How to send a folder with Gmail

Do you have a Gmail account, you have been asked to e-mail a folder with some important documents but you don’t have the slightest idea how to do it because trying to add it as an attachment is not feasible? No problem … I can help you out. If you allow me a few minutes of your precious time, in fact, I can explain to you, in a simple but not for this very detailed way, how to send a folder with Gmail.

But let’s clarify one point immediately: the operation, in the strict sense of the term, is not feasible, in the sense that Gmail, like other e-mail services, allows you to attach only individual files. The folders in their entirety are then cut off. However, this does not mean that through the implementation of some tricks the operation cannot be carried out anyway. I know, on the surface it may seem a little complicated but, you have to believe me, it’s not like that at all.

The procedure to start is in fact very simple, even for the less tight in terms of information technology and new technologies, and can be carried out both from a computer, using the Web version of the famous e-mail service, and from smartphones and tablets, using the app. Gmail official for Android and iOS. Then? May I know what are you still standing there? Position yourself comfortably, take a few minutes of free time just for you and immediately start concentrating on reading the instructions on what to do that you find below.

Index

• Useful information
• How to send a folder with Gmail from a computer
  • Preliminary operations on Windows
  • Getting started on macOS
  • Send a folder with Gmail
• How to send a folder with Gmail from smartphones and tablets
  • Getting started on Android
  • Getting started on iOS
  • Send a folder with Gmail
• How to send a folder with Gmail via cloud storage services

Useful information

Before getting to the heart of the subject, going to explain what are the operations that must be performed to be able to send a folder with Gmail, it seems only right to make some clarifications about it.

First of all, as I mentioned at the beginning, you must keep in mind the fact that a folder can be selected as an attachment, neither on Gmail nor on other email services. The individual files inside it do, but the folder as a whole does not, this is a fact.

To cope with the need object of this guide, therefore, it is necessary to proceed by first compressing the reference folder. The resulting compressed archive can then be attached to the email and sent without the slightest problem.

Who will receive the e-mail message will have to download the compressed archive received and unzip it, after which he will find himself in front of the folder containing all the various files of interest.

When going to send the compressed archive containing the folder of your interest, however, keep in mind that Gmail applies limitations regarding the maximum size of the files that can be sent as an attachment. To be precise, the Google home e-mail service allows you to send attachments with a maximum size of 25 MB.

For files that exceed this limit, Gmail, when used from the web, automatically adds a Google Drive link to the email rather than including the selected items as attachments. In this case, the recipient will be able to open the file even if it is removed from the cloud storage service.

How to send a folder with Gmail from a computer

Having made the necessary clarifications above, let’s get to the real heart of the matter and let’s find out how to send a folder with Gmail from a computer, both from Windows and from macOS. You will find everything explained in detail below.

Preliminary operations on Windows

If what you are using is a Windows PC and you are interested in understanding how to send a folder as an attachment using the famous Google e-mail service, you must first create a compressed archive with the folder you want to send via email.

To do this, I suggest you use the compressed archive manager included “standard” in Windows, which allows you to get ZIP files. To use it, locate the folder you wish to act on, right-click on it, select the Send to item from the displayed context menu and then that Compressed folder. Next, a ZIP file will be created in the same location as the source folder and with the same name.

If you are not satisfied with the Windows default compressed archive manager, you can opt for one of the “third party” software that I have reported to you in my guides on how to compress a folder and how to zip a file and in my review dedicated to programs for zip for free.

Getting started on macOS

If, on the other hand, you are using macOS, to create a compressed archive starting from the folder you want to send via Gmail you can use the Compression Utility, the compressed archive manager included in all Apple-branded computers that allows you to create and extract ZIP files.

To use it, proceed as follows: locate the reference folder on your Mac, right-click on it and choose Compress “folder name” from the menu that appears. Once this is done, a compressed archive in ZIP format will be created in the same location as the source folder and with the same name as it.

