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Are you having trouble with Gmail Won’t Attach Files Issue? This problem can be caused by a number of things, such as the file being too big, trying to attach executable files, or a problem with the web browser. When it comes to sending and getting emails, Gmail is a pretty reliable tool. But there are some problems with this tool. When you try to add files to your emails, Gmail can sometimes give you trouble.
If this happens, you won’t be able to drag and drop files into Gmail, and the button for attaching files won’t work either. Most of the time, you’ll see an error message that says “There was a problem attaching your file” or “Attachment failed.
Gmail Won’t Attach Files Issue: Best 7 Ways

Clear Cache and Cookies
Your browser stores information about the sites you visit in a cache. The next time you go to the sites, they will load faster. In the same way, cookies store your site preferences and make your time on the site better.
But if these caches and cookies get messed up, the website might not work. You can fix problems caused by corrupt cache and cookie data by clearing them. Even though each browser has different steps for clearing the cache and cookies, the general steps are the same.
- Start your web browser.
- To open the browser’s history, press Ctrl+H.
- Find a way to clear your browser’s history.
- Check the boxes for “cookies” and “cache.”
- Select Clear Data.
Update Browser
Your browser can sometimes send out updates that have bugs and glitches that can cause problems with sites. If these bugs and glitches only happen in one patch, the developers will fix them in the next patch update. To make sure you don’t miss out on important changes like these, you should always use the latest version of your browser.
It’s also possible that your browser is really old. Your older browser may not be able to use the new features of Gmail. This could cause websites and features, like the file attachment service, to stop working. Errors like these can also be fixed by making sure your browser is up-to-date.
Disable the Proxy Server
A proxy server is a server computer that acts as a “go-between” between your computer and the website to keep you safe. If you use a proxy server, you might run into problems when you try to upload attachments to your Gmail. You can turn it off for now and then try again to attach the files. Here’s how to turn off your Windows PC’s proxy server:
- To open settings, press Win + I.
- Go to Network and Internet.
- Choose Proxy from the menu on the left.
- Slider for Manual proxy setup: Turn it off.
Switch off Firewalls
- Press the Win + R key combination to open Run, type firewall.cpl in the text box, and then press the OK button.
- Click to turn on or off the Windows Defender Firewall.
- On the Customize Settings tab, choose both ways to turn off Windows Firewall.
- To close the tab, press the OK button.
Turn On Storage Permissions
Gmail usually needs storage permissions for you to access and attach files on your phone. For example, let’s say you can’t attach a file to your Gmail on your phone. In this case, you need to make sure that the permissions for your storage are turned on. Let’s take a quick look at what you need to do to turn on the storage permissions.
- Open your phone’s settings and go to the Apps page.
- Click Gmail, then tap Permissions.
- Now check the app’s permissions to see what it can and can’t do. If you don’t have access to the Camera and Microphone, tap each one to give access.
- Choose one of the three options: Allow only while using the app, Allow every time, or Don’t allow.
Go Incognito
Sometimes, browser add-ons and extensions can make it impossible to attach Gmail files. If this happens, you can log in to Gmail in “incognito mode” and try attaching the files again. Here is a step-by-step list of what to do if Gmail won’t let you attach files.
- Open Google Chrome. Tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner and click New Incognito Window. You can also just press Ctrl+Shift+N to open a window that doesn’t show your history.
- Log in to your Gmail account and attach the files to the email you want.
- Choose one of the three options: Allow only while using the app, Allow every time, or Don’t allow.
Check the file size and file format
Attachments to Gmail can be up to 25MB, so make sure the file you want to send is smaller than that. You can easily archive and compress files on your PC (using WinRar or 7Zip). This will not only make them smaller, but it will also make them easier to store and share again in the future.
Also, besides size, it’s important to remember that Gmail doesn’t support all file formats. You can’t attach and send files that run on their own (EXE, APK, etc.). On the official Google Support page, you can find a list of all the file formats that Google doesn’t support (blocks). The goal is to stop files that could have viruses and pose a security risk from being made.
You can get more help at the Gmail Support Center.
FAQ
Why are my emails with attachments not sending
The most common reason that an attachment won’t send is that it is too big. These limits are set by whoever you use for email, whether it’s an email account through your ISP or through an online provider like Yahoo or GMail. You should check with your email service provider to see what the limits are for attachments.
How do I fix unable to attach file
The fact that the browser is old is one reason why you can’t attach files to Gmail. Because of this, you can fix this problem by updating your browser. Here’s how to do it: Step 1: Click the three-dot icon in the top-right corner of the Google Chrome window, and then choose the Update Google Chrome option.