The fastest way: use the Mail app's attachment button

Open the Mail app and start a new email or reply to one. Tap the compose field to bring up the keyboard, then look for a paperclip icon — usually near the bottom left of the screen. Tap it, and you'll see options to add a photo, video, or document from your phone.

If you're attaching a photo or video, the app will show your camera roll. Select what you want and tap "Insert" or "Done". If you're attaching a document, you'll see "Browse" or "Files" — tap that to navigate to your Documents folder or iCloud Drive and pick the file you need.

Once the file appears in your email, finish writing your message and tap "Send" in the top right corner. The attachment goes along with it.

Key Takeaways

  • The paperclip icon in Mail lets you add photos, videos, or documents to any email in seconds.
  • Photos and videos come from your camera roll; documents come from Files, iCloud Drive, or other apps you have installed.
  • If the paperclip icon doesn't appear, swipe up from the bottom of the compose screen to reveal more options.
  • Large files (over 25 MB) may not send through some email providers, so check your file size before hitting send.
  • You can attach multiple files to one email by tapping the paperclip icon again after adding the first one.

What counts as an attachment on iPhone

An attachment is any file you send along with an email — a photo, a PDF, a Word document, a spreadsheet, a video, or even an audio file. On iPhone, you can attach almost any file type that the Mail app recognizes, which includes the most common ones: JPG and PNG images, PDF files, Microsoft Office documents (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and video files like MP4.

Some file types won't attach through Mail directly. If you need to send a file that Mail doesn't recognize, you can often use a different app instead — for example, Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive let you share files through email without using the Mail app's attachment feature.

Where your iPhone stores files you can attach

When you tap the paperclip icon and choose "Browse" or "Files", you're opening the Files app. This shows you three main places where attachable files live: your iPhone's local storage (under "On My iPhone"), iCloud Drive (if you use it), and any cloud services you've connected, like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive.

Photos and videos are stored separately in the Photos app, so when you tap the paperclip and choose "Photo Library" or "Camera Roll", you're pulling from there instead. Documents you've created in Pages, Numbers, or Keynote usually save to iCloud Drive by default, so they'll show up when you browse there.

If you've downloaded a file from an email or a website, it usually lands in the Downloads folder inside Files. Check there if you can't find what you're looking for in the obvious places.

Why some attachments won't send

The most common reason an attachment won't send is file size. Most email providers, including Gmail, Outlook, and Yahoo Mail, have a limit — usually 25 MB per email. If your file is larger, the Mail app will either refuse to send it or your email will fail partway through.

A second reason is file format. Some older or unusual file types don't travel well through email. If you're trying to send a file that Mail doesn't recognize, try converting it to a more common format first — for example, save a document as a PDF instead of a proprietary format.

A third reason is your internet connection. If you're on weak WiFi or cellular data, the upload might time out before the file finishes sending. Try moving to a stronger connection and sending again.

Attaching files from apps other than Mail

You don't always have to use the Mail app to send a file. Many apps on your iPhone have a "Share" button that lets you send a file directly through email without opening Mail first. Look for a square with an arrow pointing up — that's the Share button in most Apple apps.

Tap Share, then tap "Mail" from the list of options. The app will open a compose window with the file already attached. You just add a recipient and a subject line, then send. This works for photos in the Photos app, PDFs in Books, documents in Pages, and many third-party apps like Dropbox or Google Drive.

Cloud storage apps like Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive also have their own "Share" features built in. You can right-click or long-press a file in those apps and choose to share it via email, which often gives you more control over permissions and expiration dates than a straightforward attachment.

Checking what you've attached before you send

Before you tap "Send", scroll up in the compose window to see the file you've attached. It will appear as a small preview or icon just above the message body. If you attached the wrong file, tap the X next to it to remove it, then tap the paperclip icon again to add the correct one.

If you're attaching a large file and you're on cellular data, Mail will warn you that sending over cellular may be slow or fail. You can choose to send anyway or wait until you're on WiFi. For files over 25 MB, it's usually worth waiting for WiFi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I attach multiple files to one email?

Yes. Tap the paperclip icon, add your first file, then tap the paperclip icon again to add a second one. Repeat as many times as you need. The total size of all files combined still can't exceed your email provider's limit, usually 25 MB.

What do I do if the paperclip icon doesn't show up?

Swipe up from the bottom of the compose screen to reveal more options, or try tapping in the compose field first to make sure the keyboard is active. If it still doesn't appear, you may be using an older version of iOS — update your phone in Settings > General > Software Update.

Can I attach a file that's stored in an app like Google Drive or Dropbox?

Yes. When you tap the paperclip icon and choose "Browse", you can navigate to any cloud service you've connected to your iPhone. Open the folder where your file is stored and select it. The file will attach to your email from the cloud.

Why is my attachment showing as a preview instead of a file?

Some file types, like images and PDFs, display as previews in the compose window instead of as downloadable files. This is normal — the recipient will still receive them as attachable files they can save. If you want to send a file that stays as a file rather than displaying inline, use a cloud storage app's share feature instead.

What happens if I attach a file and then close the email without sending?

Mail saves your draft automatically. The next time you open Mail and go to Drafts, your email and its attachment will still be there. You can finish writing and send it, or delete it if you've changed your mind.