How to send large files via email, past the 25 MB limit

What is the maximum attachment size by email provider?

Every email service caps the size of a message, attachments included. These are the limits published on each provider’s help pages as of October 2026:

Two details explain why a 20 MB file can still bounce. First, attachments are converted to text (Base64 encoding) before they travel, which makes them about a third larger: a 20 MB video weighs close to 27 MB on the wire. Second, the recipient’s server has its own limit. A message you can send from Microsoft 365 at 35 MB may be refused by a 25 MB inbox on the other end. We keep a longer list in email attachment size limits.

4 ways to email a file that is too large

Compression helps for folders of text documents or spreadsheets, but not much for media: an MP4 or a JPEG is already compressed, so zipping it saves a few percent at best. Should you zip anyway? Our guide to zipping before sending covers when it is worth it. If your goal is to keep a video sharp, read how to send a video without losing quality.

How to send large files via email for free with Transfr

1. 1

   Step 1

   Open Transfr in your browser

   Go to transfr.me on a computer, phone or tablet. There is nothing to install and no account to create.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Add your files or a folder

   Drag and drop files, or add a whole folder to keep its structure. You can mix file types, up to 100 GB per transfer.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Choose Email

   Type up to 10 recipient addresses, a title and a message. Transfr sends each recipient an email with the download button.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Set the options

   Pick how long the link stays up (1 to 7 days free), add a password, limit the number of downloads, or turn on end-to-end encryption.

5. 5

   Step 5

   Click Transfer

   Keep the tab open until the upload finishes. Recipients get the email as soon as the files are ready. With a free account, you also get an email each time they download.

How to send large files via email without Google Drive

Gmail and Outlook push you towards their own cloud: above 25 MB, Gmail inserts a Drive link and Outlook.com a OneDrive link. That works, but the file counts against your storage (15 GB free on Google, 5 GB on OneDrive), stays there until you delete it, and the recipient sometimes hits a “request access” page if the sharing rights are wrong. A transfer link avoids all three: nothing lands in your storage, the files are deleted when the link expires, and anyone with the link can download. Step-by-step versions for each inbox: send large files with Gmail and send large files with Outlook.

Sending large files to people outside your organization

At work, a large attachment can fail even when your own limit allows it. Exchange Online defaults to 35 MB, admins can lower or raise that per mailbox, and external partners may have stricter filters that quarantine big messages or block certain file types. A link sidesteps the attachment filters because the email itself stays a few kilobytes. If your company restricts personal cloud accounts, a transfer service that needs no sign-up is often the simplest approved route; check your IT policy first.

How to send large files securely by email

• Add a password and send it through a different channel (text message, phone call) than the email with the link. Anyone who sees the email alone cannot open the files.
• Turn on end-to-end encryption for sensitive documents. Files are encrypted in your browser before upload, and the key travels in the link; it is never stored on our servers. See end-to-end encrypted file transfer.
• Keep the expiry short. One or three days is enough for most deliveries; after that the files are deleted.
• Limit downloads to 1 or 5 if the link should only be used by one person.
• For a full checklist, read our secure file transfer guide.

What your recipient receives

A short email with your message, the list of files, their total size, the expiry date and a download button. The link opens a page where they can preview images, videos and PDFs in the browser, download everything as one zip, folders kept, or file by file, and leave comments if you enabled them. They don’t need an account or an app. On the Pro plan, the page can carry your logo and background, and Send & Track shows where and for how long each file was viewed.

Need files sent back to you? Create a file request and email its link: your contact uploads up to 100 GB without an account. For a single video by email, our large video guide adds codec and export tips.