How to send files larger than 25 MB

Why can’t I attach a file over 25 MB?

Because 25 MB is the per-message ceiling of the biggest consumer mail services, and the rest are lower or similar. The limit covers the whole message, and attachments are encoded for transport in a way that makes them roughly a third bigger, so a file just under the limit can still be refused. Mail servers keep these caps low because every message is stored in full in every recipient’s mailbox.

Even when your own provider would accept more, the recipient’s server may not. A link sidesteps both sides at once. Provider-by-provider details are in our email attachment size limits guide.

What weighs more than 25 MB?

Far more than you would think. 25 MB was generous when email limits were set; today it is a few seconds of phone video or a handful of photos. Here is where common files cross the line:

How to send a file over 25 MB with Transfr

1. 1

   Step 1

   Open Transfr

   Go to Transfr. No sign-up, nothing to install.

2. 2

   Step 2

   Add the file

   Drag it onto the page, or several files and folders at once, up to 100 GB in total.

3. 3

   Step 3

   Choose email or link

   Type up to 10 email addresses and Transfr sends the download email for you, or copy the link and paste it into your own email in Gmail, Outlook or any other client.

4. 4

   Step 4

   Send

   The recipient clicks the link, previews the file if it is a photo, video, PDF or document, and downloads it.

Four ways past the 25 MB limit, compared

Does zipping help?

Rarely for media. JPEG, HEIC, MP4 and MOV are already compressed, so a ZIP of them is almost the same size. Zipping helps with text documents, spreadsheets and uncompressed formats like WAV or BMP. If it gets your file under the limit, fine; if not, a link is quicker than trying harder. More in should you zip files before sending.

Is the Google Drive link that Gmail creates a good option?

It works if the file is not too big for your free 15 GB, which Gmail and Photos also use. But the file stays in your Drive until you delete it, and you need to set the sharing rights so the recipient can open it. A transfer link has no sharing settings to check and cleans itself up. See sending large files with Gmail and with Outlook.

Sending a file over 25 MB from a phone

Phones hit the limit constantly, because a few seconds of video is enough. On an iPhone, the Mail app offers Mail Drop when an attachment is too big: it uploads the file to iCloud (up to 5 GB, link valid 30 days, as of October 2026) and works best when both people use Apple Mail. On Android, the Gmail app turns large attachments into a Drive link, with the same storage caveats as on a computer.

The browser route works the same on any phone: open Transfr in Safari or Chrome, pick the video or photos from your gallery, and share the link through Mail, Messages or WhatsApp. Guides for iPhone and Android walk through it.

When the file is much bigger

Once you are past email, the next walls are usually 2 GB (WhatsApp, Telegram, many free transfer plans) and around 5 GB. Our size guides cover each step: files over 2 GB, 10 GB for free and up to 100 GB. For everything in one place, see how to send large files.