Why can’t I send APK files by email?
A short note may fit in an email. An installer file will not. An Android package can be tens or hundreds of MB, a Windows installer can be several GB, and a game package can be even larger. Gmail does not accept attachments over 25 MB, and Outlook does not accept attachments over about 20 MB.
Email may block .exe and similar files for security reasons even if they are within the size limit. A link is not an attachment. The file is not included in the message. The browser may still show a warning during download. We do not disable that warning. We do not scan the file.
Sending a store link is not the same as sending a test build. The tester downloads a file that is not yet in the store.
| Method | What happens | Suitable for installer files? |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail or Outlook attachment | Blocked because of size or security | No |
| Store link | Opens the published version | Not a test package |
| Splitting into parts | Missing parts prevent installation | No |
| Shared drive | Requires an account and ongoing access | Use with care |
| SendGB link | The package is not installed or sent as an attachment | Suitable for delivery |
The example above is a test delivery within the free limit: a Windows installer, a Mac package, an Android package, a screenshot, and a short note. This example does not include a store listing.
Installing an app package vs. sending the file
Installing makes the package ready to use on a phone or computer. The recipient’s device does that. We do not.
APK is for Android. IPA is for iPhone. MSI and EXE are Windows installers. DMG is a Mac disk image file containing the application. We do not convert one to another. We do not mount the DMG. See the disk image guide for details.
A signature confirms that the package came from you. Without it, the device may reject the installation. A Mac may also require Apple approval. You obtain these approvals. We do not sign the file. We do not change the version number inside it either.
| Store page | Package sent as a file | |
|---|---|---|
| What is sent | The published product’s link | The installer you created |
| Who installs it | The store’s installation process | The recipient’s device |
| Signature | In your store account | Your responsibility; we do not obtain it |
| Test build | May not be published yet | The file itself downloads |
| What we do | We do not upload to the store | We do not install or convert it |
AAB is the package submitted to the Play store. Phones generally cannot install it directly. We do not upload it to the store. We do not combine split APKs either. You prepare a single installable file.
What should you include with the package?
With only the installer, the tester cannot tell which version they are opening.
| File | Purpose | Without it |
|---|---|---|
| APK, IPA, MSI, or DMG | The package to install | There is nothing to test |
| Screenshot | Shows the expected screen | The tester looks in the wrong place |
| Test notes | Version, date, and known issues | An old package is mistaken for a new one |
| Installer for another platform | Windows alongside Android, if needed | The other device has nothing to install |
| Source code | If requested separately | Does not replace the package |
A PNG screenshot may appear on the download page. The package itself does not open. If you include notes as a .txt file, they may open too. The application does not run on the page.
Source code consists of separate files. We do not compile it. If needed, send it separately using the source code archive guide. If the installation folder contains thousands of small files, make it a single MSI, EXE, or ZIP file. We do not extract the ZIP. The folder transfer guide explains how folders download.
Do not make an unreleased version publicly accessible. Add a password. Send the password separately from the link. Do not put a secret key in the test notes. We do not remove sensitive content from the notes.
Is 5 GB enough for an app package?
5 GB is often enough for a phone application. It may not be enough for large game, video, or 3D packages. Free transfers are limited to 5 GB and 500 files. For a single installer file, size is the limiting factor. For an installation folder with many separate files, the file count is the issue.
Zipping the package again will not reduce its size much if its images and audio are already compressed. We do not compress files or extract archives.
| What you are sending | In practice | Which option is enough? |
|---|---|---|
| Phone package | Often under 5 GB | Free; up to 250 MB for 90 days, larger files for 7 days |
| Windows or Mac installer | May be several GB | Free if it fits; SendGB Extra if it exceeds the limit |
| Installation folder with separate files | Thousands of small files | May hit the 500 or 2,500 file limit; make a single installer file |
| Large game package | May be tens of GB | SendGB Extra, 500 GB per transfer |
| Single package over 500 GB | Rare | SendGB Exceed, up to 1 TB |
SendGB Extra starts at €29.90 per year. It includes 1 TB of storage. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year. Each transfer is limited to 500 GB and 2,500 files. It suits teams that frequently release large packages.
SendGB Exceed requires no membership. A 1 TB transfer costs €9.99. The code can be used once and is valid for 1 year. The link stays available for 7 days. The file limit is 2,500. It is enough for an occasional single package over 500 GB. We cannot send more than 1 TB in one transfer.
