Knowing how to add attachments to your email is an essential skill. You can send almost any type of file, making it easy to share anything from important data to fun memories with your recipient. But with all the different devices and email programs in our lives, there are also many different ways to attach files.
By Alyssa SchmittA few taps or clicks are all it takes to attach a file to your email
Today, we cover all the bases of why and how to send email attachments:
An email attachment is a digital file – e.g., a photo, document, or video – you add to your email message before sending it off. When sending an email with an attachment, you’re basically sharing the file with the person you’re emailing: they can view it, download it, and save it on their device.
Sending information as attachments rather than in the body of the email helps keep the original formatting and structure of the file, so your recipient sees the content as you intended. Plus, some information, like high-resolution images or really long text passages, is too large to put directly in your email. Attachments can also be encrypted or password-protected, giving you an added layer of security and peace of mind.
Keep reading to find out how to send an email with an attachment!
Attaching a file may look a bit different depending on your email program. However, you will generally need to follow these steps to send any type of file, e.g. photos, documents, etc.:
Open your email program and start a new email.
Look for a paperclip symbol, which usually stands for attachments.
Click or tap the attachment icon
A file dialog will pop up listing recent files or asking you to browse for a file. Locate the file you want to attach.
Click or tap on the file to select it.
Click or tap on Open or Insert (depending on your email program). The file will then be attached to your email.
Once the file is attached, add your recipient's email, a subject line, and any message you want to include.
Hit Send.
That’s all there is to sending an email with an attachment!
Sending a photo is no different than sending any other type of file, so as described above, you just need to click on the attachment icon (paperclip) and select the photo you want to send.
But what if you’re on your smartphone scrolling through your camera roll? You can also select and attach photos directly from your photo app. Here’s how to attach a picture to an email:
Open your photo app (e.g., Photos on iPhone or Google Photos on Android).
Tap on the photo you want to send to select it. If you would like to select multiple photos, tap and hold on one photo to enable selection mode, then tap on the additional photos you want to attach.
Tap the share symbol (usually an icon with an arrow pointing out of a box).
Select an email app from the list of sharing options (e.g., mail.com, Yahoo, Outlook).
A new email will open in your email app with the selected photo(s) already attached.
Pro tip: Compressing photos or using cloud storage links for your attachments
Many email providers have size limits for attachments (usually around 25 MB), so high-resolution photos can quickly exceed these limits. If your photo attachments are too large, consider compressing them or using cloud storage links as an alternative. For step-by-step instructions, see How to send a large file by email: Attachments & file-sharing functions
Attaching a document in your email program will work the same as for any type of file: Compose a new email, click on the attachment icon (usually a paperclip), browse for your document, select it, and attach it to your email.
It is also possible to send a document as an attachment starting from your file navigator. Although it will look a bit different depending on your device, the process is usually similar.
How to attach a document to an email starting from your file directory:
Go to your device’s file menu (e.g., “File Explorer” on a Windows PC, “Finder” on a Mac)
Locate the document you’d like to attach and right-click on the document icon. A menu will open.
Choose the option to Share or Send the document.
Choose Mail, Mail recipient, or your email program.
This will open a new message in your default email program with the document already attached.
If you have already created the scan and saved it to your device, you can attach it just as you would any other document by following the steps above.
But did you know that some smartphone email apps also let you scan the document right in the email app, then automatically attach your scan to your email as a PDF file?
How to scan a document as an email attachment using a smartphone:
Start a new email and tap the attachment icon (usually a paperclip).
From the list of attachment options, choose Scan Document or similar.
Position your phone's camera over the document and follow the app's instructions to capture the scan.
When you have finished, the scanned document will appear as an attachment.
If you use Apple’s Mail app, attaching a file to an email on your iPhone can sometimes seem a bit tricky because the famous paperclip icon is not immediately visible when you open a new email draft. But once you know where to find the attachment symbol, sending a picture, a document, or any other type of file on your iPhone works just like on other devices.
So, where is the attach button on an iPhone? When you’re in the Mail app, the attachment icon (paperclip) appears in the menu at the top of your virtual keyboard, which you open by tapping the empty space in the email body. If you don’t see it, scroll by tapping the arrow icon above the keyboard, and the paperclip should magically appear.
