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Issue: When attempting to send an email with attachments in Outlook, you receive the error message:
“To send your file or image, remove large inline images or attachments from this message thread.”
This occurs because the combined file size exceeds Outlook's limit for attachments.
Outlook limits the size of email attachments to prevent issues with delivery.
- Internet Email Accounts (Outlook.com, Gmail, etc.): The attachment size limit is 20 MB.
- Exchange Accounts (Business Email): The default size limit is 10 MB.
If you attempt to send files larger than these limits, Outlook will block the email and display this error message.
Solutions to Fix the Issue:
1. Remove Large Attachments from the Message Thread
- If you are replying to or forwarding a long message thread with previous attachments, these attachments contribute to the overall size.
- To remove unnecessary attachments from the thread:
- Right-click the attachment icon in the previous messages.
- Select Remove Attachment. This will reduce the size of the email.
2. Change the Email Format
The Rich Text format may add extra data, increasing the size of your email. To reduce this, switch to a simpler format:
- Go to Format Text in the message toolbar.
- Select Plain Text or HTML. These formats minimize the size of the email by reducing extra encoding and formatting.
3. Compress Your Files or Images
Large files or high-resolution images can exceed the size limit. Compressing them can reduce their size:
- For Documents/Files: Use compression software like WinZip or 7-Zip to create a ZIP file.
- For Images: Use online tools like TinyPNG or Compress JPEG to reduce the file size without sacrificing quality.
4. Use OneDrive or Cloud Sharing
Instead of attaching the file directly, you can use OneDrive or another cloud storage service to share a link. This way, the file size won’t count toward the email attachment limit:
- Go to Insert > Attach File > Browse Web Locations > OneDrive.
- Upload your file or image and insert it as a OneDrive link. The recipient will be able to download the file from the link without it affecting the email’s size.
