Email is not built for large files. Most providers cap the total size of attachments, and a message that goes over the limit may bounce or fail to send. The exact limit differs by provider, so check your email service’s help page for the current number.
Why a ZIP helps
A ZIP file bundles many files into one. This has two benefits:
- You attach one file instead of ten, which is tidier for the receiver.
- The files travel together and keep their names.
Remember that ZIP does not always make things much smaller. Photos, videos and PDFs are already compressed, so zipping them saves little. A ZIP is mostly for convenience.
How to create a ZIP
- Open the Create ZIP tool.
- Add your files of any type.
- Name the archive, for example
application-documents. - Press Create ZIP and download it.
Nothing is uploaded. The only limit is your device’s memory, so very large sets may need a computer.
Shrink the files first
If the bundle is still too large, reduce the biggest items before zipping.
- Photos: use the Compress Image tool.
- PDFs: use the PDF compressor.
- Videos: use Compress Video.
Do this on copies, not on your only original.
Check the total size
Add up the sizes of your attachments, and leave some room. Email encoding adds overhead, so the sent message ends up a little larger than the files themselves. If you are close to the limit, trim something.
When email is the wrong tool
If the files are still too big, use a cloud storage link instead of an attachment. Upload the folder to a service you trust, and share a link. Think about who can open the link and whether it should expire.
Tips for the receiver
- Use a plain file name without special characters.
- Mention in the message what is inside the ZIP.
- If the contents are sensitive, protect important PDFs with a password using the Protect PDF tool and share the password by a different channel, such as a phone call.
After sending
Ask the receiver to confirm they could open the ZIP. Some workplaces block ZIP attachments for security reasons. If yours does, send the files individually or use a shared link.
Receiving a ZIP
If someone sends you one, the Extract ZIP tool opens it in your browser. Only open archives from people you trust.