Microsoft Outlook, just like other email client apps, has a feature that allows you to attach a file on an email. You can use this feature to send a PDF document or other formats that have a relatively small file size. You won’t be able to use the attachment feature of Outlook to send a file larger than 20MB. You will see an error message when attempting to attach a file larger than the allowed file size limit (20MB).

You need an alternative way to send a large file — such as a RAW file of your photograph, PSD file, or video — using Outlook.

Here are two best ways to send a large file in Outlook.

1. Using a cloud storage service.

People use a cloud storage service for a variety of purposes. Some use a cloud storage service as a backup tool, some use it as a collaboration tool, and some use it to share files online. For the last mentioned purpose, there are several options on how you can share your file once you have saved it to your cloud storage account. If you want to send a large file via Outlook, you can simply copy the link of your file and add it to your email.

A cloud storage service typically doesn’t limit you based on the file size. Instead, the limit is typically based on the plan you use. For instance, if you use the free version of Dropbox (which gives you 2GB of free storage space), you can upload a single file with the size of 2GB or many files with the maximum size of 2GB.

How to copy the file link of a file on cloud storage?

• Dropbox

Select (click) the file you want to send to preview it and click the Share button on the top side, followed by the Create link link on the appearing popup.

• Google Drive

Double-click the file you want to send to preview it and click the three-dot icon on the top-right corner and select Share.

Click the Copy link on the appearing popup to copy the link. You can then add the copied link to your email.

• One Drive

Click the file you want to send to preview it and click the Share menu on the top-left corner. Select Get a link on the appearing popup.

2. Using Filemail add-in

Have you heard about Filemail? It is a tool that allows you to transfer large files online. You can — no half-hearted — send a 50GB file with this tool for free. Not only you can send a large file via the Filemail website, but also other mediums, including Outlook. The developer of this tool provides an Outlook add-in which you can use to effortlessly send a large file without leaving your Outlook window. However, this add-in works only for Filemail Pro users.

You can get the Filemail add-in for Outlook on its official website. Once installed, you will have two new icons on the toolbar area of the Outlook email composer.

You can simply click the left icon (Attach File) to send a single file and click the right icon (Attach Folder) to send multiple files at once inside a folder. Filemail itself is superior when it comes to transferring speed. The transfer speed can reach the number of 14 Megabit per second!

Final words

There are several ways to send large files in Outlook. You can choose the one according to your needs. If you send large files occasionally, using a cloud storage might is a wiser option. Conversely, if sending large files becomes a part of your daily basis, tools like Filemail add-in is a better-suited option. In addition to a faster transfer rate, Filemail (and the similar tools) also offer a better security option. Your files won’t last forever on the Filemail server. Instead, they will be deleted after a certain period (normally 7 days)