Why is there a file size limit on email attachments?
Email providers cap attachments tightly around 20MB, which makes sending bulk PDFs or large media impossible without failing. This mismatch forces people to deal with sudden upload rejections and floods support teams with tickets asking for alternatives.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1Using cloud storage or file sharing services like OneDriveDid this help you?
- 2Sending documentation links on how to use file sharing servicesDid this help you?
- 3Forwarding company-wide emails from the CIO explaining proper file transfer methodsDid this help you?
- 4Lowering the scan resolution to 200 DPI and changing the format to Compact PDFDid this help you?
- 5Deleting Sent Items from the mailboxDid this help you?
- 6Increasing the message size limit in Exchange OnlineDid this help you?
- 7Formatting the internal hard drive on the copierDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“If one more person asks me why they can't send 50 PDF's in an email, I am going to lose, my god damn mind.”source ↗
“Can you bump up the file size limit for email attachments? I'm trying to send 51 PDF's in an email it just keeps failing.”source ↗
“"WHAT do you MeAn the limit is 20mb?!" I thought it was higher.”source ↗
“I had a customer emergency line call me cause they couldn't email a 200GB file.”source ↗
“The amount of executives, high level sales people and account managers that sent tickets to L1 pissed about this was pretty astounding”source ↗
Where this came up
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- 8Why are wedding invitations taking weeks or months to arrive in the mail?
- 2How to track client onboarding documents and signatures
- 2Accidentally sent confidential internal email to the wrong person