How to send an attachment or photo through e-mail

Updated: 05/06/2024 by Computer Hope
Email icon on the screen

While adding attachments to an e-mail is similar in most cases, there are too many e-mail programs for us to cover them all. This page contains instructions to attach a photo, picture, document, PDF (Portable Document Format), recording, and other files in popular e-mail programs and services. You may have to adapt the provided steps to fit the specific program or service you use.

Note

Most e-mail service providers do not allow you to send executable files, such as those containing the .bat, .bin, or .exe file extension, as e-mail attachments. You may also not be allowed to send some scripting files, like the ones used in JavaScript, Perl, or PHP (PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor).

To proceed, we suggest looking at the top section (tips on sending attachments) first, then selecting your program or service from the list below and following the instructions.

Tips on sending attachments

The following are important points to consider when sending any attachments through e-mail.

  • It is common courtesy to send only one to five attachments in a single e-mail. If you have more than five files, we suggest you post them online and send a link to that site, or compress all the files into one file.
  • To share a video through e-mail, consider sending a link to it instead. For example, post on YouTube, and then send a link to the video's URL (Uniform Resource Locator).
  • As 25 MB is the limit in most Internet e-mail services, to send a larger file, we suggest using one of the methods above. For additional ideas, see our page on how to send big attachments.
  • Consider using an image editor to reduce the size of images. Images often take up a considerable amount space. Not only does this cause longer download times, but it reduces the total number of images that can be sent.
  • You can attach multiple pictures at the same time by pressing Ctrl and clicking each file individually.
  • All modern e-mail clients and services support the ability to drag-and-drop attachments in the body of an e-mail message.
Google Gmail logo.

Gmail

  1. Go to the Gmail website and sign in if necessary.
  2. In the upper-left corner of the window, click the Compose button to create a new e-mail message. You may also reply to a message you received previously.

Compose button in Gmail.

  1. When you're ready to insert an attachment into the body of your message, click the Attach files icon at the bottom of the message window.

Bottom menu in a Gmail e-mail message.

  1. Navigate to the location of the file(s) you want to attach, make your selections (A), and click Open (B).

Attaching files in an Outlook.com mail.

  1. When you've successfully attached your items, you will see them at the bottom of the body of your message.

Confirmation of an e-mail attachment in Gmail.

  1. When you've finished composing your message, click the Send button icon. button.
Microsoft Outlook Logo

Outlook.com (formerly Hotmail)

  1. Go to the Outlook.com website and sign in if necessary.
  2. Near the top of the window on the left side, click New mail button. You may also reply to a message you received previously.

Button to click to create a new e-mail.

  1. When you're ready to insert an attachment into the body of your message, click the Attach file icon.

Attach icon in the top menu of Outlook.com mail.

  1. Select the location from which you'd like to upload files (usually Browse this computer).

Browse this computer selector on Outlook.com mail.

  1. Navigate to the location of the file(s) you want to attach, make your selections (A), and click Open (B).

Attaching files in an Outlook.com mail.

Note

If you use an online file option (e.g., OneDrive), check the boxes next to the files you want to attach and click Next icon at the bottom of the window.

  1. After you select the files you want to send, click Attach as copies on the next screen.
  2. When you've successfully attached your files, you see them at the top of the message body message.

Successful attachment in Outlook.com mail.

  1. When you've finished composing your message, click the Send icon button.
Yahoo! mail logo.

Yahoo! Mail

  1. Go to the Yahoo! Mail website and sign in if necessary.
  2. In the upper-left corner of the screen, click the Compose button in Yahoo! mail. button. You may also reply to a message you received previously.
  3. At the bottom of the message body message, click the Yahoo! mail attachment icon. icon.

Yahoo! mail bottom icon tray.

  1. Navigate to the location of the file(s) you want to attach, make your selections (A), and click Open (B).

How to attach files in a Yahoo! mail document.

  1. When you've successfully attached your items, you see them at the top of the body of your message.

Successfully attached e-mail.

