Why can’t I attach a folder to an email?
Email does not support folder attachments. You have to zip the folder first. Then Gmail rejects attachments over 25 MB, and Outlook rejects attachments over about 20 MB. If the folder contains video or print files, the archive quickly exceeds that limit. The recipient also has to open the archive.
A shared drive serves a different purpose. It requires accounts and permissions, and access has no clear end date. You do not need that for a one-time project delivery.
The recipient should see the same folder structure you uploaded.
| Method | What happens | For a project folder |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail or Outlook attachment | Folders cannot be attached; ZIP files hit the 20–25 MB limit | Not suitable |
| Zipping first | An extra step that still hits the limit with large folders | Not required |
| Shared drive | Accounts and permissions; the folder may stay accessible | For collaboration |
| SendGB link | No need to zip; the structure stays intact | Suitable for delivery |
The example above is a client delivery: a video, catalog, poster, cover image, and short note. All are inside the client-delivery folder. If you already have an archive, see the guide to sending ZIP files.
Zipping a folder vs. sending it as is
A ZIP is useful when you want to bundle everything into one file. It is not required for sending. You can add the folder as it is. Files are not reduced in size.
| Zipped folder | Folder sent as is | |
|---|---|---|
| Your task | Compress, then upload | Add the folder |
| What the recipient sees | An archive with its contents inside | A file list and folder names |
| Single file | Inside the archive | Downloads individually from the list |
| Empty folder | Preserved if included in the archive | Not sent |
| What we do | We do not open an existing ZIP | We do not alter the files |
If you packaged the files as RAR or 7z, we do not open that archive either. See the guide to sending RAR or 7z files.
What does the recipient download?
On the download page, files are grouped by folder. The recipient can view them without an account.
| Selection | What downloads | Folder structure |
|---|---|---|
| Single file | Only that file | No folder is created |
| Several files | The selected files | Their folder paths stay in the package |
| Entire transfer | One package | Folder names stay in the package |
| Empty folder | Nothing | Not listed |
Downloading files together produces a single package. The files are not recompressed when packaged for download. Photos do not become blurry, and videos are not recompressed. The names inside the package are the folder names you provided.
If you add a password, anyone with the link needs it to download. Send the password separately from the link.
Is 5 GB enough for a folder?
For many delivery folders, 5 GB is enough. A folder with many photos may hit the file count limit before the size limit. The free limit is 500 files. That is why we specify the file count. We do not guarantee more.
| What you are sending | In practice | Which option is enough |
|---|---|---|
| A few documents and notes | Small size, few files | Free, no signup, up to 90 days |
| Video, print files, and a cover image | 1–3 GB, few files | Free, under 500 files |
| Hundreds of small files | Small size, high file count | SendGB Extra if over 500 files |
| Large project folder | Tens of GB | SendGB Extra, 500 GB per transfer, 2,500 files |
| Delivery over 500 GB | One-time transfer | SendGB Exceed, up to 1 TB, 2,500 files |
SendGB Extra starts at €29.90 per year. It includes 1 TB of storage. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year. It is suitable for people who send folders frequently.
SendGB Exceed does not require a 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. It is enough for an occasional very large folder.
If you enter your email address, you receive one notification 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, no new email is sent. The notification does not confirm that the download finished.
How to send
- 1
Add the folder
Add the folder to the upload box on the home page. Subfolders are included. The free limit is 5 GB total and 500 files.
- 2
Send the link
Email the link to the recipient or copy and paste it into a message. If you add a password, send the password separately from the link. If you enter your email address, you receive one notification when a download starts.
- 3
The recipient downloads
The recipient downloads from the link and does not create an account. They can download a single file from the list. When they download the entire transfer, the folder names stay in the package. 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?
- Files are not reduced in size. Subfolder names are preserved.
- No need to zip. If you create a ZIP, we do not open that archive.
- The recipient can download a single file. Folder structure stays intact when downloading files together.
- If you enter your email address, you receive one notification when someone starts downloading.
What we don’t do
- Empty folders are not sent. Only folders containing files are included.
- Clicking a single file does not recreate the folder structure. Only that file downloads.
- Free transfers are limited to 500 files. SendGB Extra and SendGB Exceed allow 2,500 files.
- A download notification does not confirm that the file downloaded completely. If the same person downloads again, no second email is sent.
Frequently asked questions
Can I send folders without zipping?
Yes. Add the folder to the upload box. Subfolders are included. No compression step is needed. If you already have a ZIP, you can send that too. We do not open that archive. See the [guide to sending ZIP files](/send-large-files/send-large-zip-files) for details.
Is the subfolder structure preserved?
Yes. Folder names are included. The recipient sees files grouped by folder on the download page. When they download the entire transfer, those names stay in the package. Clicking a single file downloads only that file. It does not recreate the folder structure.
Are empty folders included?
No. An empty folder has no files to send. It does not appear in the list. If you put a file in it, the folder is included.
Why won’t Gmail accept a folder?
You cannot attach a folder to an email. You have to zip it first, then you run into the 25 MB limit. Outlook has a limit of about 20 MB. A link is not an attachment. The folder is not part of the message.
How is this different from a shared drive?
A shared drive often requires an account and permissions. A folder may stay accessible until you revoke access. With SendGB, the recipient downloads from the link and does not create an account. 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. It is not for editing files together. It is for delivery.
Are files reduced in size?
No. Photos, videos, and PDFs are sent as they are. Downloading files together produces a single package. The files are not recompressed when packaged for download. Your folder names are preserved inside it.
How many files can I send?
Free transfers allow up to 500 files and 5 GB total. Both limits apply. 400 small files may fit within the size limit, but the file count cannot exceed 500. SendGB Extra and SendGB Exceed allow 2,500 files. The size limit still applies separately: SendGB Extra allows 500 GB per transfer, and SendGB Exceed allows up to 1 TB in a single transfer.
Can I add a password?
Yes. Add a password to the transfer. Send the password separately from the link. Anyone with the link needs the password to download. If a file inside the folder has its own password, that stays in place too. We do not remove it.
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 a download has started. It does not confirm that the file downloaded completely. If the same person downloads again, no new email is sent. If you use link delivery without entering an email address, you will not receive a notification.
Which option should I choose if 5 GB is not enough?
Many project folders fit within 5 GB and 500 files. The link stays available for 7 days. A larger delivery or one with more files needs SendGB Extra: 500 GB per transfer, 2,500 files, 1 TB of storage, starting at €29.90 per year, with files kept for up to 1 year. For a single delivery over 500 GB, SendGB Exceed is enough: no membership required, €9.99 for a 1 TB transfer, 2,500 files, and a code that can be used once and is valid for 1 year. The link stays available for 7 days.
Send a download link instead of zipping a folder and attaching it to an email
A project folder may fit within 5 GB. For larger deliveries, SendGB Extra supports up to 500 GB, and SendGB Exceed supports up to 1 TB in a single transfer. The file limit is 500 for free transfers and 2,500 for these two products.
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