On Gmail, it is possible to send by email documents of several GB: you just have to host the attachment on Google Drive. Read this article to know how to do it.
How to send a large file as an attachment on Gmail
It’s very easy to send a file attachment through Gmail, even if the file is several gigas.
You can actually attach a document that is stored on your Google Drive account, which allows the transfer of multi-GB files.
If you use a Google Drive link (as explained below), you save Gmail storage.
What is the maximum size of an attachment on Gmail?
You can send attachments up to 25MB in size. If you’re sending multiple attachments, their total size can’t exceed this limit. If your file is larger than 25MB, Gmail will automatically add a Google Drive link to the email instead of including the file as an attachment. The recipient can download the file. This way, they’ll be able to access the file, even if you delete the file from Google Drive.
Maximum size of a Gmail attachment
In short: if you send it via a link to Google Drive, there’s really no limit (see the official maximum limit here).
How to make room in Gmail?
This is another topic, but an important one too! Read how to save storage space in Gmail.
How to exceed the maximum size?
If you don’t have enough space with the free storage space provided with any Google Drive account, you’ll have to buy additional disk space if that’s not enough for you.
To transfer a Google Drive document via Gmail, you have to use the message writing interface and click on the Google Drive icon.
Another way to do this is to simply copy and paste the URL of a document hosted on Google Drive into the body of the message.
See also: Gmail translation tips
How to send a Gmail attachment on a computer
- Click New Message.
- Click Insert Files with Google Drive
- Select the files you want to attach.
- At the bottom of the page, choose how you want to send the files:
- Drive Link: this option works for files stored in Drive, including those you created in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, or Forms.
- Attachment: This option only works with files that were not created in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides or Forms.
- Click on Insert.
How to attach a file in Gmail on Android
If the file is small, you can attach it directly in Gmail:
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app
- Tap Compose 🖊
- Tap Attach 📎
- Tap Attach file or Insert from Drive.
- Choose the file you want to attach.
If the file is too large, you need to send a Google Drive attachment:
- On your Android phone or tablet, open the Gmail app
- Tap Compose 🖊
- Tap Attach 📎
- Tap Insert from Drive
- Tap the file you want to add
- Tap Select
- Tap Send ➣
How to deal with problems with attachments
Blocked for security reasons error
To protect you from potential viruses, Gmail does not allow you to attach executable files, such as files with the .exe extension. If you try to attach an executable file, you will see a “Blocked for security reasons” message.
In this case, you should tell your correspondent where to download the file, rather than emailing it as an attachment.
How to transfer an email on Gmail with attachments?
Attachments are automatically added when you forward an email, so there is nothing to do!
How to compress an attachment?
Before adding it to your email, you need to use a file compression software, app or online tool. Look for example for Winrar, Winzip, 7 Zip, PeaZip to get a ZIP archive.
How to reply to an email on Gmail leaving the attachments?
To include the attachments provided with the original email, here is how to reply to the email:
- At the bottom of the reply window, click the Down Arrow 🔽
- Click on Include original attachments.
How do I delete attachments on Gmail when I reply to an email?
To delete an attachment from a message you’re replying to, click the Delete button to the right of it.
Why does Gmail allow large files as attachments?
Gmail will automatically test whether the recipients of your email have sufficient access rights to the document. If not, Gmail will ask you to change the sharing options, without leaving your new mail creation interface.
Obviously, by offering such features to its hundreds of millions of Gmail users, Google hopes to get them even more used to always using its countless services. And not to go elsewhere, to outlook.com for example (which offers the same functionality via its SkyDrive service) or to specialists in sending large files (yousendit.com, send-file.com and others).
This system also requires the recipients of the email to have a Google account (to access the document on Google Drive). One more way to get Internet users used to use their Google account permanently.
Other questions
What is the maximum size (limit) of an attachment on Gmail?
The maximum size of an attachment in Gmail is 25 MB, but there are ways to transfer larger documents, as explained in this article.
What is the maximum size of an email on Hotmail or Outlook?
It’s 20 MB, but you can also transfer large documents by uploading them to the cloud, then sharing the link.
How many MB per email?
The maximum size of the attachments is 25 MB for the total of the attachments, for the whole mail. You have to add up the size of each file to know if the mail is not too big.
How many KB can I send per email?
On Gmail, all attachments must not exceed 25 MB, or about 25,000 KB. To send larger files, you have to use Google Drive.
What is the maximum size of an email on Orange?
It’s 25 MB, with a maximum of 10 attachments. To send larger files by email, you have to use the Orange cloud.
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