Message and Attachment Size Limits in Gmail

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Updated December 19, 2019

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Like most other email providers, Gmail limits the size of messages and file attachments you can send and receive. Learn about Gmail attachment restrictions and how to get around them so that you can send large files using Google Drive.

Instructions in this article apply to the web versions of Gmail and the Gmail mobile app for iOS and Android.

Message and Attachment Size Limits in Gmail

Gmail processes messages up to 25 MB in size. This limit is applied to the sum of the message's text and the encoded attachment. Encoding makes the file size slightly larger, so if you have a file that is exactly 25 MB, it will not go through.

Sending messages larger than 25 MB from Gmail yields an error. Messages sent to your Gmail account that exceed the limit bounce back to the sender.

You can attach any file type of file, but the size limit rules out most video and audio formats as well as large PDF documents with hundreds of pictures. That said, there are options for sending large files through Gmail.

Send and Receive Larger Files with Gmail

The easiest way to work around the message size limit is built-in to Gmail. You can send files using Google Drive while composing a message:

Select the Insert files using Drive icon in the bottom toolbar (it looks like a triangle).
Select the Upload tab.

If the file you want to share is in your Google Drive, select the file from this screen, then select Insert in the lower-left corner.
Click Select files from your device and choose the files you wish to share, or drag-and-drop the files into the window.
Select Drive link.
Select Upload.
Finish composing your message, then select Send.
Select Send again if asked to grant access to the file.
The recipient will receive a link to download the file or view it in a web browser.

As an alternative, split the file into smaller chunks or use a file sharing service.