Why can’t I send large ZIP files by email?
An archive bundles many files together. That makes it easy to exceed an attachment limit. Gmail does not accept attachments over 25 MB, and Outlook does not accept attachments over approximately 20 MB. Even below the size limit, some email services block ZIP attachments for security reasons. The message may not arrive, especially if the archive contains a program file. You and the recipient may not notice until later.
Splitting the archive across several emails does not solve the problem. If a part such as .z01 or .z02 is missing, the archive will not open. A shared drive often requires an account or access permission.
The file the recipient downloads should be the ZIP you uploaded.
| Method | What happens | Suitable for an existing archive? |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail or Outlook attachment | Size limits; some mailboxes hold back attachments | No |
| Recompression | Little size reduction for photos and videos | May not get it down to 25 MB |
| Splitting into z01, z02 parts | The archive will not open if a part is missing | No |
| Shared drive | The file may remain available, but the recipient may need an account | Use with care |
| SendGB link | The ZIP is not extracted or sent as an attachment | Suitable for delivery |
The example above is a delivery package containing shoot files, contract attachments, audio, fonts, and a short note. To send a folder without archiving it, see the guide to sending folders.
Recompressing vs. sending as is
Zipping photos and videos a second time does not make them smaller. These files are already compressed. Text and some spreadsheets can benefit from compression. A large shoot archive will not shrink below 25 MB.
When an archive is sent as is, its contents are not changed. File names, folders, and the ZIP’s own password remain intact. We do not know the password. We do not remove it.
| Recompressed archive | ZIP sent as is | |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Fit it into an email | Deliver the archive itself |
| Photos and videos | Little change in size | Preserved |
| ZIP password | Must be set again in the new archive | Preserved |
| Parts | A part may be missing after splitting | Downloaded as one file |
| What we do | We do not extract or combine parts | We do not alter the file |
The ZIP is not extracted on the download page. The recipient downloads the file and opens it in their own software. If it contains a program file, their computer may display a warning. We do not remove that warning. We do not scan for viruses either.
Do I have to ZIP my files?
Usually not. Just add the folder to the upload box. The folder structure stays intact when the recipient downloads the entire transfer. ZIP is useful when you want to keep everything together in one file. It is not required for the transfer.
| What you upload | What the recipient gets | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| One ZIP | The same ZIP | When the archive is already prepared |
| Several ZIPs and a note | Everything as separate files | When the package is in separate parts |
| A folder | A batch download with the structure intact | When there is no need to ZIP |
| ZIP plus z01, z02 | Parts downloaded separately; we do not combine them | The archive will not open if a part is missing |
7z and RAR archives are also sent as files. We do not extract them. See the separate guide to sending RAR or 7z files.
The transfer password is separate from the archive’s own password. You can use both. Send the password separately from the link.
Is 5 GB enough for an archive?
5 GB is often enough for a single project package. It may not be enough for raw footage or years of backups. The limit is based on total size, not file count. We do not guarantee how many files you can include.
| What you are sending | Typical size | Which option is enough? |
|---|---|---|
| A small document archive | Often tens of MB | Free, no sign-up, up to 90 days |
| Shoot files, fonts, and attachments | Hundreds of MB, sometimes 1–3 GB | Free |
| Several large ZIPs together | May approach 5 GB | Free if they fit |
| A large project or backup | May be tens of GB | SendGB Extra, 500 GB per transfer |
| An archive over 500 GB | One-time transfer | 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. It is suitable for people who frequently send large packages.
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 archive.
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, you do not receive another email. The notification does not confirm that the download finished.
How to send
- 1
Add your archive
Add your ZIP file or folder to the upload box on the home page. You can include multiple archives in one transfer. The free limit is 5 GB total.
- 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 own email address, you receive one notification when a download starts.
- 3
The recipient downloads the archive
The recipient downloads from the link and does not create an account. The ZIP is not extracted on the download page. The recipient downloads the file and opens it in their own software. 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?
- Your ZIP is not extracted or repackaged. The files inside and the archive’s own password remain intact.
- Multiple archives can go in the same transfer.
- You do not have to ZIP a folder before adding it. The folder structure stays intact when the recipient downloads everything.
- If you enter your email address, you receive one notification when someone starts downloading.
What we don’t do
- We do not inspect the archive’s contents. We do not scan for viruses or combine archive parts.
- The ZIP is not extracted on the download page. The recipient opens the file on their own computer.
- A download notification does not confirm that the entire file was downloaded. If the same person downloads again, you do not receive a second email.
- There is no Gmail or Outlook add-on. You paste the link yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Is my ZIP extracted during transfer?
No. SendGB does not inspect the archive’s contents or repackage it. The ZIP you upload is downloaded as is. The folder structure inside the archive stays intact.
Why does Gmail or Outlook block ZIP attachments?
There are two reasons. The first is size. Gmail does not accept attachments over 25 MB, and Outlook does not accept attachments over approximately 20 MB. The second is that some email services hold back ZIP attachments for security reasons. A link is not an attachment. The ZIP is not included in the message; the recipient downloads it from the link.
Should I recompress my archive before sending it?
No. Photos, videos, and many office files are already compressed. Zipping them again does little to reduce their size. It will not bring the archive below 25 MB. Send the archive as is.
Can I transfer multipart ZIP archives (z01, z02)?
All parts can be sent if you upload them as separate files. We do not combine them. If a part is missing, the recipient cannot open the archive. Send a single archive or folder instead of splitting it.
Can I send a folder without zipping it?
Yes. Add the folder to the upload box. See the [guide to sending folders](/send-large-files/send-folders-without-zipping) for details. The folder structure stays intact when the recipient downloads the entire transfer. If you choose to ZIP it anyway, we do not extract that archive.
Can I send 7z and RAR files too?
Yes, they are also downloaded as files. This page covers ZIP files. For 7z and RAR, see the [guide to sending RAR or 7z files](/send-large-files/send-rar-files). We do not extract any of them.
Is the archive password the same as the transfer password?
No. The ZIP’s own password stays intact. We do not know it or remove it. You can also add a password to the transfer. Send the password separately from the link. The recipient first uses the transfer password, then the ZIP password when opening the archive if it is password-protected.
Do you scan for viruses?
No. We do not inspect the archive’s contents. If it contains a program file, the recipient’s computer may still display a warning. We do not remove that warning.
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 a download has started. It does not confirm that the entire file was downloaded. If the same person downloads again, you do not receive another email. If you send a link without entering your email address, you do not receive a notification.
Which option should I choose if 5 GB is not enough?
A single project archive often fits within 5 GB. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. Free transfers up to 250 MB stay available for up to 90 days. A larger package needs SendGB Extra: 500 GB per transfer, 1 TB of storage, starting at €29.90 per year, with files kept for up to 1 year. For a single archive over 500 GB, SendGB Exceed is enough: no membership required, a 1 TB transfer costs €9.99, and the code can be used once and is valid for 1 year. The link stays available for 7 days.
Send a download link instead of attaching the ZIP to an email
An existing archive may fit within 5 GB. Larger packages can be sent with SendGB Extra up to 500 GB, or with SendGB Exceed up to 1 TB in a single transfer.
Start sending