How to Attach Files to your Gmail Messages

Many of us like to add attachments to our emails, whether it be a spreadsheet of last quarter's profits, or the latest lolcat you just had to share. Regardless of what you are attaching, many of us don’t know that there are two (2) ways to attach files. Let’s take a closer look at the two different ways below.

Attach a File Hyperlink

The first and most obvious way to attach a file is by click on the 'Attach a File' hyperlink located below the subject line. Review the steps below to to attach a file directly from the email message.

Click 'Attach a File' under the subject field.
Browse through your files and double click on the name of the file you'd like to attach.
Click Open.

The file will be attached to the message when the upload process is complete. You'll notice a 'progress bar' underneath of the subject line that shows you how far along the upload process has come. Once complete, the attached file will look similar to a hyperlink where you and/or the recipient can click to access.

TIP: To attach multiple files, hold the command (Mac) or Ctrl (PC) key while selecting your files, or click Attach another file.

Drag & Drop Files

Thanks to the power of HTML5, Google Chrome (supported browser along with Firefox & Safari) allows you to 'Drag & Drop' files from your desktop (or file finder screen) directly in to your email message. The steps below will take you through the process necessary to attach files using this method.

Locate the file or files you want to upload to your email message on your desktop or 'file finder' screen.

Click the file or highlight the files and drag them over to the browser window with the email you are composing.

Drag the file or files to the area that lights up with the message Drop files here to add them as attachments (directly under the 'To' section).

If you do not see such an area, your browser does not support the 'Drag & Drop' attachments function. See above for attaching files in Gmail.

If you need to remove a file from the message you are sending, simply click remove while the file is uploading. If the file has already uploaded, uncheck the box beside the undesired file.

TIP: In Gmail, you can send a receive messages up to 25 megabytes (MB) in size.

Forgot to add the attachment?

We’ve all been there. With our busy schedules, it’s easy to click send, before actually attaching a file. Leave it to Gmail to solve this problem. Gmail will actually remind you if you forgot to attach a file. Gmail uses key words such as: “I have attached", "I've included", "see the attached" or "attached file" to save the day. If you click send, before attaching a file, a popup will appear asking if you meant to attach files. From there you can select cancel, to go back and attach a file, or click ok to send anyway.

Thanks to Gmail, you will never have to send that embarrassing second email with your forgotten file attachment again!

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