Why does Gmail’s attachment limit stop you from sending files over 25 MB?
Email was designed for short messages and small attachments. Gmail does not accept attachments over 25 MB. Outlook’s attachment limit is usually 20 MB. A company server may lower these limits further. The file is not sent. The message bounces back. Sometimes the recipient does not even see why.
A proposal, catalog, or short video over 25 MB runs into this limit. Reducing its quality to fit the attachment limit means sending a copy the recipient cannot use. A link takes up just a few lines in the message. The file stays outside it.
| Sending method | Size limit | Files over 25 MB |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail attachment | 25 MB | Not sent |
| Outlook attachment | Usually 20 MB | Not sent |
| Company mailbox | May be lower | May be rejected |
| Chat app | Compresses files or enforces a size limit | Quality may suffer |
| SendGB link | 5 GB free | Downloads unchanged |
The example above totals 86 MB. Email will not accept it. This size is well below the 5 GB limit for free transfers.
What kinds of files are around 25 MB?
A file does not have to be as large as a movie archive to hit this limit. Files this size still run into the email attachment size limit.
| File | Why it exceeds 25 MB | Fitting it into an attachment |
|---|---|---|
| Proposal PDF with images | Pages and photos add size | Text becomes blurry |
| Short phone video | A few minutes is enough | Chat apps compress it further |
| Small photo collection | A few shots add up | The album gets split up |
| First draft of a presentation | Embedded images add size | Covered on a separate page |
| Compressed ZIP | May not shrink if already packed | May still exceed 25 MB |
For the presentation itself, see sending presentations. To send a PDF without reducing its size, see sending PDFs. For albums and presentations that reach 100 MB, see files over 100 MB.
A link is not an attachment
An attachment puts the file inside the message. A link gives its address. No account is needed to download. You don’t need to sign up for a free transfer either.
You don’t install an add-on. We don’t add a button to Gmail or Outlook. You copy the link and paste it into your message.
| Attachment | Link | |
|---|---|---|
| File location | Inside the message | On the download page |
| 25 MB | Size barrier | No barrier; the limit is 5 GB |
| Quality | May suffer to fit the limit | The file you selected |
| Recipient | Only needs their email account | Does not create an account |
| Availability | Stays in the mailbox | Free link available for up to 90 days |
If you add a password, send the password separately from the link. If you enter your email address, you receive one notification when the download starts. The notification does not tell you whether the file was installed or read. It tells you the download has started.
Do I need a paid plan for files this size?
No. Files of 25 MB and 100 MB are under 250 MB and stay available for up to 90 days. You can also send 2 GB for free; because it exceeds 250 MB, it stays available for 7 days. The size limit is 5 GB. Free transfers have a limit of 500 files. The transfers on this page do not reach that limit.
| Size | Free? | When to use a paid plan |
|---|---|---|
| Over 25 MB | Yes | Not needed |
| 100 MB and 500 MB | Yes | Not needed |
| 2 GB | Yes, within the 5 GB limit | Not needed |
| Over 5 GB | No | SendGB Extra or SendGB Exceed |
| Many small files | Stops at 500 files | 2,500 with SendGB Extra and SendGB Exceed |
SendGB Extra starts at €29.90 per year. It is for people who frequently send large files. Don’t sign up for a membership just to send a 25 MB proposal. Don’t attach the file. Send the link.
How to send
- 1
Add the file
Add the file that is too large to attach to the upload box. Your short note is included in the same transfer. 25 MB is well below the limit. The free limit is 5 GB.
- 2
Paste the link
Paste the link into your message. Don’t attach the file. Add a password if needed. Send the password separately from the link. If you enter your email address, you receive one notification when the download starts.
- 3
The recipient downloads
The recipient downloads from the link and does not create an account. The file is not recompressed. Free transfers up to 250 MB stay available for up to 90 days. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days.
What happens to your file?
- We leave your file untouched. A 25 MB attachment is not reduced in size or quality.
- PDFs, presentations, photos, and short videos download unchanged.
- A link is not an attachment. The message is just a few lines.
- If you enter your email address, you receive one notification when the download starts.
What we don’t do
- We don’t add the file to your mailbox as an attachment. There is no add-on.
- A company mailbox may have a limit below 25 MB. We cannot change that.
- A file over 5 GB exceeds the limit for this free transfer.
- The download notification does not confirm that the download finished.
Frequently asked questions
What is Gmail’s email attachment size limit?
Gmail does not accept attachments over 25 MB. If the file is larger, the message is not sent or the attachment is removed from the message. A link is not an attachment. You can send files using a link, whether they are just over 25 MB or several GB. The free limit is 5 GB.
Why does Outlook stop at a smaller size?
Outlook’s attachment limit is usually around 20 MB. Company mailboxes may have a lower limit. Even a 15 MB attachment can be rejected by the recipient’s server. A link is not subject to this limit.
Can I compress the file to fit the attachment limit?
Compressing photos and videos often does not bring them below 25 MB. The same applies to images inside a PDF. We don’t recompress your file. Send it as is.
What kinds of files are around 25 MB?
A few minutes of phone video, a proposal PDF with images, or a small photo collection can reach this size. We don’t guarantee a specific count. The relevant limit is the 25 MB email attachment limit.
Does the recipient need a SendGB account?
No. The recipient can download the file without an account. You don’t need an account for a free transfer either.
Can I add a password?
Yes. Don’t include the password in the link. Send the password separately from the link. If the file has its own password, you retain control of that too.
How long do files this size stay available?
Free transfers up to 250 MB stay available for up to 90 days. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. SendGB Extra supports longer retention and transfers over 5 GB. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year. Annual pricing starts at €29.90.
Can a chat app send this file?
Some apps compress the file; others stop at their own size limit. The file the recipient sees may not be the file you selected. The recipient downloads the unchanged file from the link.
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 the download has started. It does not confirm that the download finished.
Is sending 100 MB free too?
Yes. You can also send 100 MB, 500 MB, and 2 GB without signing up. The limit is 5 GB. For larger files, see the files over 5 GB page. Files between 25 MB and 100 MB also exceed the email attachment limit.
Don’t attach files over 25 MB to an email. Send a download link.
Files this size are under 250 MB and stay available for up to 90 days without signing up. The same applies to 100 MB. Free transfers over 250 MB stay available for 7 days. A single file over 5 GB requires SendGB Extra or SendGB Exceed.
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