For example, attaching a photo to an email in the iPhone Mail app works like this:
How do I attach a picture to an email on my iPhone?
Open the Mail app.
Tap the compose icon (a square with a pencil) to start a new email.
Tap in the body of the email to open the iPhone keyboard.
Find the attachment icon (a paperclip) above the keyboard. Scroll using the arrow icon if it does not immediately appear.
Tap the photo icon (a picture of a mountain).
Select the photo you want to attach from your camera roll.
The photo will be inserted into the body of your email.
Using Apple Mail app vs. mail.com app to attach photos or documents
If you use the mail.com mobile email app on your iPhone, attaching a file is more straightforward: The attachment icon is in the upper corner of the compose window, making it a bit quicker to access. However, the steps are basically the same: open the app, compose a new email, tap the attachment icon, select your file, and send your email. Where to find the attach button in the mail.com iPhone app (l) and Apple’s Mail app (r)
How to attach a document to email on iPhone
On an iPhone, you can use the share function to attach files directly from apps like Photos or Files. This lets you share files without leaving the app you’re currently using. Once you tap the share icon, all you have to do is select the email app you’d like to use to send your attachment.
For example, you can use the Files app to attach documents to emails on iPhone:
Start by opening the Files app on your iPhone.
Select the document you want to send.
Tap the share icon (a square with an arrow pointing up).
From the list of sharing options, choose the email app you’d like to use (Mail, mail.com, etc.) to send your attachment.
The email app will open a blank message with the document already attached.
Once you have attached your file, what should you write in your message? When sending an email with an attachment, it’s important to clearly indicate that you've included a file and why. Whether you're sending a document, photo, or any other type of file, a brief and clear statement can make your email more professional and easier to understand.
Here are ten standard phrases you can use to let your recipient know that you’ve attached a file:
Forgetting to attach a file to your email is a common if frustrating mistake. That’s why nowadays, some email programs have features to save you from this embarrassing situation.
For example, a program will often warn you if it detects phrases like “attached” or “enclosed” in your email message but there are no attachments. And if you realize you've forgotten an attachment immediately after sending the email, some programs offer a recall or “undo send” feature that gives you a short window (usually 5 to 30 seconds) to stop the email from going out. Then you can add the attachment and resend it.
However, once your attachment-less email has been sent, you will have no choice but to send an apologetic follow-up message including the forgotten file. So, make it a habit to read over your email and confirm that everything is in order, including the attachments!
How to write a follow-up email apologizing for a forgotten attachment
If recalling the email is no longer possible, the next-best option is to send a follow-up email with the attachment and a brief apology. Here's an example of how to do this in a professional setting:
Subject: Missing attachment [name of file or document]
Hi [Recipient’s name],
I apologize for the oversight in my previous email. Please find the attached [file/document] that I intended to send.
In Word, click the “Share” button in the upper right corner of the screen, then under “Send a copy instead” click “Word Document”. A blank email will open with the Word document attached.
Alternatively, in your email program, start a new email and look for an “Attach” button or paperclip icon. Click on it, and a file explorer window should pop up. Navigate to where your Word document is stored, select it, and click Open or Attach. Your Word document should now be attached to your email.
How do I copy a document and attach it to an email?
First, find the document in your computer’s file navigator. Right-click on it and select Copy. Next, open your email program. Start a new email, then right-click in the message field. Select Paste or press Ctrl+V (Cmd+V on Mac). Your file should now appear as an attachment to the email.
How do I forward an email with an attachment?
When you forward an email that has a file attached, the attachment should automatically be included in this new draft. After you click the forward button and the new email draft pops up, simply double-check that the attachment is still there (some email services show it at the bottom of the draft). Sometimes your email program will first ask if you want to include the original attachments. In this case, simply answer the prompt with “Yes” or “Include”.
Which button is used to attach files in the email?
When you’re composing an email, look for a paperclip icon that you can then click to attach files. Depending on the program you're using, it’s often found near the top of the email composition window. On a smartphone, you can also use the share button to attach files to an email. Just select the file, tap the share icon, choose your email app, and it’ll automatically attach the file to a new message.
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