📋 Verified Walkthrough
iPhone & iPad • Email

How do I send an email with an attachment (photo, PDF, or file)?

Direct Answer

Start a new email, tap or click the Paperclip icon (or the Photo/Document icon right above your phone keyboard), choose the photo or PDF file from your device, wait 2 seconds for it to appear inside the message box, and tap Send.

Why You Might Want to Do This

  • To email a signed form, medical document, insurance PDF, or receipt to an office.
  • To send full-quality family photos or scanned documents to relatives or a computer.

Before You Start

  • Know where the item is saved on your device (in your Photos app for pictures, or in your Files / Downloads folder for PDFs and documents).
  • Have your recipient’s email address ready.

Most email services allow attachments up to 20MB–25MB per email (about 4 to 6 high-resolution photos or a multi-page PDF).

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. 1

    Start a new email and fill in the "To" address

    Open your email app (Apple Mail, Gmail, Yahoo, or Outlook) and tap the Compose button (a square with a pencil, a "+ Compose" button, or a pen icon). Type the person’s email address in the "To" line and add a short Subject so they know it is from you.

    👀 New Message screen with "To:" and "Subject:" lines at the top.

  2. 2

    Tap the Paperclip icon (or Photo/File icon above the keyboard)

    Tap once inside the blank email message body so your blinking cursor appears. Then look for the Paperclip icon:

    👀 Metal paperclip icon in the toolbar or right above the keyboard.

    3. ✅ Success Checkpoint: You're Doing Great

    If your screen matches the description above, you have followed the steps correctly. Continue to the next step.

  3. 3

    Choose your photo, PDF, or document

    A window or menu will open showing your recent items. Tap the photo or file you want to send, then tap "Add", "Done", or "Open" in the corner.

    👀 File picker or photo gallery with a checkmark on your selected item.

  4. 4

    Confirm the attachment is visible and tap Send

    Wait 1 to 2 seconds until you see the photo thumbnail or a rectangular box with the file name (such as "Form.pdf") inside your email draft. Then tap the Send button (the upward-pointing arrow on iPhone, paper airplane on Gmail/Android, or blue Send button on a computer).

    👀 Photo preview or PDF file card visible inside the email body.

If You Don't See It / Troubleshooting

If you do not see the photo or document icons above the keyboard in Apple Mail on iPhone

Tap the small "<" (left arrow) button on the right side of the bar directly above the keyboard, or tap and hold your finger for 1 second in the blank white message area until the black pop-up menu appears—then tap the right arrow inside that menu to select "Insert Photo or Video" or "Add Attachment".

If a message pops up saying "Attachment is too large" or "Over 25MB"

If Apple Mail asks "Use Mail Drop?", tap "Use Mail Drop"—it will automatically send the large file safely at no cost. In Gmail, it will automatically upload the large file to Google Drive and include a clickable link for the recipient.

Good to Know

  • If you asks Apple Mail to send a photo, it may ask what size you want ("Small, Medium, Large, or Actual Size"). Choosing "Large" or "Actual Size" keeps the photo clear if the recipient wants to print it.
  • You can verify your attachment actually went through by opening your "Sent" folder after sending the email.