  1. When you've finished composing your message, click the Send button button.
Aol logo

Aol Mail

  1. Go to the Aol Mail website and sign in if necessary.
  2. In the upper-left corner of the screen, click the Compose button in Aol mail. button. You may also reply to a message you received previously.
  3. At the bottom of the message, click the Attach button.

Aol mail bottom icon tray.

  1. Select your preferred attachment source (usually from the computer).

Attaching files from a computer in Aol mail.

  1. Navigate to the location of the file(s) you want to attach, make your selections (A), and click Open (B).

How to attach files in a Yahoo! mail document.

  1. When you've successfully attached your items, you see them at the bottom of the body of your message.

Successfully attached e-mail files.

  1. When you've finished composing your message, click the Send button in Aol mail. button.
Outlook logo

Microsoft Outlook and Outlook Express

  1. Open Microsoft Outlook.
  2. Reply to an existing e-mail, or compose a new e-mail by clicking the Message tab in the top-left portion of the program window.
  3. Click the Attach File icon in the top-middle portion of the screen (it looks like a paper clip). Alternatively, click Insert at the top of the window and select Attach File.
  4. Select a recent file or click Browse This PC.
  5. Navigate to the location of the file(s) you want to attach, make your selections (A), and click Open (B).

Attaching files in an Outlook mail document.

  1. If the attachment is successfully added, it is displayed below the Subject line, next to Attached in your message.
  2. Once you're finished composing the message, click the Send button on the left side of the message window.
Apple Mail logo.

Apple Mail

This section contains instructions for those using macOS on a desktop or laptop computer. If you're on an iMac or MacBook, follow the steps below.

  1. Open Apple Mail.
  2. On the top-right side of the screen, click the Compose new message button.

Compose message in Apple Mail icon.

  1. When the new message appears, click the Attach a document to this message button (paper clip) in the upper-right corner.

Attach file icon in Apple Mail.

  1. Locate the image you want to send and click the Choose file button in macOS. button.
  2. Enter the address of the user that you want to send the message.
  3. Click the Send button at the top-left corner of the screen.

Apple Mail send icon.

Mozilla Thunderbird

Mozilla Thunderbird

  1. Open Mozilla Thunderbird.
  2. Reply to an existing e-mail, or compose a new e-mail by clicking the Write icon in the top-left portion of the program window.
  3. In the e-mail, click the Attach icon (it looks like a paper clip).
  4. Navigate to the location of the file(s) you want to attach, make your selections (A), and click Open (B).

Attaching files in a Thunderbird mail document.

  1. If the attachment is successful, you see the file(s) in your message.
  2. Once you've finished typing your message, click the Send button located in the upper-left corner of the window.

Mail app on iPhone or iPad

  1. Access the Photos app to view pictures on the iPhone or iPad.
  2. Find and tap the picture you want to attach to an e-mail.
  3. When viewing the picture, tap the Share icon in iOS. icon at the bottom-left corner of the screen.

Share icon in Photos app on iPhone.

  1. On the Photo Selected screen, tap the Mail icon.

Mail icon on iPhone.

  1. A new e-mail message is opened with the picture attached and displayed in the body of the e-mail. Enter the e-mail address that you want to send the e-mail (A), then the e-mail subject, and any text you want to include in the message body.
  2. Tap the Send icon (B) at the upper-right corner of the New Message screen to send the e-mail.

Send picture as attachment on iPhone.

Mail app on Android phone or tablet

  1. Access the Photos app to view pictures on the phone or tablet.
  2. Find and tap the picture you want to attach to an e-mail.
  3. When viewing the picture, tap the Share icon at the bottom-left corner of the screen.

Share button on Android mobile device.

  1. In the Share to Apps section of the Share screen, tap the email app you want to use. You may have to tap More to find the right app.

Select photo and app to share to on Android mobile device.

  1. A new e-mail message is opened, with the picture attached and displayed in the e-mail body. Enter the e-mail address you want to send the message to (A), the e-mail subject, and the text you want to include in the e-mail body.
  2. Tap the Send icon (B) at the upper-right corner of the Compose screen to send the e-mail.

Send message icon in Android mail app.