The basic way: tap the paperclip icon
To attach a file to an email on iPhone, open the Mail app and start writing your message. Once you have typed your subject line and message body, look for a paperclip icon near the bottom of the compose window. Tap it, and your iPhone will show you files you can attach — usually photos, videos, and documents stored on your device.
The paperclip icon appears in slightly different places depending on which iPhone model you have and which version of iOS is running. On newer iPhones, it is typically to the left of the send button. On older models, you may need to tap the arrow pointing up at the bottom right to reveal more options, then look for the attachment button.
Not every email account works the same way. If you are using Gmail, Outlook, or Yahoo Mail through the Mail app, the paperclip should appear. If you are using a work email that your company manages, the attachment feature might be disabled by your IT department for security reasons — in that case, the paperclip will not show up at all.
Key Takeaways
- The paperclip icon in the Mail app compose window is how you add attachments on iPhone.
- You can attach photos, videos, and documents like PDFs and Word files that are already stored on your phone.
- Some email accounts and work systems do not allow attachments, and the paperclip icon will not appear if your account is one of them.
- File size limits depend on your email provider — Gmail allows up to 25 MB per message, while others may be smaller.
- If the paperclip does not appear, restart the Mail app or check that you are using a supported email account.
What files you can actually attach
iPhone Mail can attach photos and videos directly from your camera roll, which is the most common use. You can also attach documents — PDFs, Word files (.docx), Excel spreadsheets (.xlsx), and text files (.txt) all work. If you have files stored in iCloud Drive, Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox, you can attach those too by tapping the paperclip and navigating to the cloud storage app.
The file type matters less than where it is stored. If a document lives only in an app like Notes or Pages, you cannot attach it directly from Mail. Instead, open that app, find the document, look for a share or export option, and choose Mail from the menu. This opens a new email with the file already attached.
One limitation: you cannot attach files that are currently being edited in another app. Close the document first, then attach it. This prevents conflicts if Mail tries to send a file while you are still making changes to it.
Attaching files from cloud storage
If your files live in iCloud Drive, Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox, you do not need to read them to your phone first. Tap the paperclip icon in your email, then look for the cloud storage app in the list that appears. Tap it, navigate to the folder where your file is stored, and select the file. Mail will attach it without taking up space on your phone.
This is especially useful if you have large files or many files to send. Instead of waiting for downloads, you straightforward browse to what you need and attach it in seconds. The file stays in the cloud, and Mail sends a copy to the recipient.
If you do not see your cloud storage app in the attachment menu, open that app first and make sure you are signed in. Then return to Mail and try again. Sometimes iPhone needs to refresh its list of available apps.
When the paperclip icon does not appear
If you cannot find the paperclip icon, the most common reason is that your email account does not support attachments. Work email accounts managed by a company often have this restriction for security. Some older email services also disable attachments by default.
The second reason is that you are not in the compose window yet. Make sure you have tapped the pencil icon (or "New Message" button) to start writing an email, not just opened an existing one. The attachment option only appears when you are actively composing.
If the paperclip should be there but is not, try closing the Mail app completely and opening it again. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen to close Mail, wait a few seconds, then tap the Mail icon to reopen it. This refreshes the app and often brings back missing buttons.
File size limits and what happens if you exceed them
Each email provider sets its own limit on how large an attachment can be. Gmail allows up to 25 MB per message. Outlook and Yahoo Mail typically allow 20 to 25 MB. Some corporate email systems are stricter and may cap attachments at 10 MB or less.
If your file is too large, Mail will warn you before you send. The message usually says something like "This message is too large to send" or "Attachment exceeds size limit." At that point, you have a few options: compress the file (for photos and videos, iPhone can do this automatically), delete other attachments, or use a file-sharing service like Google Drive or Dropbox instead and send a link to the recipient.
Video files are the most likely to hit size limits. A one-minute video from your iPhone camera can easily be 100 MB or more. If you need to send video, consider uploading it to a cloud service and sharing the link instead of attaching it directly.
Attaching multiple files at once
You can attach more than one file to a single email. Tap the paperclip icon, select your first file, then tap the paperclip again to add another. Repeat this for each file you want to include. Mail will show you a count of how many files are attached (usually displayed as a number next to the paperclip).
Keep the total size in mind. If you are attaching five photos plus a PDF, you might be close to or over your email provider's limit. Mail will warn you if the combined size is too large before you hit send.
If you are attaching many files, consider whether a cloud storage link would be faster and easier for the recipient. Sending a folder link from Google Drive or Dropbox often works better than attaching ten separate files.
Troubleshooting when attachments will not send
Sometimes you attach a file, tap send, and the email sits in your outbox without going through. The most common cause is that the file is still too large, even if Mail did not warn you. Check the file size by opening the Files app, navigating to where the file is stored, and tapping and holding the file name — it will show the size in MB.
Another reason is a weak internet connection. Mail needs a stable connection to upload attachments. If you are on weak WiFi or cellular data, move to a stronger signal and try sending again. You can also try switching from WiFi to cellular data, or vice versa, to see if that helps.
If the email still will not send after checking file size and connection, try deleting the attachment and re-attaching it. Sometimes the file gets corrupted during the attachment process. Close the compose window (Mail will save it as a draft), reopen the draft, remove the attachment, and add it again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I attach a file directly from an email someone sent me?
Yes. Open the email with the attachment, tap and hold the file, then choose "Share" or "Forward." This opens a new email with that file already attached. You can then add your own message and send it to someone else.
What if I want to attach a photo but it is not in my camera roll?
Open the Photos app, find the photo, tap the share button (usually a square with an arrow), and choose Mail. This opens a new email with the photo attached. You can then add a recipient and message before sending.
Can I attach a file from my computer to an iPhone email?
Not directly. You would need to upload the file to iCloud Drive, Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox from your computer first, then attach it from that cloud service on your iPhone. Alternatively, email the file to yourself, open it on your iPhone, and forward it to the intended recipient.
Why does my work email not have the paperclip icon?
Your company's IT department likely disabled attachments for security reasons. Contact your IT support to ask if attachments can be turned on for your account, or ask if there is an alternative way to send files through your work email system.
Does attaching a file use my iPhone storage?
No. Attaching a file does not make a copy on your phone — it sends the original file from wherever it is stored. The only exception is if you read a file from cloud storage first; in that case, it takes up space until you delete it.