How to Attach Files to Emails on Your iPhone: A Step-by-Step Guide

Sending emails with attachments is a common task for most smartphone users, and iPhones make it relatively easy to share files. Whether it’s a document, photo, video, or other file types, this guide will walk you through the process of attaching files to emails on your iPhone.

Understanding Attachment Options

Before we dive into the steps, it’s important to know where you can find the files you want to attach. Your iPhone allows you to attach files from various locations:

• Photos & Videos: Located in your Photos app.
• Files App: Includes files saved on your iPhone, iCloud Drive, and other cloud storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox that you’ve connected.
• Other Apps: Some apps, like Pages or Numbers, might allow you to share files directly to email.

Step-by-Step Guide to Attaching Files

Here are the detailed steps to attach a file to an email on your iPhone:

Method 1: Attaching from Within the Mail App

1. Open the Mail App: Launch the Mail app on your iPhone.
2. Compose a New Email or Reply: Start a new email by tapping the compose icon (usually a square with a pen). You can also reply to an existing email.
3. Position the Cursor: Tap within the body of your email where you want the attachment to appear. This usually creates a blinking cursor.
4. Tap and Hold: Press and hold within the email body until a menu appears.
5. Tap the Arrow Right & then ‘Add Attachment’: If you are not presented with the ‘Add Attachment’ option, select the right arrow icon to display more options, select it.
6. Browse Files: You’ll be taken to the Files app interface where you can choose from files located in different places.
7. Select Your File: Locate the file you wish to attach. If you are choosing a photo or video, tap the ‘Recents’ or ‘All Photos’ option. If the file is in iCloud or other cloud service, select that location.
8. Tap Done: Once you’ve selected your desired file, tap on ‘Done’ at the top right corner, or sometimes the file will just get attached.
9. File Attached: Your attachment will now appear in the email.

Method 2: Attaching Directly from the Photos App

1. Open the Photos App: Launch the Photos app on your iPhone.
2. Select the Photo(s) or Video(s): Find the photo(s) or video(s) you wish to attach and tap on it. Tap on ‘select’ if you wish to send multiple items.
3. Tap the Share Icon: Tap the share icon, which is usually located at the bottom-left corner.
4. Select the Mail App: Scroll through the list of share options until you find the Mail app icon, and tap it.
5. A New Email Composes: A new email window will appear with the selected file(s) already attached.

Method 3: Attaching Directly from the Files App

1. Open the Files App: Locate and open the Files app on your iPhone.
2. Browse to Your File: Navigate to the location where your desired file is stored.
3. Select the File: Tap on the file you wish to attach.
4. Tap the Share Icon: Tap the share icon, located at the bottom left.
5. Select the Mail App: Choose the Mail icon from the share options.
6. A New Email Composes: A new email window will appear with the selected file(s) already attached.

Tips for Attaching Files on iPhone

• File Size Limits: Be aware that email providers typically have size limits for attachments. Large videos may need to be sent via a file-sharing service.
• Compress Files: If the attachment is too large, you might consider compressing it into a ZIP file. While this method is not directly supported by iOS, you can use third-party apps or computers to compress your files.
• Using iCloud Link: For large files, instead of sending the file directly, your iPhone might offer to send an iCloud Link. This allows the recipient to download the file from iCloud.
• iCloud Drive: Ensure your file is accessible through the Files App, sometimes a quick upload to iCloud Drive can help locate it quicker.

Conclusion

Attaching files to emails on your iPhone is a straightforward process. By following these steps, you can effortlessly share documents, photos, videos, and other files with ease. Choose the method that best suits your workflow and get started!