The basic steps to attach a file on iPhone
On iPhone, you attach a file to an email by opening the Mail app, starting a new message, and tapping the attachment icon — a paperclip — before you send. The paperclip appears in the compose window at the bottom of the screen, next to the formatting options. Tapping it opens a menu where you can choose what type of file to attach: a photo or video from your camera roll, a file from the Files app, or a document from another app on your phone.
The exact location of the paperclip icon depends on which iPhone model and iOS version you have, but it is always in the message composition area. If you do not see it when ready, swipe left or right in the toolbar at the bottom of the compose window — sometimes the paperclip is hidden until you scroll the toolbar.
Not all email providers handle attachments the same way. Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, and Apple Mail all support attachments through the iPhone Mail app, but some corporate email systems have size limits or restrictions on file types. If an attachment fails to send, your Mail app will show an error message telling you why.
Key Takeaways
- The paperclip icon in the Mail app compose window is how you attach files; it is located in the toolbar at the bottom of the message.
- You can attach photos and videos directly from your camera roll, or any file stored in the Files app or compatible apps like Notes or Pages.
- Most email providers accept attachments up to 20 to 25 megabytes, though some corporate systems have smaller limits.
- If the paperclip icon does not appear, swipe left in the toolbar to reveal hidden options, or check that your email account supports attachments.
Attaching photos and videos from your camera roll
To attach a photo or video you already have on your iPhone, open Mail and start composing a new message. Tap the paperclip icon, then select "Photo Library" or "Camera Roll" from the menu that appears. Your photo library will open, and you can scroll through and tap the image or video you want to attach. You can select multiple photos at once by tapping each one — a checkmark appears on each selected item.
When you have chosen all the photos you want, tap "Insert" or "Done" at the bottom of the screen. The photos will appear as attachments in your message. The Mail app will show you a thumbnail of each attached image so you can confirm you chose the right ones before sending.
If you want to attach a photo you just took, you can also tap "Camera" instead of "Photo Library" to take a new picture directly in the compose window. This is faster than taking a photo, closing Mail, finding the photo in your library, and then attaching it.
Attaching files from the Files app and other sources
To attach a document, spreadsheet, or other file that is not a photo, tap the paperclip icon and select "Files" from the menu. This opens the Files app, which shows all the folders and documents stored on your iPhone. Navigate to the file you want — it might be in iCloud Drive, On My iPhone, or another location — and tap it to attach it.
You can also attach files directly from other apps. If you are composing an email in Mail and want to attach a document from Pages, Numbers, or Keynote, you can open that app, find the document, tap the share icon (usually three dots or a square with an arrow), and select "Mail" from the share menu. This opens a new email with the document already attached.
Some apps, like Notes, let you attach files by long-pressing on the file within the app and selecting "Share" or "Send". The exact steps vary by app, but the principle is the same: find the share or send option and choose Mail from the list.
File size limits and what happens when attachments are too large
Most email providers allow attachments up to 20 to 25 megabytes per message. Gmail accepts up to 25 megabytes, Outlook accepts up to 20 megabytes, and Yahoo Mail accepts up to 25 megabytes. If you try to send a file larger than your email provider's limit, the Mail app will show an error message when you hit send, and the message will not go through.
Photos taken on newer iPhones are often 3 to 5 megabytes each, so you can usually attach several photos without hitting the limit. Videos are much larger — a one-minute video can be 50 to 100 megabytes or more — so attaching video files is more likely to fail. If you need to send a large video, consider using a file-sharing service like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud instead, and send the recipient a link to read it.
If an attachment is too large, the Mail app will warn you before you send. You can then remove the attachment, compress the file, or choose a different way to share it. Some email providers also let you use their own file-sharing features — for example, Gmail lets you attach files from Google Drive without counting against the size limit.
Troubleshooting when the paperclip icon does not appear
If you cannot find the paperclip icon in your compose window, the toolbar may be hidden or scrolled out of view. Swipe left in the toolbar at the bottom of the message to reveal more options. The paperclip should appear among the formatting tools.
If swiping does not reveal the paperclip, check that your email account actually supports attachments. Some older corporate email systems or limited accounts do not allow attachments. You can verify this by going to Settings > Mail > Accounts, selecting your email account, and checking the account details. If attachments are disabled, you will not see the option to add them.
Another reason the paperclip might not appear is if you are using an email app other than Mail — for example, Gmail's own app or Outlook's app. Each app has its own attachment button, usually located in a different place. In the Gmail app, the attachment icon is a paperclip at the bottom of the compose window. In Outlook, it is also a paperclip, but in the top toolbar.
Attaching files when you receive an email asking for them
If someone sends you an email asking you to send them a file, you can reply to that email and attach the file in your response. Open the email, tap Reply, and then tap the paperclip icon to attach what they asked for. This keeps the conversation in one thread and makes it clear which request you are responding to.
When you attach a file to a reply, the original email stays in the conversation, so both you and the recipient can see the context. This is especially useful for work emails or situations where you need to keep a record of what was requested and when you sent it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I attach multiple files at once?
Yes. When you tap the paperclip icon and select "Photo Library" or "Files", you can tap multiple items to select them all before tapping Insert. For photos, checkmarks appear on each selected image. For files, the process varies slightly by app, but you can usually select multiple files the same way.
What file types can I attach on iPhone?
You can attach any file type that is stored on your iPhone: photos, videos, PDFs, Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, text files, and more. The recipient's email provider must support the file type to open it, but Mail itself does not restrict what you can send.
Why did my email with an attachment fail to send?
The most common reasons are that the attachment was too large, your internet connection dropped, or your email account does not support attachments. Check the error message Mail shows you — it usually explains why the send failed. Try again once your connection is stable, or remove the attachment and resend.
Can I attach a file that is stored in iCloud?
Yes. Open Mail, tap the paperclip icon, select "Files", and navigate to iCloud Drive. Any file stored there can be attached to an email the same way as a file stored on your iPhone.
Is there a way to send a file that is too large to attach?
Yes. Use a file-sharing service like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or iCloud. Upload the file to the service, generate a shareable link, and send the link in your email instead of the file itself. The recipient can then read the file from the link.