Word document on your computer.
  4. If you’re using a Mac, the button will say “Choose File.”
  5. The recipient will be able to download the document by double-clicking the icon that appeared in the chat window.
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Method 7
Method 7 of 8:

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  1. If you’re using the free version of Microsoft Word available online, you can share the document right from the program.
    • This method is similar to sharing a document from your OneDrive account. If your document is in OneDrive, navigate to the document to open it in Word Online.
  2. This button is at the top right corner of the screen.
  3. Here you can enter the email address of the person you’re sharing with.
  4. field. To add multiple recipients, separate each email address with a comma (,).
  5. By default, the recipient of the document will have the ability to make changes to your document. This is noted by the “Recipients can edit” dropdown on the Invite screen.
    • If you want to share ongoing access to this document and want everyone on the Invite list to be able to make edits, leave this option alone.
    • To share a read-only version of the document (cannot be edited by anyone else), click “Recipients can edit” and select “Recipients can only view.”
  6. Think of this field as the body of an email. Type something here that will alert the recipient to what the email and document are about.
  7. An email will be sent to the recipient that contains a link to the document. With that link, the recipient can make changes to the document on Word Online (if you gave them permission to do so) or download the file to their computer.
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Method 8
Method 8 of 8:

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  1. If you’re using Word 2016 for Windows or Mac, you’ll be able to use the built-in “Share” feature to send your document from the app.
    • If you’re using an older version of Word, just click the File menu (or Office button in 2007) and select “Send” or “Send To” to send a Document.
  2. To avoid sending an outdated version of your document, click “File” and then “Save”.
  3. You’ll see this icon in the top right corner of Word. It looks like the silhouette of a person with a + sign. [13]
  4. If you haven’t saved the document to the cloud, you’ll be prompted to do so. Word attempts to save your document to the cloud in case you want to share the document for editing instead of sending it as an attachment (more on this soon).
  5. You may have to click “Share” again to see this option. “Send as Attachment” will allow you to email a copy of the document to a recipient.
    • If, instead of sending the file to the recipient, you’d like to be able to share online editing access of the document, choose “Invite People” instead. [14] Type the person’s email address when prompted, then click “Send” to email them an invitation to edit the document.
  6. You have two options from which to choose: [15]
    • Send a copy: Choose this option if the person to whom you’re sending the document needs to edit or add to the document.
    • Send a PDF: Choose this option if you don’t want the document to be modified.
  7. Once you select an attachment option, a new email message will open in your default email program (e.g., Outlook, Apple Mail). Enter the recipient’s email address into the “To:” field, type a subject line, and a description of the file in the body.
    • To send the document to multiple people, separate each email addresses with a comma (,).
  8. Your document will arrive at its destination in a few moments.
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  • Question
    How do I send a scanned paper to an e-mail address?
    Goldfirebird8
    Community Answer
    You send a scanned paper the same way this article describes for a Word document. The file type may be different, but the process will be the same.
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    How do I send a document to someone who is not on a computer?
    Community Answer
    Print it and mail it.
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      Tips

      • Most cloud services include the ability to send documents via email or mobile applications. The instructions for the majority of cloud services are similar.
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      • If you don’t have Microsoft Word, you can use Microsoft Office Online. The service includes a free, up-to-date version of Word accessible only on the web.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.google.com/mail/answer/6584
      2. ↑ https://help.yahoo.com/kb/SLN15987.html
      3. ↑ https://help.yahoo.com/kb/SLN26422.html
      4. ↑ http://www.imore.com/how-add-email-attachments-mail-iphone-and-ipad
      5. ↑ http://www.imore.com/how-add-email-attachments-mail-iphone-and-ipad#shortcut
      6. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204093
      7. ↑ https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2494822
      8. ↑ https://support.google.com/drive/answer/2494822?co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop&hl=en&oco=1
      9. ↑ https://help.dropbox.com/share/create-and-share-link
      1. ↑ https://help.dropbox.com/share/create-and-share-link
      2. ↑ https://help.dropbox.com/share/create-and-share-link
      3. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/help/121288674619000
      4. ↑ https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Share-your-document-in-Word-2016-for-Windows-d39f3cd8-0aa0-412f-9a35-1abba926d354
      5. ↑ https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Share-your-file-in-Word-2016-for-Mac-ced5a682-a093-4886-84c9-96fc164b0913
      6. ↑ https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Share-your-document-in-Word-2016-for-Windows-d39f3cd8-0aa0-412f-9a35-1abba926d354

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