The basic steps for attaching a photo

To attach a photo to an email, open your email program or website, start writing a new message, and look for a button or icon that says "Attach," "Paperclip," or shows a paperclip symbol. Click it, then navigate to the folder on your computer where your photo is saved, select the photo, and click "Open" or "Insert." The photo will appear in your email as an attachment, and you can send the message as normal.

The exact location of the attach button varies depending on whether you use Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, or another service. On most desktop email programs, the button is near the bottom of the compose window. On mobile apps, it is often represented by a plus sign or paperclip icon at the bottom of the screen.

You can attach multiple photos at once by holding down the Ctrl key (or Command key on Mac) while clicking each photo you want to include, then clicking "Open." Most email services let you attach anywhere from 3 to 25 photos in a single message, though the total file size cannot exceed the service's limit—usually 20 to 25 megabytes.

Key Takeaways

  • The attach button is usually a paperclip icon or the word "Attach" near the bottom of the compose window.
  • You can select multiple photos at once by holding Ctrl (or Command on Mac) and clicking each one before opening them.
  • Email services limit the total size of attachments, typically to 20 to 25 megabytes, so very large or numerous photos may not send.
  • If your photos are too large, you can compress them using built-in tools on Windows or Mac, or upload them to a cloud service like Google Drive or OneDrive and share a link instead.

Where to find the attach button in Gmail

In Gmail on a computer, click "Compose" to start a new email. In the bottom left of the compose window, you will see a paperclip icon. Click it, and a file browser will open. Navigate to the folder containing your photos, select the one you want, and click "Open."

On the Gmail mobile app (both Android and iPhone), tap the pencil icon to start a new email. At the bottom of the screen, tap the plus sign (+) icon, then select "Attach file." This opens your phone's file browser or photo gallery. Select the photo and tap "Attach" or "Open."

Where to find the attach button in Outlook

In Outlook on a computer, click "New Email" to start composing. In the toolbar at the top, click "Attach File" (or look for a paperclip icon). A file browser opens. Navigate to your photo and click "Insert."

In Outlook on the web (Outlook.com), click "New Message." At the bottom of the compose area, click the paperclip icon labeled "Attach." Select your photo from the file browser and click "Open."

On the Outlook mobile app, tap the compose button (pencil icon), then tap the paperclip icon at the bottom. Select "Browse Files" or "Photos," choose your image, and tap "Attach."

What to do if your photos are too large to send

Email services reject attachments that exceed their size limit. Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo Mail all cap attachments at around 20 to 25 megabytes total per message. If you are trying to send many high-resolution photos or videos, you may hit this limit.

The fastest solution is to compress your photos before attaching them. On Windows, right-click the photo, select "Send to," then "Compressed (zipped) folder." This reduces file size without much visible loss of quality. On Mac, right-click the photo and select "Compress." Both methods create a smaller version you can attach normally.

If compression does not reduce the size enough, use a cloud storage service instead. Upload your photos to Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or iCloud, then share the folder or individual files with the recipient by pasting a link into your email. This avoids the attachment size limit entirely and lets the other person download the photos at their own pace.

How to attach photos on Yahoo Mail

In Yahoo Mail on a computer, click "Compose" to start a new message. In the toolbar, click the paperclip icon labeled "Attach Files." A file browser opens. Select your photo and click "Open."

On the Yahoo Mail mobile app, tap the compose button, then tap the paperclip icon at the bottom. Select "Photos" or "Files," choose your image, and tap "Attach."

Checking that your photo attached correctly

Before you send, look at the compose window to confirm the photo appears. In Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo Mail, attached files show up as a small preview or a line item with the filename. If you see the photo listed, it attached successfully.

If the photo does not appear after you click "Open," try attaching it again. Sometimes the browser or app fails to register the selection the first time. If it still does not work, check that the photo file is not corrupted by opening it in your computer's photo viewer first.

After you send the email, the recipient will see the photo as an attachment they can view or download. On most email services, they can click the photo to view it full-size or right-click to save it to their computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I attach a photo directly from my phone's camera roll?

Yes. On the Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo Mail mobile app, tap the attach button and select "Photos" or "Photo Library." This opens your phone's photo gallery. Select the photo you want and tap "Attach." The app will send the photo at its original resolution unless your phone's email settings compress it automatically.

What if the recipient says they did not receive the photo?

Check that the email actually sent—sometimes it stays in your Drafts folder if there was a connection problem. Ask the recipient to check their spam or junk folder, as large attachments sometimes get filtered there. If the photo is very large, try compressing it or using a cloud link instead.

Can I attach photos from a cloud service like Google Drive or OneDrive?

Yes, but the process is different from attaching a file from your computer. In Gmail, you can click the Google Drive icon in the compose window to insert a file directly from Drive. In Outlook, click "Insert" then "OneDrive" to do the same. This shares a link rather than sending the file as an attachment.

How many photos can I attach to one email?

There is no hard limit on the number of photos, but the total size of all attachments cannot exceed your email service's limit—usually 20 to 25 megabytes. A typical photo from a smartphone is 2 to 5 megabytes, so you can usually attach 4 to 10 photos before hitting the limit. Compress photos or use a cloud link if you need to send more.

Do attached photos stay in my email after I send it?

Yes. The email you sent will show the attached photo in your Sent folder, just as the recipient will see it in their inbox. You can delete the email later if you want to free up storage space in your email account.