If you enter your email address, you receive a notification once when a download starts. With email delivery, you are notified once per recipient. With link delivery, you are notified once per transfer. If the same person downloads again, you do not receive another email. The notification does not confirm that the entire package has downloaded or been installed.
How to send
- 1
Add the package
Add the installer file to the upload box. You can include a screenshot and test notes in the same transfer. Free transfers are limited to a total of 5 GB and 500 files. If you exceed either limit, you need SendGB Extra or SendGB Exceed.
- 2
Send the link
Email the link to your tester, or copy and paste it into a message. Add a password for an unreleased version. Send the password separately from the link. If you enter your email address, you receive a notification once when a download starts.
- 3
The recipient downloads
The recipient downloads from the link and does not create an account. The package is not installed on the download page. The recipient opens the file on their own phone or computer. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. Free transfers up to 250 MB stay available for up to 90 days. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year.
What happens to your file?
- We leave the file untouched. The package is not installed, signed, or converted to another format.
- APK, IPA, MSI, EXE, and DMG files download as they are.
- Screenshots and test notes go in the same transfer.
- If you enter your email address, you receive a notification once when someone starts downloading.
What we don’t do
- We do not upload to stores. You upload to Play, App Store, and Microsoft Store using your own account.
- We do not obtain signatures or Apple approval. We do not disable browser warnings.
- We do not combine split packages. We do not scan the file.
- A download notification does not mean the application has been installed.
Frequently asked questions
What is an app package?
It is a file prepared so the recipient can install a program on their own device. APK is for Android. IPA is for iPhone. MSI and EXE are Windows installers. DMG is a Mac disk image file containing the application. Sending a store page link is different. We transfer the file itself.
Do you install the package?
No. We do not install it on a phone or computer. We do not convert APK to IPA or a Windows package to a Mac package. The recipient downloads from the link and does not create an account, then opens the file on their own device.
Do you upload to app stores?
No. You upload to Play, App Store, and Microsoft Store using your own developer account. AAB is the package submitted to the Play store. Phones generally cannot install it directly. We do not upload it to the store. APK is the installable Android file. You create it yourself.
Does SendGB sign app packages?
A signature confirms that the package came from you. Without it, a phone or computer may reject the installation. A Mac may also require Apple approval. You obtain that approval. We do not sign the file or change its contents.
Why does email reject .exe files?
Gmail does not accept attachments over 25 MB, and Outlook does not accept attachments over about 20 MB. Installer files exceed these limits. Email may also block .exe and similar files for security reasons. A link is not an attachment. The browser may still show a warning during download. We do not disable that warning. We do not scan the file.
Do you combine split Android packages?
No. We do not combine multiple APK parts. Send a single installer file. A Windows installation folder can also contain thousands of small files. Free transfers are limited to 500 files; SendGB Extra and SendGB Exceed are limited to 2,500 files. If the folder exceeds the limit, make the installer a single MSI, EXE, or ZIP file. We do not extract the ZIP.
Can the recipient open the package on the page?
No. APK, IPA, MSI, and DMG files are not installed on the download page. A PNG screenshot may be displayed. A short .txt note may open. The application itself does not run. No account is needed to download.
Is an app package the same as source code?
No. Source code consists of the files used to write the application. The package is the installable output. We do not compile source code. Do not confuse the two. If a secret key is included alongside the package, it goes to the recipient. We do not remove it. Do not put a password in the test notes.
Will I be notified when the recipient starts downloading?
Yes, if you enter your email address. With email delivery, you are notified once per recipient. With link delivery, you are notified once per transfer. The notification tells you that the download has started. It does not confirm that the entire file has downloaded. It does not mean the application has been installed.
Which transfer option do I need for my app package?
A package under 5 GB and 500 files can be sent for free. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. Free transfers up to 250 MB stay available for up to 90 days. Larger transfers require SendGB Extra: 500 GB per transfer, 2,500 files, and 1 TB of storage. It starts at €29.90 per year. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year. For a single package over 500 GB, SendGB Exceed is enough: no membership, 2,500 files, and €9.99 for a 1 TB transfer. The code can be used once and is valid for 1 year. The link stays available for 7 days. More than 1 TB will not fit in a single transfer.
Send a download link instead of attaching the app package to an email
A single installer file often fits within 5 GB. You can send a large game package up to 500 GB with SendGB Extra, or up to 1 TB in a single transfer with SendGB Exceed.
Start sending