How do I send large files through Gmail beyond its 25 MB attachment limit?
Gmail is designed for short messages and small attachments. Attachments over 25 MB won’t send. A proposal with images, a few photos, or a short video can hit this limit. Reducing the file size until text and images become blurry means sending the recipient an unusable copy.
Gmail sometimes suggests moving the file to Google Drive. The file then uses your Google storage quota. The recipient requests access. A download link avoids both. The message contains only the link.
| Method | 64 MB proposal |
|---|---|
| Gmail attachment | Won’t send |
| Google Drive suggestion | Quota and permissions |
| Reducing file size | Degrades text and images |
| Chrome extension | Not available |
| Link pasted into the message | Sends; no account required |
The example above is 64 MB. It won’t fit in a Gmail attachment. It fits in a free transfer.
How do I paste a download link in Gmail without an extension?
Create the transfer on the website. Copy the link. Open a message in Gmail and paste it in. Don’t click the paperclip icon. There is no button installed inside Gmail.
| Attachment | Link | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Inside the message | On the download page |
| 25 MB | Hard limit | No such limit; maximum 5 GB |
| Google quota | Uses storage if moved to Drive | Uses no Google storage |
| Recipient | Uses their own email | Downloads from the link without creating an account |
| You | Select the attachment | Paste the link |
Send the password separately from the link. If you entered your own email address for the transfer, you receive one notification when the download starts.
Google Drive and download links use different storage
Drive stores the file in your Google account. Its shared quota is split between Gmail, Drive, and photos. If you forget to revoke access, the file stays there. A download link has a set expiration. Because this transfer is under 250 MB, it stays available for up to 90 days.
| Google Drive | SendGB link | |
|---|---|---|
| Storage location | Your Google account | A transfer with an expiration |
| Recipient | Often needs a Google account | Downloads from the link without creating an account |
| Quota | Shared storage | Does not count toward Gmail’s quota |
| Availability | May stay until you delete it | Up to 250 MB for 90 days; larger transfers for 7 days. Up to 1 year with SendGB Extra |
| Extension | Gmail suggests this itself | We cannot add a button to Gmail |
There is no Outlook extension either. For sending through Outlook, see sending large files through Outlook. For the 25 MB limit, see sending files over 25 MB.
When do I need a paid plan?
Most files Gmail rejects do not exceed the 5 GB limit. No sign-up is required. You can send up to 500 files for free. A proposal and a few attachments won’t hit that file count.
| Total | Gmail attachment | SendGB |
|---|---|---|
| Under 25 MB | May send | A link works too |
| 64 MB example | Won’t send | Free, available for up to 90 days |
| 2 GB | Won’t send | Free |
| Over 5 GB | Won’t send | SendGB Extra or SendGB Exceed |
| Storing it in Drive | Uses quota | Not required |
SendGB Extra starts at €29.90 per year. It is for frequent, large transfers. Don’t sign up for a membership to send a 64 MB proposal. Don’t attach the file to Gmail.
How to send
- 1
Add your file to the upload box
Put the file Gmail rejected into the upload box. 25 MB is well below the limit here. The free limit is 5 GB. No sign-up is required.
- 2
Paste the link into your message
Open a new message in Gmail. Don’t use the paperclip icon to attach the file. Paste the link you copied. Don’t put the password next to the link in the same message.
- 3
The recipient downloads
The recipient downloads from the link and does not create a Google account. The link stays available for up to 90 days. The file is not recompressed.
What happens to your file?
- The file is not attached to Gmail. Your message stays small.
- No Google Drive quota is used.
- PDFs, images, and spreadsheets download unchanged.
- If you entered your email address, you receive one notification when the download starts.
What we don’t do
- There is no Chrome extension. The link is not inserted into your message automatically.
- We don’t attach the file to Gmail for you.
- A file over 5 GB exceeds the free transfer limit.
- A download notification does not mean the file has been read.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Gmail attachment size limit?
Gmail doesn’t accept attachments over 25 MB. A proposal, catalog, or short video can exceed that limit. The message bounces or the attachment is removed from it. A link is not an attachment. The message stays small.
What happens if Gmail moves the file to Drive?
For a large attachment, Gmail may suggest moving the file to Google Drive. This uses Google’s shared storage quota. The recipient may also need to request access. A download link does not use that quota. No Google account is required.
Is there a Chrome extension?
No. We don’t add a button inside Gmail. You create the transfer on the website. Copy the link and paste it into your message.
Does the recipient need Gmail?
No. The link also opens in Outlook, Yahoo, or a phone’s email app. The recipient downloads from the link and does not create a SendGB account.
Should I use a link for files under 25 MB too?
You can send a small text file as an email attachment. Photos, videos, and multiple files quickly exceed 25 MB. If you’re unsure, use a link. The file is not compressed.
Should I include the password in Gmail?
Don’t put the link and password next to each other in the same message. Send the password separately from the link. If the file has its own password, that password also remains under your control.
How long are files this size stored?
This transfer is under 250 MB, so the files stay available for up to 90 days. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. SendGB Extra allows longer storage. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year. Annual pricing starts at €29.90. A membership is not required for 64 MB.
Does Outlook work the same way?
Outlook often limits attachments to 20 MB. Your company may set an even lower limit. The method is the same: no attachment, just a link. There is no SendGB extension for either Gmail or Outlook.
Will I be notified when the recipient starts downloading?
Yes, if you entered your email address. With email delivery, you are notified once per recipient. With link delivery, you are notified once per transfer. This notification does not confirm that the file has been fully downloaded. If the same person downloads again, you won’t receive another email.
Can I attach 5 GB to a Gmail message?
No. 5 GB is far above Gmail’s attachment limit. With a free transfer, you can send up to 5 GB using a link. Larger transfers require a paid plan. See the page on sending files over 5 GB for details.
Don’t attach the file to Gmail. Send the download link.
A 64 MB proposal exceeds Gmail’s attachment limit. You can send it with a link without signing up. Transfers over 5 GB require SendGB Extra or SendGB Exceed.
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