With Google and Alphabet controlling a massive share of today’s email market, many people use Gmail for their personal and work emails. One of the most important functions of any email account, besides communication, is to send files and other documents.
As of right now, the maximum file size allowed to be sent through Gmail is 50 MB. This would account for most decently sized files, but it still doesn’t even compare to the potentially multi- GB sized files that often need to be emailed. Here are a couple of ways that you can get around Gmail file size restrictions and email those larger files.
Emailing File Hyperlinks Using Your Google Drive
One of the benefits of having a personal Gmail account is that you have access to all of Google’s applications, from Google Play to Google Translate and even Youtube. Emailing a file using a hyperlink requires the use of your Google Drive, which is the specialty Google application used for storing files and creating documents.
- To email your desired file through your Gmail, first open up your Google Drive. This can be found in the top right corner of any Google search page under the pound sign.
- Drag the file into your Google Drive.
- Once you’ve done this, open the file in Google Drive and give permission for the recipient of your email to access the file. This can be done on Google Drive, by right-clicking on the document and clicking share.
- Here, you can type in the email address of the person you would like to share the document with or give access to.
- Copy and paste the hyperlink from there into the email on Gmail that you want to send and, with that, send away!
The person receiving your email (if they have a Gmail account) can open the hyperlink on their Gmail to the same file/ document on their own Google Drive (if they have a Gmail account as well). This method only works if both you and the other person have Gmail accounts.
Using Dropbox to Send Files
Dropbox, like Google Drive, is a file storing application. However, the difference between the two is that it has no connection with any Google services. This makes it harder to directly send files between your email accounts, but it’s still possible to send files between emails, even if one user doesn’t have their own Gmail account. For this method to work, both people have to have the Dropbox application installed on their computer.
To share files, add Dropbox to a desktop or download folder that you’ve already created on your computer. Add the file that you want to send through email to the folder. The Dropbox application will allow you to then produce a hyperlink that directs the person you want to message to the folder. Copy and paste this hyperlink onto the email on Gmail and then send it.
Summary
Many Google applications, such as Gmail and Google Drive, require a thorough understanding of their inner workings. Gmail is no exception to this. Being an email service, one of its most essential functions is being able to send files. While the maximum file or document size you’re able to send is smaller, you can still get around this limitation by simply copying and pasting a hyperlink or two, allowing you to see and access (and the person you’re emailing to see and access) large files for both business and personal use.
Ev Liddle says
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