Can’t Attach Files in Outlook? Try These 7 Fixes
An annoying problem right when you need to use it
Microsoft Outlook is a feature-rich email client available on Windows, Android, iPhone, and Mac. However, despite its popularity, many users report a glitch that means they can’t attach files in Outlook.
In this tutorial, we’ll explain why you’re experiencing this glitch and explain how to fix Outlook so that you can attach files to your Outlook emails once again.
Why Can’t I Attach Files in Microsoft Outlook?
Before you can fix the problem, you need to know what is causing it. Common causes ofemail attachment issuesin Outlook include:
How to Troubleshoot When You Can’t Attach Files in Microsoft Outlook
As there are multiple causes of this problem, there are also multiple solutions. Follow the following troubleshooting methods until you can once again attach files to email messages in Outlook.
Outlook has an attachment size limit of 20 MB. If your file size exceeds this limit, you simply cannot attach it. So, when you’re having issues attaching a file, the first thing to do is check that the attachment size isn’t too big. If the size exceeds the allowable limit, you’ll need to find another way to send your file.
Depending on your sharing preferences, Outlook may offer to send a OneDrive link as a convenient alternative. You can also try compressing the file into a Zip File and try attaching that.
The Rich Text format is the standard format for email messages in Outlook. If you are having issues attaching files to email, you should change the format to Plaintext or HTML and see if that fixes the issue.
If you’re using an older operating system, Outlook goes into compatibility mode to allow the program to run. Regardless of this, it can cause issues with some Outlook features, such as attaching files. If Outlook is running inCompatibility Mode, try switching it back to normal mode with the steps below.
Software updates provided by Microsoft don’t only add features and keep the app functioning with your operating system, they also remove various technical glitches. If you are unable to attach files in Outlook, tryupdating it to the current versionwith the steps below.
An unstable internet connection can cause issues when attaching files. Make sure you have an active, stable internet connection with a strong signal before attaching files.
Check out ourinternet troubleshooting guideif you’re having problems with your network.
If you are using the web version of Outlook, make sure your browser is up to date before trying to attach files to an Outlook email. If you aren’t sure how to, check out our guide on how toupdate any web browser.
If you’re sending a .exe file, Outlook might flag it as malware. Make sure the file type you are sending is what you would expect and is from a safe source before trying to attach it to an email.
If it still won’t send, you can try compressing the file into a ZIP file before sending.
Final Words
It’s always when you’re trying to do something simple like attaching files to an email in Outlook that glitches appear. Fortunately, it’s usually easy to fix, and hopefully you’re now able to attach files to your Outlook emails once again.
Jake Harfield is an Australian freelance writer whose passion is finding out how different technologies work. He has written for several online publications, focusing on explaining what he has learned to help others with their tech problems. He’s an avid hiker and birder, and in his spare time you’ll find him in the Aussie bush listening to the birdsong.Read Jake’s Full Bio
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