Even in this case, if the macOS default compressed archive manager does not satisfy you, you can opt for one of the “third-party” programs that I pointed out to you in my guides on how to compress a folder and how to zip a file and in my review about free zipping programs.

Send a folder with Gmail

Once you have created the compressed archive with the folder of your interest, regardless of the operating system used, open the browser you generally use to surf the Net from a computer (eg. Chrome ), go to the Gmail home page to take advantage of the web version of the service and log into your account (if necessary).

Subsequently, start composing a new email message in Gmail by clicking on the Write button at the top left and, in the window dedicated to composing the message that opens at the bottom right, fill in the To field with the email address of the recipient, the Subject with the subject of the message and the underlying field with the body of the email.

Then, click on the paperclip icon at the bottom, select the compressed archive on your PC that you created earlier, wait for the upload procedure to be started and completed and send the message by clicking on the Send button which is always located at the bottom.

How to send a folder with Gmail from smartphones and tablets

Are you interested in understanding how to send a folder with Gmail from smartphones and tablets using the app of the famous service available for Android and iOS? Then go ahead and read. Find all the information you need right below.

Getting started on Android

If what you’re using is a smartphone or a tablet Android, the first thing you need to do to succeed in your intention is to create a compressed archive containing the folder you wish to send as an attachment with Gmail. To do this, simply download and install an app to create ZIP or RAR files on your device. Among the various available on the square, I recommend RAR.

This is an application that was developed by the same software house as WinRAR, a renowned software for Windows for the management of compressed archives. It allows you to generate RAR and ZIP archives as well as to extract files in RAR, ZIP, TAR, GZ, BZ2, XZ, 7z, ISO and ARJ formats, including multi-volume and password-protected ones. It’s free, but it contains advertisements that can be removed via in-app purchases (at a cost of $ 1.19 / year after a 14-day free trial).

To download the application, visit the relevant section of the Play Store and press the Install button. Then, start the app by pressing the Open button that appeared on the screen and create a compressed archive with the folder of your interest by selecting it from the RAR file manager.

Then, tap on the button with the RAR logo and the [+] symbol at the top, selecting the format of your interest from those available and tapping on the OK item at the bottom right. The compressed archive will be saved in the same location as the original folder and will have the same name as the latter.

In case you are not satisfied with the use of the RAR app, you can take a look at my review on free zipping programs to find out what workarounds you have from yours.

Getting started on iOS

Would you like to understand how to send a folder using Gmail on iOS? I’ll explain immediately how to proceed. First, you need to create a compressed archive starting from the folder of your interest. To do this, you just need to use one of the many applications used for this purpose. Among other things, I recommend that you try Unzip.

It is a renowned app thanks to which it is possible to extract compressed archives in ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR and many others format and which also allows you to generate ZIP files. It’s free, but offers in-app purchases (starting at € 1.09) to remove banner ads and unlock extra features.

To download it, connected to the relevant section of the App Store, press the Get / Install button and authorize the download via Face ID, Touch ID  or password. Then, start the app by tapping the Open button that appeared on the screen, press the [+] button at the top and select the Import photos item (to import photos and videos) or the Import music item (to import music tracks), then select the files inside the folder you want to compress.

If the part of the files of the folder are neither photos nor audio, open it using another app (eg. Apple files ), select the folder or all the files inside it, press the share button (the one with the rectangle and arrow ) and tap on the Unzip icon in the menu that appears.

Subsequently, press on the Edit item located in the upper right part of the main Unzip screen, select the files of your interest, tap on the compressed archive symbol at the bottom, select the Not Encrypt item from the menu that appears, type the name you want to assign to the archive in the appropriate field and press the OK button.

If you are not satisfied with the use of Unzip, you can consult my review dedicated to free zipping programs to find out which alternative solutions you can use.

Send a folder with Gmail

After creating the compressed archive containing the folder you want to send using the Google home email service, download and install the Gmail app on your device (if you haven’t already done so, of course).

