The basic way to attach a file on iPhone Mail
Open the Mail app and start a new message or reply to an existing one. Tap in the message body where you want to mention the attachment. Then tap the arrow icon at the bottom left of the keyboard — it looks like a right-pointing arrow inside a box. A menu will appear with options including "Add Attachment" or a paperclip icon. Tap that option.
Your iPhone will open the Files app, which shows documents stored on your device. Navigate to the folder where your file lives — usually Documents, Downloads, or a folder inside an app like Notes or Photos. Tap the file once to select it, then tap "Add" in the top right corner. The file will attach to your email, and you'll see its name appear in the message.
Some iPhones show a paperclip icon directly in the compose window instead of requiring the arrow menu. If you see a paperclip, tap it to attach a file the same way.
Key Takeaways
- Attachments on iPhone Mail come from the Files app, which stores documents, photos, and files from other apps on your device.
- You access attachments through the arrow icon at the bottom left of the keyboard, or sometimes a paperclip icon in the compose window.
- You can attach photos directly from the Mail compose screen without opening Files first by tapping the arrow and selecting "Photos".
- File size limits depend on your email provider, but most reject attachments larger than 20 to 25 megabytes.
Attaching photos and videos directly from Mail
If you want to attach a photo or video, you don't have to navigate through Files. Open a new message and tap the arrow icon at the bottom left of the keyboard. Instead of "Add Attachment," you'll see "Photos" as an option. Tap it to open your photo library.
Select the photo or video you want to send by tapping it once — it will show a checkmark. You can select multiple photos at once by tapping each one. When you're done selecting, tap "Add" in the top right corner. The photos will attach to your email when ready.
This method is faster than navigating through Files because Mail knows where your photos are stored and shows them in a familiar grid layout.
Where files come from on your iPhone
Not every file on your iPhone is straightforward to attach. The Files app only shows documents that are stored in specific places: the Documents folder, the Downloads folder, or folders created by apps you've installed. A photo in your camera roll, for example, won't appear in Files — you have to use the Photos option instead.
If you've downloaded a PDF from email or the web, it usually lands in the Downloads folder. If you created a document in Pages, Numbers, or Keynote, it's stored in that app's folder. If you're not sure where a file is, use the search function at the top of the Files app — type the filename and Files will find it if it exists on your device.
Some apps store files in their own private folders that you can't access from Mail at all. If you need to send a file from one of those apps, you usually have to open the app itself and look for a "Share" or "Export" option.
File size limits and what happens when you exceed them
Most email providers set a limit on how large a single attachment can be. Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo all reject attachments larger than 20 to 25 megabytes. If you try to send a file that's too big, Mail will either show an error message when you hit send, or the message will fail to deliver after you've already sent it.
High-resolution videos and photo libraries are the most common culprits. A one-minute video shot on iPhone can easily be 100 megabytes or more. If you need to send a large file, compress it first — right-click the file in Files and look for a "Compress" option, which will create a smaller version. Alternatively, use a file-sharing service like iCloud Drive or Google Drive instead of email.
Attaching files from cloud storage apps
If your files live in iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive instead of on your iPhone itself, you can still attach them. Open Mail and tap the arrow icon at the bottom left of the keyboard. Tap "Add Attachment" and look for the cloud storage app's folder in the list on the left side of the Files app — it will show the app's name.
Tap the app folder to see the files stored there, navigate to the one you want, and tap "Add." The file will attach to your email. This works the same way as attaching a local file, except the file is being pulled from the cloud instead of your device's storage.
Troubleshooting when attachments won't appear
If you've tapped "Add" but the attachment doesn't show up in your message, the file may not have actually attached. Close the compose window and open it again — sometimes the attachment appears after a moment. If it still doesn't show, try attaching the file again.
If the arrow icon doesn't appear at the bottom left of your keyboard, make sure you're tapping in the message body itself, not in the "To:" or "Subject:" fields. The attachment menu only works when your cursor is in the message text area. If you're still not seeing the arrow, restart the Mail app by closing it completely and opening it again.
If a file won't attach because it's too large, you'll usually see an error message. Compress the file or use a cloud storage link instead. If you're trying to attach a file from an app's private folder and it's not showing up in Files, open that app directly and look for a "Share via Mail" option, which will let you send the file without navigating through Files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I attach multiple files at once?
Yes. When the Files app opens, tap each file you want to attach — each one will show a checkmark. After you've selected all of them, tap "Add" once and they'll all attach to the same message. This works for photos too — select multiple photos from your library and tap "Add."
What file types can I attach?
You can attach any file type that exists on your iPhone: PDFs, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, images, videos, audio files, and more. Your email provider may reject certain file types for security reasons, but Mail itself doesn't restrict what you can attach. The recipient's email client may not be able to open unusual file types, so stick to common formats when possible.
Why does my attachment show as a preview instead of a file?
Photos and videos often display as previews in the compose window instead of showing a filename. This is normal — they're still attached and will send correctly. When the recipient opens the email, they'll see the image or video as an attachment they can save.
Can I attach files from my computer to an iPhone email?
Not directly — you can only attach files that are already on your iPhone. To send a file from your computer, upload it to iCloud Drive, Google Drive, or Dropbox first, then attach it from that cloud app on your iPhone. Alternatively, email the file to yourself from your computer, then forward it from your iPhone.
What happens if I attach a file and then delete it from my iPhone?
If you delete the file after attaching it but before sending the email, the attachment will disappear from the message. Keep the file on your device until the email is sent. Once the email is delivered, you can delete the file safely.