Applies ToOutlook for Microsoft 365 Outlook 2024 Outlook 2021 Outlook 2019 Outlook 2016 Office for business Outlook.com Microsoft Office New Outlook for Windows Outlook Web App

You'll receive an error message if you attempt to attach files larger than the maximum size limit. There are a few ways to work around this size limit, including using a file sharing service or compressing the file.

Outlook limits the size of files you can send. This limit prevents your computer from continually trying to upload very large attachments that exceed the limits of most internet service providers. For internet email accounts such as Outlook.com or Gmail, the email size limit is 20 megabytes (MB). For Exchange accounts (business email), the default email size limit is 10 MB. This limit includes both the size of the attachment and the size of the email. 

Select a tab option below for the version of Outlook you're using. What version of Outlook do I have?

In new Outlook, you can:

Save your file to a cloud service and share a link | Compress a file | Save the file to a SharePoint server library | Resize a picture in the body of an email

Save your file to a cloud service and share a link in new Outlook

There are many cloud storage services to which you can upload and then share large files. Some popular cloud storage services include OneDrive, Dropbox, iCloud, and Google Drive. Once your file is stored in the cloud, you can include a link to the document in your email message.

  1. Upload your file to a cloud service, such as OneDrive or Dropbox.

    Note: The service you use generates a link to access your file. Your recipient can open the link to download your file.

  2. After you upload the file, copy the link, and paste it into your email message.

    Tip: For detailed information about uploading files and creating a download link in OneDrive, go to Upload photos and files and Share files and folders and change permissions.

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Compress the file in new Outlook

When you compress, or zip, your file, it decreases its size, and it might decrease it enough to fit within the Outlook size limits for attachments. The following articles describe how to compress and extract files for different Windows operating systems.

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Save the file to a SharePoint server library in new Outlook

If you're using Outlook in a business environment and use SharePoint, you can save a file to a SharePoint library and share a link to the file. See Share a document using SharePoint or OneDrive for instructions.

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Resize a picture in the body of an email

In new Outlook for Windows, you can change the display size of an image you've inserted in an email message, but you cannot reduce the file size of that image:

  1. Select the image in the body of the email message.

  2. On the ribbon, select the Picture format tab.

  3. Select Size, then select the size option you want from the menu.

  4. If the image still isn't quite the size you want, you can select the image, then click and drag a corner sizing handle inward or outward to adjust the size further.

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See also

Reduce the file size of a picture in Microsoft Office

​​​​​​​ Add pictures or attach files to email messages in Outlook

Troubleshoot attachment problems in Outlook for Windows

Blocked attachments in Outlook

Open, save, preview, and edit attachments

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