To do this, if you are using Android visit the relevant section of the Play Store and press the Install button. If, on the other hand, you are using iOS connected to the relevant section of the App Store, press the Get / Install button and authorize the download via Face ID, Touch ID or password.

Later, if you are using Android, start the app by tapping on its icon (the one with the white and red envelope ) that you find on the device screen where all the applications are grouped and, once the main screen of Gmail, log into your account (if necessary).

Then, press the [+] button at the bottom right to start composing a new E-Mail. At this point, type the recipient’s email address in the To field, write the subject of the email in the Subject field and the body of the message in the Write email field.

Then press on the paper clip symbol at the top, choose the Attach file item from the menu that opens, select the compressed archive created previously using the on-screen file manager and tap on the paper airplane symbol located at the top right to send the message.

If, on the other hand, you are using iOS, you must attach the compressed file you want to send via email directly from the app you used to create it, as, in this case, the Gmail app allows you to attach only the photos in the gallery and the files recent ones already used as attachments.

To do this, select it, tap on the share icon (the one with the rectangle and arrow ) and press on the Gmail icon from the menu that opens. Then, fill in the email and send it as I indicated above for what concerns Android.

How to send a folder with Gmail via cloud storage services

In addition to how I explained to you in the previous lines, I inform you that it is possible to send folders via Gmail also using cloud storage services, although this is not feasible in the strict sense of the term.

Let me explain: what, in this case, you can do is create a folder on the cloud and share the link to the cloud via email, in order to allow those who receive the email message to access it via the Internet, by selecting the related link.

There are several cloud storage services that you can rely on to perform this kind of operation, below you will find the main ones listed with lots of my specific guides below.

• Google Drive– is Google‘s cloud storage service. For each account, 15 GB of free space are offered which can be expanded up to 30 TB by subscribing to a subscription (the basic cost of which is € 1.99 / month). It is used by default for backup on Android and interfaces with almost all the services and tools of the Internet search giant, including Gmail. Yes it can be used via the web, through the client for Windows and macOS and as an app for Android and iOS. To find out more, read my post on how Google Drive works.
• Dropbox– is one of the most popular and widely used cloud storage services in the world. The basic plan is free and allows you to have 2 GB of online space, possibly expandable up to a maximum of 1 TB but, in this case, you need to sign up for a subscription (at a cost of 9.99 euros/month or 99 euros/year). Yes, it can be used via the web, as well as via the client for Windows, macOS and Linux. It can also be used on mobile, as an app for Android and iOS. To learn more, read my tutorial on how to use Dropbox.
• OneDrive– is Microsoft’s cloud storage service. It is used by default for file storage on Windows and integrates with Microsoft Office. It offers 5 GB free, possibly expandable up to 1 TB by activating a paid plan (starting from 2 euros/month). It can be used via the Web, through the client for Windows and macOS and through the app for Android and iOS. For more information, read my specific guide on how OneDrive works.
• iCloud Drive– is Apple’s cloud storage service. The entire ecosystem of the company’s devices revolves around it. It is used for data synchronization but also for backups, as well as for file storage and sharing. The basic plan is free and offers 5 GB of space, possibly expandable, for a fee (with prices starting from 0.99 cents/month), up to 2 TB. On macOS and iOS it is integrated directly into the system, while for Windows it is available as a client. Eventually, the service is also accessible from the Web. To learn more, read my post on how to use iCloud.
• MEGA– is the cloud storage and file sharing service initiated by Kim Dotcom, the founder of the famous, but now closed, MegaUpload and MegaVideo. It allows you to store files online using an advanced encryption system. The basic account is free and offers 50GB of space. The available space can possibly be expanded up to a maximum of 8 TB, but for a fee (with prices starting from 4.99 euros/month). Yes, it can be used from the web, through the client for Windows, macOS and Linux, and from mobile, through the app for Android and iOS. For further information, read my article dedicated to the service.