Attaching an email to another email in Gmail

You can attach an entire email message to a new Gmail message by forwarding it as an attachment rather than as a quoted reply. Gmail does not have a single "attach email" button, but the forward-as-attachment feature does exactly this — it sends the original email as a file that the recipient can open and read inside their own Gmail inbox.

This is different from forwarding normally. When you forward an email, the recipient sees it quoted in the body of your message. When you attach it, the recipient gets a file they can click to view the original message separately, with all its headers and formatting preserved. This method is useful when you want to send someone an exact copy of an email without it being mixed into your own words.

Key Takeaways

  • Gmail's forward-as-attachment feature lets you send an entire email as a file inside a new message, preserving all original formatting and headers.
  • You access this by opening the email you want to attach, clicking the three-dot menu, and selecting "Forward as attachment".
  • The attached email appears as a .eml file that the recipient can open in Gmail or most other email programs.
  • This method works best when you need to send an exact copy of an email for record-keeping or when you want to preserve the original message without your own commentary mixed in.

Finding the forward-as-attachment option

Open the email message you want to attach. At the top right of the message, you will see three vertical dots (the menu button). Click on those dots to open a dropdown menu with several options.

Look for the option labeled "Forward as attachment". Click it. Gmail will open a new message window with the original email already attached as a file. The attachment will show up in the attachment area at the bottom of the compose window, labeled with the sender's name and the subject line of the original email.

If you do not see "Forward as attachment" in the menu, make sure you are viewing the full email message and not just a preview. Sometimes Gmail hides this option if you are looking at a conversation thread rather than an individual message.

Composing your message with the attached email

Once you have the email attached, you can add recipients, a subject line, and your own message text just like any other email. The attached email file sits separately from whatever you type in the message body.

Type a subject line that makes sense for your message — something like "See the email below" or "Original message from Sarah about the project". Then add any explanation or context you want to provide. The recipient will see your message text first, then the attachment below it.

You can attach multiple emails to a single message by repeating this process. However, if you need to attach more than two or three emails, consider whether a regular forward with quoted text might be clearer for the recipient.

What the recipient sees when they open the attachment

When your recipient opens the attached email file, it appears as a .eml file (email message format). In Gmail, clicking the attachment opens it in a new window or tab, showing the complete original message with all headers, formatting, and any images or attachments that were in the original email.

Recipients using other email programs like Outlook or Apple Mail can also open .eml files directly. The file preserves everything about the original message, so the recipient sees it exactly as it was when you received it — including the original sender's name, the date it was sent, and any attachments that were in the original.

When to use forward-as-attachment instead of regular forwarding

Use forward-as-attachment when you need to send an exact, unmodified copy of an email for record-keeping or legal purposes. This method creates a clear separation between the original message and anything you add, which can be important if you are documenting a conversation or sharing evidence of what someone actually wrote.

Regular forwarding is usually faster and clearer for everyday communication — when you just want to share an email with someone and add your own thoughts. Forward-as-attachment is better when you want the recipient to see the original message in its original form, without your commentary mixed in, or when you need to preserve the exact formatting and headers.

If you are forwarding a chain of emails and want the recipient to see the whole conversation, regular forwarding usually works better because it keeps everything in context within the message thread.

Troubleshooting attachment problems

If the "Forward as attachment" option does not appear, try opening the email in full-screen view rather than in a preview pane. Sometimes Gmail hides menu options when you are viewing a conversation thread. Click on the email subject line to open it as a standalone message, then try the menu again.

If the recipient reports that they cannot open the attachment, the most common cause is that their email program does not recognize .eml files. Ask them to try downloading the file to their computer first, then opening it with their email program. Most modern email clients handle .eml files without trouble, but very old versions of some programs may not.

If you accidentally attached the wrong email, you can delete it from the compose window by clicking the X next to the attachment name. Then you can attach a different email using the same forward-as-attachment method.

Attaching other file types from Gmail

If you want to attach a regular file (a document, spreadsheet, image, or PDF) instead of an email message, use the paperclip icon in the compose window. Click the paperclip, select "Files" or "Drive" depending on where your file is stored, and choose the file you want to attach.

You can attach files from your computer, Google Drive, or recent files you have used. Gmail allows attachments up to 25 MB in size. If your file is larger, you can upload it to Google Drive and share the link instead of attaching it directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I attach an email from a different email account?

No — you can only forward-as-attachment emails that are already in your Gmail inbox. If you need to attach an email from a different account, forward it to your Gmail address first, then use the forward-as-attachment feature on that forwarded copy.

Does the attached email take up more space in the recipient's inbox?

Yes, slightly. The .eml file is a separate attachment, so it counts toward the recipient's storage quota just like any other file attachment. However, .eml files are usually quite small — typically just a few kilobytes unless the original email contained large images or attachments.

What happens if the original email had attachments?

The original attachments are preserved inside the .eml file. When the recipient opens the attached email, they will see those attachments listed within it and can read them from there. They do not appear as separate attachments to your message.

Can I attach an email to a draft and send it later?

Yes. The attached email stays in your draft until you send the message. You can close the compose window, come back to the draft later, and the attachment will still be there. Just make sure you do not delete the original email from your inbox, or the attachment may not work properly.

Is there a way to attach multiple emails at once?

Gmail does not have a bulk attach feature. You must forward each email as an attachment individually. If you need to send many emails to someone, consider whether creating a folder and sharing it with them might be faster than attaching each message separately.