You can forward an email as an attachment by using Gmail's forward feature with the "Show trimmed content" option, or by downloading the email as a file and attaching it manually

Gmail does not have a single button that attaches a complete email message to a new message the way some other email clients do. Instead, you have two practical routes: forward the email in a way that preserves the full original message, or download the email as a file and attach it to a new message. The first method works for most situations. The second method is useful when you need to send the exact email as a file — for example, to preserve it as evidence or to send it to someone outside your organization who needs the original headers and formatting intact.

Both methods take only a few clicks and work reliably in Gmail's web version. Mobile apps have more limitations, so if you need to attach an email on your phone, the web version on a computer is usually your best option.

Key Takeaways

  • The simplest way to send someone an email you received is to forward it, which includes the original sender's name, date, and full message in the body of your new email.
  • If you need the original email as a separate file attachment rather than quoted text, download it as a .eml file and attach that file to a new message.
  • To download an email, open it, click the three-dot menu, select "Download message", and Gmail will save it to your computer as a file you can then attach to another email.
  • Forwarding works instantly and is the standard way to share an email; downloading and re-attaching takes a few extra steps but creates a file the recipient can open in any email client.

Forwarding an email (the standard method)

Forwarding is the fastest way to send someone an email you received. Open the email you want to share, click the forward arrow button (it looks like an arrow pointing right), and compose your message. The original email appears in the body of your new message with the sender's name, date, and subject line visible at the top. The recipient sees the full original message without having to open a separate attachment.

If the original email was long and Gmail has hidden some of the content with a "Show trimmed content" link, click that link before you forward. This ensures the person you are forwarding to sees the complete message, not just the most recent part of the conversation. After you click forward, Gmail will display all the hidden text, and it will all be included when you send.

Downloading an email as a file attachment

If you need to send the email as an actual file attachment rather than as quoted text in your message, you can download it. Open the email, click the three-dot menu button in the top right corner of the message, and select "Download message". Gmail saves the email as a .eml file to your computer — usually in your Downloads folder.

Once you have the file, create a new email, click the attachment button (the paperclip icon), and select the .eml file from your computer. The recipient can then open that file in Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, or most other email clients. This method preserves all the original headers, formatting, and metadata of the email, which is why it is useful when you need an exact copy of the original message.

When to use each method

Use forwarding when you want to share an email quickly and the person you are sending it to just needs to read the content. Forwarding is instant, requires no extra steps, and is what most people expect when you say you are sending them an email. It also works on mobile devices, where the download feature is not available.

Use the download-and-attach method when you need to send the email as a file — for instance, if you are forwarding a message to someone outside your organization, if you need to preserve the email for legal or compliance reasons, or if the recipient specifically needs to import it into their own email client. This method also works if you are sending the email to multiple people and want each of them to have the original file rather than seeing it quoted in your message.

Attaching multiple emails at once

If you need to attach several emails to one message, you can download each one individually and attach all the files to a single new email. Open each email, download it using the three-dot menu, and then create one new message with all the .eml files attached. This is slower than forwarding but useful when you need to send a batch of related messages as separate files.

Alternatively, if the emails are part of a conversation thread, you can forward the entire thread as one message. Open any email in the thread, click forward, and Gmail will include all the messages in that conversation in the body of your new email. This is faster than downloading multiple files and works well when the recipient just needs to see the full conversation history.

Troubleshooting common issues

If the download option does not appear in the three-dot menu, you may be using Gmail in a web browser that does not fully support the feature. Try using Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge — the download option works in all of these. If you are using Gmail on a mobile app, the download feature may not be available; switch to the web version on a computer instead.

If a recipient cannot open a .eml file you attached, they may need to use a different email client or import the file manually. Most email programs can open .eml files, but some older or specialized email systems may not recognize the format. In that case, forwarding the email normally (so it appears as quoted text) is a better option and will work with any email client.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I attach an email to an email without downloading it?

Not directly in Gmail. You can forward the email, which includes it in the body of your message, or you can download it as a file and then attach that file. Forwarding is the standard method and works instantly without any downloads.

What is the difference between forwarding and attaching an email?

Forwarding includes the original email as quoted text in the body of your new message. Attaching sends the email as a separate file (.eml) that the recipient can open in their email client. Forwarding is simpler and faster; attaching creates a file that preserves all the original formatting and headers.

Will the person I forward an email to see my comments?

Yes. When you forward, your new message appears at the top, and the original email appears below it. The recipient sees both your message and the full original email in one thread.

Can I attach a .eml file to an email on my phone?

Gmail's mobile app does not have a download option for emails. You will need to use the Gmail website on a computer to download the email as a .eml file, then attach it to a new message.