Attachments

This page explains how to add files to a message, how to save files you receive, and the size limit. Files work the same way from your own address and from a shared one.

Attach files

Open a new message or a reply.
Select Attach and choose one or more files. You can also drop files anywhere on the message window.
Each file uploads straight away and is listed with its size. While a file is uploading, it says Uploading… and the send button waits.
Select Send when every file shows its size.

To take a file off, select the ✕ next to it.

Note

Files aren’t saved with a draft. If you close the message window, you’ll need to attach them again.

The size limit

Each file can be up to 50 MB. A file over the limit is listed with Too big and the limit, and isn’t uploaded. Remove it before sending: the app won’t send a message while a file has failed (Remove the files that failed before sending.).

The mail server on the other side may accept less than this for a whole message, and may refuse it. For large files, a link is often safer.

Download files you receive

Files in a message are listed above its text, with their name and size.

Open the message.
Select the file. Your browser downloads it.

Images placed inside the text of the mail show where the sender put them and aren’t listed again as files.

A paperclip in the message list means the conversation has files. For encrypted mail the list can’t tell, because the encrypted content itself looks like one file to the server.

Files in encrypted mail

With encryption on, the files in new mail are stored encrypted along with the text. When you open the message, your browser decrypts everything in memory and lists the files as usual. Downloading them works the same way. See Privacy and encryption in Mail.

If your mail is locked on this device, you’ll be asked for your password first. Encrypted files can’t be opened until then.

Safety tips

Only open files you expected. A file from someone you know can still come from a hacked account.
Phishing mail often carries invoices, “documents” or archives. Use Report on the message if something looks wrong (see Privacy and encryption in Mail).
Nothing in HTML mail can run in the web app, but a file you download and open runs on your own device.