How to Attach Photos in Gmail: Mobile & Desktop Guide

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Send attachments and pictures with your Gmail message

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: November 14, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Using the Mobile App
|
• Using a Computer
|
• Video
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• Q&A

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Do you want to send photos to someone with Gmail? You can easily insert a photo attachment to your email with the Gmail app or the desktop website. If you're using the mobile app, you'll just need to allow permission to your photo gallery first. This wikiHow will show you how to insert and attach photos into Gmail using your iPhone, Android, Windows, or Mac computer.

Sending Attachments in Gmail

To attach photos in the Gmail app, compose a new email. Tap the paperclip icon, select an attachment type, and then select a photo. Tap the "Send" arrow to email the photo. On a computer, go to the Gmail website and compose a new email. Click the paperclip icon, select a photo, and click Send.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using the Mobile App

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1. 
   1
   Open the Gmail app on your Android, iPhone, or iPad. This looks like a multicolored M with a white background. If you're already logged in on your phone or tablet, Gmail will open to your inbox.

   • If you aren't logged in, enter your Gmail email address and password to continue. You can also create a new account.
   • Keep in mind that Gmail has a limit of 25 MB for sending attachments. If you need to send more than that, you can share photos with Google Drive instead.
2. 
   2
   Tap Compose. This will be next to a pencil icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
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3. 
   3
   Compose your email. Enter your recipient's email address in the "To" field, add a subject in the "Subject" field (optional), and type in your email's body text in the "Compose email" field.
4. 
   4
   Tap the paperclip icon. It's in the upper-right corner of the screen.

   • If this is the first time sending an attachment, you may need to allow access to your device's photo gallery.
5. 
   5
   Select the attachment type. You can select Photos, Camera, Files, or Drive.
6. 
   6
   Select the photo to upload. If you selected Photos, Files, or Drive, find and select the photo you want to add. You can select up to 5 photos at a time. If you selected Camera, take a picture to attach it.

   • If you select only one photo, Gmail will insert it into the message text. To send it as an attachment, tap the photo, and then tap Send as attachment.
   • If you select more than one photo, Gmail will insert them as attachments. To insert the photo(s) into the message text, tap an attachment and then tap Send inline.
7. 
   7
   Tap the "Send" arrow. It's the paper plane-shaped icon in the top-right corner of the screen. This will send your email with attached photos to the recipient.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using the Website

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1. 
   1
   Go to mail.google.com in a web browser. You can use any browser you'd like. This will open your Gmail inbox if you're already logged into Gmail on your computer.

   • If you aren't logged in, click Sign In and enter your email address and password.
2. 
   2
   Click Compose. You can find this button in the left panel, underneath the Gmail logo. A blank email form will appear on the right side of the inbox.
3. 
   3
   Compose your email's text. Enter your recipient's email address in the "To" field, add a subject in the "Subject" field (optional), and type in your email's body text in the blank field below the "Subject" area.
4. 
   4
   Click the paperclip icon. It's at the bottom of the "New Message" window. This will bring up a window where you can find and select your photos.

   • If you would prefer to attach a photo from Google Drive, click the triangular Google Drive icon to browse your files instead. This is helpful if you want to send files that are over 25 MB.
5. 
   5
   Select a photo to upload. Go to the location on your computer where the image is stored, then double-click it. You can also select it and click Open.

   • To upload multiple photos (Windows), hold down the CTRL key and click each photo you want to upload. Then, click Open.
   • Alternatively, you can drag and drop the files from your computer into the email's body.
6. 
   6
   Click Send. It's in the bottom-left corner of the New Message window. This will send your email—and the attached photos—to your recipient.
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  How do I add a picture from the My Pictures folder with Gmail? When I click Attach Photo, the only pictures to show up are not from My Pictures documents. What can I do?

  

  Community Answer

  Click the "Upload" tab toward the top of the screen. This will allow you to either drag-and-drop a picture, or click the Upload button to navigate to the My Pictures folder.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

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  Not Helpful 5 Helpful 6
• Question

  How do I insert pictures in the body of the email instead of attaching them?

  

  Community Answer

  After you have composed your message in the "New Message" pop-up window, go to the bottom-most bar of the window. There will be 6 icons on the right of the "Send" button. Click on the 4th icon — the image icon. An "Insert Photo" dialogue box will open up, allowing you to select the picture(s) of your choice. On the bottom right of the box, make sure the "Insert images" option is set to "Inline" not "As attachment." Then, once you have selected the picture(s), click on the "Insert" button at the bottom left of the dialogue box.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 6 Helpful 4
• Question

  What if I've pressed "Compose," but there is no paperclip icon?

  

  Community Answer

  You can copy and paste a photo by left clicking the image, selecting "Copy," then going to Gmail and left clicking the spot in which you would like to place it, then hitting "Paste."

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 1 Helpful 3

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