Google: Send and Receive Email Attachments in Gmail

Environment

U-M Google

Issue

How do I send and receive email attachments in U-M Gmail?

Resolution

Sending attachments

While logged in to U-M Gmail and drafting an email, click the paper clip icon in the message toolbar at the bottom. Select the file you'd like to attach from the File Explorer (Windows) / Finder (Mac) window and click Open.

Other things of note include:

• Attachments cannot exceed 25MB. This limit is per email, not per attachment in one email.
  • This means that if you have more than one attachment, the total file size for all attachments cannot exceed 25MB.
• If your total attachment size exceeds the 25GB limit, Gmail automatically removes the attachment, uploads it to your Google Drive (in "My Drive"), and adds the Drive link in the email.
  • After you click Send, Google will ask you if you would like to share the file with the email recipients.
• Gmail doesn't let you attach executable files (e.g., .exe). Google blocks messages that may spread viruses, such as those containing executable files or certain links. Learn more about the file types you can't send as attachments.
• If your attachments won't upload, try the following to resolve the issue:
  • Make sure you're using a supported browser.
  • Try adding the attachment in another browser.
  • If you've set up a web browser proxy, try disabling it.

Receiving attachments

There are a few ways to download and open an attachment you received, depending on the file type.

Hover over the attachment at the bottom of the message to view your options.

• Click Download to download it to your computer. (Your browser has a default downloads folder, so look there to find it.)
• Click Add to Drive to upload and save it to your Google Drive. You can adjust where it's saved afterwards by hovering over the attachment again and clicking Organize in Drive. Learn more about the file types you can store in Drive.
• If a photo is attached, but is within the message body, there won't be an easy Download button to click. You should right-click the image and choose how you'd like to save it.
• If the attachment is a Microsoft Word/PowerPoint/Excel file, you can click Edit with Google Docs/Sheets/Slides to save, open, and edit it immediately in Drive.

Other things to note include:

• Attachments are included when you forward a message, but aren’t automatically included when you reply to a message. Click the three-dots icon in the message toolbar at the bottom of your reply and select Include original attachments.
• If the sender turned on confidential mode, you won't be able to copy or download the message text and attachments.
• If you try to play a video file attached directly to an email, you may receive an error message instead of the video. To watch the video, download it to your device.
• If your attachments won't upload, try the following to resolve the issue:
  • Make sure you're using a supported browser.
  • Try turning off your browser extensions one at a time.
  • Clear your browser's cache and cookies.

Additional Information

Refer to the Google Help Center for more information and troubleshooting steps for sending and receiving attachments.

Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.