How to Send Files Directly Through Email in Windows 11

File Explorer 📁 (the app you use to browse files and folders on your PC) has a built-in share feature. It lets you send documents, photos, and videos through your email app in a few clicks, without opening a browser or starting the message yourself.

This method suits files up to about 25 megabytes, which covers most everyday reports and pictures. Larger files need a different approach, covered near the end.

Step 1Find the File You Want to Send

Start by finding the file you want to send. You can do this from any folder on your PC.

1. Click the folder icon on your taskbar 🖥️ to open File Explorer 📁.
2. Browse to the document, photo, or video you want to send. The sidebar on the left gives you quick access to Documents, Pictures, Downloads, and Desktop.
3. If you cannot find it, click the search 🔍 box at the top right of the File Explorer 📁 window and type part of the file name. Results appear as you type.

Check the file size before you go further. Right-click the file, choose Properties, and read the Size line. If it is close to 25 MB or over, skip ahead to the size limits section.

Step 2Start the Sharing Process

Once you have found the file, open the Windows share window. You can do this from the toolbar or from the right-click menu 🖱️.

Using the toolbar:

1. Click the file once to select it.
2. Look at the command bar at the top of the File Explorer window and click the Share icon. In Windows 11 it appears once a file is selected.
3. The Windows share window opens, with a list of nearby devices, contacts, and apps you can share to.

Using the right-click menu:

1. Right-click the file.
2. In the Windows 11 menu, find the row of small icons (Cut, Copy, Rename, Share, Delete). Click the Share icon. On some builds, the menu shows a Share entry with a label instead.
3. The same share window opens.

Both methods lead to the same place. We are sending by email, so look in the share window for your mail app.

Step 3Pick Your Email App

Now pick the email program. This is the step where Windows hands the file to your mail app.

1. In the share window, find the icon for your mail program, such as Mail or Outlook. If the app list is short, scroll or look for a More option.
2. Click the icon for the app you want to use.
3. The app opens with a new message already created and your file attached. You should see the file name in the attachment area of the message.

If you picked the wrong app, close the new message without sending it and start again from the share window.

Certain file types also might not be shareable this way. You may need to go into Windows settings to choose your default email app. Check Settings › Apps › Default apps and confirm a mail app is set for email links. Also make sure the app has an account signed in, because an app with no account cannot send anything.

Some desktop mail programs do not appear in the share window at all. If yours is missing, right-click the file, choose Show more options, then Send to > Mail recipient. That uses your default mail program instead.

Step 4Write and Send Your Email

The last step is to finish the message and send it. Fill in these fields in the new email:

1. Click the To field and type the recipient's email address. If you have saved contacts, the app suggests matches as you type.
2. Click the Subject field and write a clear subject line so the person knows what the file is. "March sales report" is better than "File".
3. Click in the message body and add a short note. Say what the file is and whether you need anything back.
4. Check that the attachment is still listed and the file name is correct.
5. Click Send.

After you click Send, the message moves to your Sent folder. Delivery usually takes seconds to a few minutes. If you get a bounce-back message later, the most likely causes are a mistyped address or a file that is too large for the other person's mailbox.

Tip: If you're sending a very large file, remember that most email services have limits on attachment sizes (usually around 20-25 MB). If your file is too big, you might get an error. In that case, try using a cloud storage service like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. These are made for sharing bigger files.

Another option for a single large file or a folder is to compress it first. Right-click it and choose Compress to ZIP file. This helps most with documents and less with photos and videos, which are already compressed.