You can attach files to emails on iPhone using the Mail app, but the method depends on what you're attaching and where it's stored

The iPhone Mail app lets you add photos, videos, documents, and other files to outgoing emails. The fastest way is to start from the file itself — open Photos, Files, or another app, find what you want to send, and tap the share button. You can also attach files while composing an email, though this method is slower and works differently depending on the file type.

The key limitation: you cannot attach files from every app on your iPhone. Mail works best with photos, videos, PDFs, and documents stored in iCloud Drive or on your device. Some file types — like spreadsheets or presentations — may not attach at all from certain apps, and you may need to use a different method or app to send them.

Key Takeaways

  • The fastest way to attach a file is to open it in its app, tap the share button, and select Mail from the menu.
  • You can also attach files while composing an email by tapping the attachment icon (a paperclip) in the compose window, though this only works for certain file types.
  • Photos and videos attach directly from the Photos app; documents attach from Files, iCloud Drive, or other cloud storage apps.
  • If you cannot attach a file using Mail, try opening the file in its native app and using the share menu instead.
  • Attached files count toward your email size limit, which varies by email provider but is often 20 to 25 MB per message.

Attaching files by starting from the file itself

This is the most reliable method. Open the app where your file lives — Photos, Files, Notes, or a cloud storage app like Google Drive or Dropbox — find the file, and tap the share button. On most iPhone screens, the share button looks like a square with an arrow pointing up and to the right, usually in the bottom left or top right corner.

When you tap share, a menu appears with options for what to do with the file. Scroll down until you see Mail, then tap it. A new email compose window opens with the file already attached. Type your recipient's address, subject line, and message, then tap Send. The file goes with it.

This method works for photos and videos from Photos, PDFs and documents from Files or iCloud Drive, notes from Notes, and files from third-party apps like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox. If the share menu does not show Mail as an option, that app may not support email attachments directly — try opening the file in a different app or using the next method instead.

Attaching files while composing an email

Open the Mail app, tap the compose button (a pencil and paper icon in the bottom right), and fill in the recipient and subject line. Below the subject line, you should see a paperclip icon. Tap it to add an attachment.

When you tap the paperclip, a menu appears with options: Recent Items, Browse, Photos, and sometimes others depending on your iPhone model and iOS version. Tap Photos to attach a photo or video from your camera roll, or tap Browse to navigate to files in iCloud Drive or other cloud storage. Select the file you want and tap Add.

This method is slower than using the share button and does not work for all file types. If the paperclip icon does not appear or tapping it does not show an option for the file type you need, go back to the first method — open the file in its app and use the share button instead.

Attaching photos and videos from the Photos app

Open Photos, find the photo or video you want to send, and tap it to open it in full screen. Tap the share button in the bottom left corner. A menu slides up from the bottom showing different options. Scroll right if needed to find Mail, then tap it.

A compose window opens with the photo or video already attached. The file size appears below the attachment. If you are attaching a video, check the size — videos can be large, and some email providers limit how big a single message can be. Type your recipient's address, subject, and message, then tap Send.

If you want to attach multiple photos or videos at once, open Photos, tap Select in the top right, tap each photo or video you want to send, then tap Share and choose Mail. All selected files attach to a single email.

Attaching documents and files from iCloud Drive or Files

Open the Files app (the folder icon on your home screen) or iCloud Drive. Navigate to the folder containing the file you want to send. Tap and hold the file until a menu appears, then tap Share. Select Mail from the options that appear.

A compose window opens with the file attached. Type the recipient's address, subject line, and message, then tap Send. If you do not see Mail in the share menu, the file type may not be supported for email attachment — try opening the file in its native app (for example, open a PDF in the Books app or a document in Pages) and using the share button from there.

For files stored in third-party cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox, open that app instead of Files. Find the file, tap the three dots or share icon next to it, and select Mail from the menu. The process is the same, though the exact button locations vary by app.

What to do if the attachment does not send

The most common reason an attachment does not send is file size. Most email providers limit messages to 20 to 25 MB, though some allow up to 50 MB. Videos and high-resolution photos can exceed this limit. If your email fails to send, try compressing the file or sending it in multiple emails with fewer attachments each.

If you are trying to attach a file type that Mail does not support — such as an executable file or certain compressed archives — you will not see it as an option in the share menu or the Files browser. In this case, consider uploading the file to a cloud storage service like Google Drive or iCloud Drive and sending a link instead of the file itself.

If the Mail app crashes or freezes when you try to attach a file, force-close Mail and try again. On iPhone X and newer, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold until the app switcher appears, find Mail, and swipe it up. On iPhone 8 and earlier, double-tap the home button, find Mail, and swipe it up. Wait a few seconds, then open Mail again and try attaching the file once more.

File size limits and what they mean for you

Email providers set a maximum size for each message you send. Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo Mail all limit messages to around 25 MB. Apple Mail (iCloud) allows up to 20 MB. Some providers are more generous — ProtonMail allows up to 25 MB, and some business email systems allow 50 MB or more. Check your email provider's website to find your specific limit.

When you attach a file, the entire email — including the message text, all attachments, and any formatting — counts toward this limit. A photo from your iPhone camera is usually 2 to 5 MB. A video can be 50 MB or more depending on length and quality. If you are attaching multiple files or large videos, you may hit the limit quickly.

If your attachment is too large, compress it before sending. For photos, take them at a lower resolution or use an app to reduce file size. For videos, trim them to a shorter length or use a video compression app. Alternatively, upload the file to Google Drive, OneDrive, or iCloud Drive and send a link instead — the recipient can download it from there without the email size limit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I attach multiple files to one email?

Yes. If you are attaching from Photos, select multiple photos before tapping Share and Mail. If you are attaching from Files or iCloud Drive, you can only attach one file at a time using the share button, so you will need to send multiple emails or attach them one by one while composing. Using the paperclip icon in the compose window also allows only one file at a time on most iPhone models.

What if I want to attach a file from an app that does not show Mail in the share menu?

Try opening the file in a different app. For example, if a document app does not support Mail sharing, open the file in Files or iCloud Drive instead and share from there. If the file type is not supported by Mail at all, upload it to Google Drive or iCloud Drive and send a link to the recipient instead.

Why is my attachment showing as a link instead of a file?

Some email providers and apps automatically convert large attachments to links to save space. This is normal and the recipient can still download the file by clicking the link. If you prefer to send the file as an attachment rather than a link, try compressing it first or using a different email provider.

Can I attach files from my iPhone storage that are not in Photos or Files?

Only files that appear in the Files app or in app-specific share menus can be attached to email. If a file is stored only within a specific app and that app does not have a share button, you cannot attach it directly. You would need to export it from that app to Files or iCloud Drive first.

Does attaching a file use my iCloud storage or email storage?

Attaching a file uses your email provider's storage, not your iCloud storage. The file is stored on your email provider's servers as part of your email account. Your iCloud storage is only affected if you are attaching a file that is stored in iCloud Drive, but the attachment itself does not count against iCloud — it counts against your email storage.