Hover your mouse cursor over the “Send to” option and select the “Compress folder” option from it.Ī new Zip file will be created in the same location with your folder inside it. Right-click on the folder you want to compress.Ģ. If you are on Mac or Linux, here is the instructions to do so in Mac OS X and Linux.ġ. For demonstration, I am going to show you how to compress a folder in Windows. The receiver will have to uncompress the folder before viewing.Īll popular operating systems are capable of compressing files and folders.You can’t send executable files (.exe) as Gmail blocks them.Otherwise, it will be sent as a Google Drive link.
The compressed folder must be below 25MB in size due to the Gmail file size limit.You can easily send multiple folders at a time.It’s the fastest method to send a folder via Gmail.Here are some reasons to help you decide whether this method is good for you or not: All you need to do is compress the folder contents and then attach the folder in Gmail. Gmail supports compressed folders, such as Zip, RAR, and 7z. On another instance (when wanting to attach a file that's 2GB in size), I didn't receive the warning and Gmail went directly to uploading the file.Also read: 2 Methods To Send Executable (exe) Files Through Gmail Compress and send the folder via Gmail If I click Got It, Gmail now automatically uploads the file for you. In one instance, I receive a warning that the file is too large and it must be shared via a link. I've also run into a bit of inconsistency with this. Now, instead of having to first upload the file to Google Drive and then select the file to attach in the Compose window, you can simply click the paperclip icon, locate your large file, and Gmail will automatically upload the file to Drive for you and create the link in the email. Since I first wrote this piece, Google made some changes to how the process works - and the changes aren't exactly consistent. If you have a need to send something larger than that, you're out of luck and will have to resort to mailing a USB flash drive.Īlso: How to unsend an email in Gmail A slight inconsistency With this handy workaround, you can send files up to 10GB in size. But don't think you have to switch back and forth between Gmail and Drive to make this work, as Google has built the feature right into Gmail and it's super simple to use. Thanks to Google Drive, you can still send files larger than 25MB via Gmail (or any email client for that matter). If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader.
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