The basic way to attach a picture

To attach a picture to an email, open your email draft and look for an attachment button — usually a paperclip icon or a plus sign. Click it, then browse your computer to find the picture file you want to send. Select the file and click "Open" or "Attach". The picture will appear as an attachment in your email, and you can send it normally.

The exact location of the attachment button varies by email service. In Gmail, it's a paperclip icon below the compose box. In Outlook, it's a paperclip in the toolbar at the top. In Apple Mail, it's a paperclip icon in the toolbar. Yahoo Mail uses a paperclip as well. Once you click it, your computer opens a file browser window where you navigate to your Pictures folder or wherever you saved the image.

You can attach multiple pictures at once by holding Ctrl (Windows) or Command (Mac) while clicking each file you want, then clicking "Open". Most email services let you attach several pictures without a problem, though very large files may take longer to upload.

Key Takeaways

  • The attachment button is usually a paperclip icon located below the compose box or in the toolbar, depending on your email service.
  • Click the attachment button, find your picture file on your computer, and click "Open" to add it to your email.
  • You can attach multiple pictures at once by holding Ctrl or Command while selecting each file.
  • Picture files larger than 25 MB may be rejected by some email services or cause upload delays.
  • If your email service rejects a large picture, you can resize it or use a cloud storage link instead of attaching the file directly.

Where email services store your attachments

When you attach a picture, your email service uploads it to its servers along with your message. The recipient downloads the picture when they open the email. This means the picture is stored in two places: on your email service's servers and, after the recipient opens it, on their computer or device.

Gmail stores attachments in your Google Drive space if you use Gmail's cloud storage. Outlook stores them on Microsoft's servers. Yahoo and other services keep them on their own servers. If you delete the email, the attachment is usually deleted too, though some services keep deleted emails in a trash folder for 30 days before permanently removing them.

File size limits and what happens when you exceed them

Most email services have a maximum attachment size. Gmail allows up to 25 MB per file. Outlook allows up to 20 MB. Yahoo allows up to 25 MB. If your picture is larger than the limit, the email service will show an error message and prevent you from sending the email.

Picture files from modern cameras or phones are usually between 2 MB and 8 MB, so they rarely hit these limits. However, if you take a screenshot of your entire screen or have a very high-resolution image, the file can be larger. If you hit the size limit, you have two options: resize the picture using your computer's built-in photo editor, or use a cloud storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox to share the picture instead.

Resizing a picture before attaching it

To resize a picture on Windows, right-click the file, select "Open with", and choose "Photos" or "Paint". In the Photos app, click the three dots menu and select "Resize". Choose a smaller size and save the file with a new name. In Paint, go to Image > Resize and enter new dimensions, then save.

On Mac, open the picture in Preview, go to Tools > Adjust Size, and enter new dimensions. Click OK and then save the file. You can also use the free online tool Pixlr or Canva to resize pictures without installing software — upload your picture, resize it, and download the smaller version.

A good rule of thumb: if your picture is over 5 MB, resize it before attaching. Most email recipients view pictures on screens that don't need the full resolution anyway, so a smaller file looks the same but sends much faster.

Using cloud storage instead of attachments

If your picture is too large to attach or you want to share many pictures at once, use a cloud storage service instead. Upload your pictures to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or iCloud, then paste a shareable link into your email. The recipient clicks the link to view or download the pictures.

To share from Google Drive, right-click the picture file, click "Share", and set the permission to "Anyone with the link can view". Copy the link and paste it into your email. The recipient can view the picture without needing a Google account. Dropbox works the same way: right-click the file, select "Share", and copy the link. OneDrive and iCloud have similar options in their menus.

This method is faster for large files and lets you update or add pictures later without resending emails. The recipient always sees the current version of the file.

Inline pictures versus attachments

An inline picture appears in the body of your email, while an attachment shows up as a separate file below the message. Most email services let you drag a picture directly into the compose box to make it inline, or you can copy and paste a picture from another window.

Inline pictures are useful when you want the recipient to see the image as part of your message — for example, showing a product you're asking about or a screenshot of an error. Attachments are better when you want the recipient to download and save the file separately, or when you're sending multiple pictures that should be kept as individual files.

To add an inline picture in Gmail, drag the picture into the compose box. In Outlook, click Insert > Pictures and choose your file. In Apple Mail, drag the picture into the message. You can have both inline pictures and attachments in the same email.

Troubleshooting attachment problems

If your email won't send after you attach a picture, the most common cause is that the file is too large. Check the file size by right-clicking the picture and selecting "Properties" (Windows) or "Get Info" (Mac). If it's over your email service's limit, resize it or use a cloud storage link instead.

If the attachment button doesn't appear or doesn't work, try refreshing your browser or logging out and back in. Some email services have browser compatibility issues — if you're using an older browser, try updating it or switching to a different one. If you're using a mobile email app, check that you have enough storage space on your phone.

If the recipient says they didn't receive the picture, ask them to check their spam or junk folder — sometimes emails with attachments are filtered there by mistake. You can also try sending the picture again or using a cloud storage link as a backup.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Open your email app on your phone, tap the attachment button (usually a paperclip or plus icon), and select "Photos" or "Camera Roll". Choose the picture you want and tap "Attach" or "Send". The process is the same on iPhone and Android, though the exact button locations differ slightly.

What picture file types can I attach?

Email services accept JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, and TIFF files. These are the most common picture formats. If you have a picture in a different format, you can convert it using free online tools like CloudConvert or by opening it in a photo editor and saving it as JPG or PNG.

Will the recipient see the picture in the email preview?

If you attach the picture as an inline image (dragged into the message body), it will show in the preview. If you attach it as a file, it will only show as an attachment icon until the recipient opens the email fully. Most email services show a thumbnail of attached pictures, so the recipient knows what they're getting.

Can I attach a picture from a website?

Right-click the picture on the website and select "Save image as". Choose where to save it on your computer, then attach it from there. Do not attach pictures from websites unless you have permission to use them — most pictures are copyrighted, and sending them without permission can violate copyright law.

What happens if I attach the same picture to multiple emails?

Each email gets its own copy of the picture file. The file is stored separately for each email on your email service's servers. If you're sending the same picture to many people, using a cloud storage link is more efficient because everyone accesses the same file instead of you uploading it multiple times.