If you’ve had trouble sending certain files via email, don’t worry. It’s probably not a malicious virus that’s preventing your email from sending. Chances are, the file you’ve attached is just too big. You may also be confused when transferring large files between your PC and smartphone. However, once you know how to send large files, you’ll save yourself time and energy the next time you’ve got a transfer of considerable size.
How Large of an Email Can Be Sent?
The maximum attachment size that can be sent in an email varies from server to server. Though some email servers may have smaller limits, it’s typically safe to assume that anything below 10MB can be sent without problems. Also, while providers like Gmail allow you to send and receive emails of up to 25MB, it’s good to know alternative methods for how to send large files in case you’re sending something bigger.
It’s important to keep in mind that email attachments are usually MIME encoded. This type of encoding, which specifies the file type of the attachment, increases the size of the attachment by about 33 percent. So, if you’re sending a 10MB file, the reason you may be having trouble is because it increases to about 13MB once it’s attached to an email.
How to Send Large Files via Email
Cloud Storage Services
Undoubtedly the easiest way to send large files is via cloud services. Services like OneDrive, DropBox and Google Drive allow you to upload files far larger than you can send with email. After you’ve finished uploading the file, you can share it via email. Then, all they have to do is click a link to download the file.
File Sharing Services
Since so many people are stumped when it comes to understanding how to send large files, quite a few large file sharing services have popped up across the Internet. Basically, these services prompt you to upload a file and then provide you with a download link that can be sent to the recipient via email.
While plenty of these services are both free and safe, it’s important to remember that you’re entrusting them with your files. If you’re sending sensitive files, it may be best to opt for cloud services instead.
How to Transfer Large Files between Smartphone and PC
Wi-Fi Transfer Apps
If your computer is connected to a Wi-Fi network, you can easily transfer files to your mobile device with a Wi-Fi transfer. There are a number of apps for both iOS and Android that allow you to seamlessly send files back and forth between your smartphone and PC.
Cloud Storage Services
We mentioned cloud storage services for email above, but they’re also effective for smartphones. If you know how to send large files with cloud services on a computer, you’re already halfway to transferring them to a smartphone. After you’ve uploaded the file to your cloud service of choice, you just have to download the app on your phone, sign in and your file will be ready for download. Just make sure you’re using a secure wireless network to avoid your files from becoming compromised.
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