Introduction

Email has become an indispensable tool for both personal and professional communication. One of its most utilized features is the ability to attach files, making it convenient to share documents, images, or other types of files. However, there are limits to the size of the attachments you can send. This article aims to inform you about these attachment size limits and offer solutions for sharing larger files.

Why Are There Attachment Size Limits?

Email protocols were initially designed when internet bandwidth was much more limited than it is today. As a result, there are restrictions on how much data you can send in a single email to ensure smooth operation of mail servers and to prevent misuse.

Common Attachment Size Limits

Different email services have different attachment size limits:

• Nili: 25 MB
• Gmail: 25 MB
• Yahoo Mail: 25 MB
• Outlook: 20 MB

These limits apply to the total size of all attachments in a single email, not each individual attachment.

What Happens If You Exceed the Limit?

If you try to send an email with an attachment larger than the allowed size, you’ll usually receive an error message indicating that the email cannot be sent. The email will sit in your Outbox or Drafts folder until you reduce the attachment size or remove the attachment(s).

Handling Larger Files: Alternative Methods

File Compression

What It Is: File compression utilities like WinRAR or 7-Zip can shrink the size of your files.

How to Use: After installing the utility, right-click on the file you wish to compress and select the appropriate compression option.

Cloud Storage Services

What It Is: Services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive allow you to upload files to the cloud.

How to Use: Upload your large file to your chosen cloud service and share the download link via email.

FTP Transfer

What It Is: FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a method of transferring files between computers on a network.

How to Use: You’ll need access to an FTP server. Once you upload your files to the server, you can send a download link to your recipient.

Specialized File Transfer Services

What It Is: Websites like WeTransfer provide a way to send large files.

How to Use: Upload your files to the service, and it will generate a link that you can send to your recipient via email.

Conclusion

While email is a fantastic tool for sharing files, the size limits for attachments can sometimes be restricting. However, with the various alternatives available, you can easily work around these limits to ensure your files reach their intended destination.

Knowing these options not only broadens your capabilities but also makes your emailing experience more flexible and efficient.