The basic steps work the same way across Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail
To attach a picture to an email, open a new message, look for an attachment button (usually a paperclip icon), click it, and select the image file from your computer. The button location varies slightly by email service, but the process takes the same path: compose, attach, select, send. Most email services let you drag and drop images directly into the message body as an alternative to using the attachment button.
The image file itself stays on your computer until you send the email — the email service uploads it as part of your message. The person receiving it will see the image either as an attachment they can download or embedded in the message itself, depending on how you inserted it and what their email client supports.
Key Takeaways
- The paperclip icon in your compose window is the attachment button in Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and most other services.
- You can also drag an image file directly from your computer into the message body or the compose window.
- Large image files may take longer to send and receive, and some email services limit attachment size to 20–25 MB per message.
- Embedded images (inserted into the message body) appear inline for most recipients, while attached images show as separate files to download.
- If an attachment fails to send, check the file size, your internet connection, and whether the email service was having issues at that moment.
How to attach a picture in Gmail
Open Gmail and click the Compose button to start a new message. In the compose window, look for the paperclip icon in the toolbar at the bottom. Click it, and a file browser will open. Navigate to the folder where your image is stored, select it, and click Open. The image will upload and appear as an attachment in your message.
Alternatively, you can drag an image file from your computer directly into the compose window. Gmail will recognize it as an attachment and add it to your message. You can attach multiple images by repeating the process or by selecting more than one file at once in the file browser.
How to attach a picture in Outlook (web and desktop)
In Outlook on the web, click New Message to open the compose window. Look for the paperclip icon in the toolbar and click it. A file browser opens — select your image and click Insert. On the desktop version of Outlook, the paperclip icon appears in the same location in the message ribbon. The process is identical: click the icon, browse to your image, and select it.
Outlook also supports drag-and-drop: you can drag an image from your computer directly into the message body or the attachment area. If you drag it into the message body itself, it will appear as an embedded image rather than a separate attachment.
How to attach a picture in Apple Mail
Open Apple Mail and create a new message. Click the paperclip icon in the toolbar (or use the keyboard shortcut Command+Shift+A). A file browser opens — navigate to your image and click Insert. The image will attach to your message. You can also drag an image directly from Finder into the message body or the compose window.
Apple Mail gives you the option to resize images before sending. When you drag an image into the message body, a small menu may appear asking whether you want to resize it. Resizing reduces file size and can speed up sending and receiving, especially if you are attaching multiple large photos.
File size limits and what happens when you exceed them
Most email services cap attachment size at 20–25 MB per message. Gmail allows up to 25 MB, Outlook allows up to 20 MB, and Yahoo Mail allows up to 25 MB. If your image file is larger than the limit, the email service will show an error message when you try to send, and the message will not go through.
If you hit a size limit, you have two options: compress the image file before attaching it, or use a file-sharing service like Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox instead. You can upload the image to one of these services and share a link in your email rather than attaching the file itself. This also works well when you need to send multiple large images or when the recipient needs to download the image later.
Embedded images versus attachments
When you drag an image directly into the message body, most email services embed it so it appears inline with your text. The recipient sees the image as part of the message itself. When you use the attachment button, the image usually shows as a separate file below the message that the recipient can download.
Embedded images are often preferred because they display immediately and do not require the recipient to download anything. However, some email clients or older systems may not display embedded images correctly — they might show as a broken link or not appear at all. Attachments are more reliable across different email systems, but they require an extra step for the recipient to view or save the file.
Troubleshooting when an attachment will not send
If you try to send an email with an image attached and it fails, check three things first: the file size (is it under your email service's limit?), your internet connection (is it stable?), and whether the email service itself is having problems. You can check service status on the email provider's status page — Gmail has one at google.com/appsstatus, Outlook at outlook.com/statuspage, and Apple at apple.com/support/systemstatus.
If the file size and connection are fine and the service is running normally, try closing the compose window and starting over. Sometimes a temporary glitch in the upload process can be fixed by restarting. If the problem persists, try attaching a different image to see whether the issue is specific to that file. If a different image sends successfully, the original file may be corrupted or in a format your email service does not support.
Image file formats that work in email
Email services support the most common image formats: JPEG (.jpg), PNG (.png), GIF (.gif), and WebP (.webp). These formats work across all email clients and devices. If you have an image in a less common format like TIFF (.tiff) or RAW (.raw), you may need to convert it to JPEG or PNG before attaching it — many email services will reject or struggle with these formats.
You can convert an image format using free online tools like CloudConvert or Convertio, or using built-in tools on your computer. On Windows, right-click the image, select Open With, and choose Photos or Paint to open it, then use File > Save As to save it in a different format. On Mac, open the image in Preview, go to File > Export, and choose a new format from the Format dropdown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I attach a picture directly from my phone or tablet?
Yes. Open your email app, start a new message, and look for the paperclip or plus icon. Tap it to open your photo library or file browser, select the image, and it will attach. The process is the same on iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. You can also take a photo directly within some email apps and attach it without saving it first.
What if the person I am sending to cannot see the image?
This usually happens with embedded images if their email client does not display them by default. Ask them to check their email settings to enable image display, or resend the email with the image as an attachment instead of embedded in the message body. If the image is in an unusual format, convert it to JPEG or PNG and try again.
Can I attach multiple pictures in one email?
Yes. Use the attachment button multiple times, or select more than one file at once in the file browser. You can attach as many images as you want as long as the total file size does not exceed your email service's limit. If you are attaching many large photos, consider using a file-sharing service instead.
Does attaching a picture slow down my email?
Larger image files take longer to upload and download, but the difference is usually only a few seconds unless the file is very large or your internet connection is slow. Attaching a 2–3 MB photo will not noticeably slow things down. If you are attaching files larger than 10 MB, the recipient may experience a delay when downloading their email.
What happens to the picture after I send the email?
The image stays on your computer. When you send the email, the email service makes a copy of the image and sends it along with your message. The recipient receives their own copy, but your original file remains on your device. You can delete the original image from your computer without affecting the email that was already sent.