Send attachments with your Gmail message

Add attachments, such as files or photos, to your emails. To send large files over the size limit, such as videos, use Google Drive.

Learn how attachments work in Gmail

There are limits to the size of attachments for Gmail:

For personal Gmail accounts, the limit is 25 MB.
For work and school accounts, your Google Workspace administrator sets the attachment sending limits and attachment receiving limits.

If your total attachment size is greater than the limit, Gmail automatically removes the attachment and adds it as a Google Drive link in the email. Learn how to send Google Drive attachments in Gmail.

Attach a file

An animated GIF showing how to attach a file in Gmail. The user clicks the paperclip icon in the compose window, selects a file from their computer, and the file appears in the email draft.

On your computer, go to Gmail.
Click Compose.
At the bottom, click Attach .
Choose the files that you want to upload.
Click Open.

Tip: Add an image by dragging it directly into the compose window.

Remove an attachment

After you add an attachment, you can remove it. To the right of the attachment name, tap Close Close .

Send attachments with confidential mode

Tip: If you're using Gmail with a work or school account, contact your admin to make sure that you can use confidential mode.

On your computer, go to Gmail.
Click Compose.
Click Attach .
Choose the files that you want to upload.
In the bottom right of the window, click Turn on confidential mode .
Tip: If you've already turned on confidential mode for an email, go to the bottom of the email, then click Edit.
Set an expiry date and passcode. These settings impact both the message text and any attachments.
- If you choose 'No SMS passcode', recipients using the Gmail app will be able to open it directly. Recipients who don't use Gmail will get emailed a passcode.
- If you choose 'SMS passcode', recipients will get a passcode by text message. Make sure you enter the recipient's phone number, not your own.
Click Save

Fix issues with attachments in Gmail

Attachments might be unavailable

Your network administrator or Internet provider probably blocked 'mail-attachment.googleusercontent.com', the domain that Google uses to host attachments.

For more help, contact your internet service provider.

Attachments won't upload (desktop)

Make sure that 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.

Blocked for security reasons

To prevent viruses, Gmail doesn't let you attach executable files, such as files ending in .exe.

Attachment size limit

You can send up to 25 MB in attachments. If you have more than one attachment, they can't add up to more than 25 MB.

If your file is greater than 25 MB, Gmail automatically adds a Google Drive link in the email instead of including it as an attachment. Learn more about Google Drive attachment sharing settings.

Learn how to resolve the ”Gmail’s adding files” error message

If you upload files from another device, wait until the upload completes. Then send the attachments in your current message.
To send the message right away, remove the attachments that are uploading from the other device.

Learn how to resolve the “Couldn’t send message” error message

One or more files didn't upload to Drive. This might be because you don't have enough space, your internet is slow, or something else.
To send the message, remove or re-add the attachment.