How to send large files (2026 guide)
Every way to move a file that is too big for email — and what each one costs you in privacy, time and money.
Why the email bounced
Email was designed for text. Most providers cap attachments between 20 and 25 MB, and the message grows by about a third during encoding, so a 20 MB video already fails. Phone videos are 100 MB per minute in 4K; a RAW photo is 30–80 MB; a project archive is gigabytes.
| Service | Attachment limit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Gmail | 25 MB | Larger files are converted to Google Drive links that require Google sign-in for some recipients. |
| Outlook / Microsoft 365 | 20 MB (up to 150 MB via OneDrive) | Exchange server limits are often lower. |
| Apple Mail / iCloud | 20 MB (Mail Drop up to 5 GB) | Mail Drop links expire after 30 days. |
| 2 GB | Media is recompressed unless sent as a document. | |
| Telegram | 2 GB (4 GB with Premium) | Files are stored on Telegram's servers indefinitely. |
| Discord | 10 MB (500 MB with Nitro) | Attachments stay accessible via CDN links. |
| Slack | 1 GB | Requires workspace membership. |
| Microsoft Teams | 250 GB via SharePoint | Recipients need tenant access. |
| LimeShare | 3 GB per file, 3 files (free, no account) | Encrypted in the browser; auto-deleted; no recipient account. |
Option 1 — a transfer link (fastest)
Upload once, send a link, the recipient downloads without an account. This is what LimeShare does, with one difference: the file is encrypted in your browser before upload, and the key stays in the link. The service cannot read, scan or leak the content, and the transfer deletes itself.
- Open limeshare.org and drop up to 3 files (3 GB each).
- Optionally set a password, a message, "burn after first download" and an expiry of 1–48 hours.
- Click Encrypt & get link, then share the link or QR code.
Option 2 — cloud drives (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive)
Good when the recipient already lives in the same ecosystem. Downsides: the provider stores and indexes the plaintext, recipients often need an account, sharing settings are easy to get wrong, and files linger forever unless you clean up.
Option 3 — messengers
WhatsApp and Telegram accept up to 2 GB, but recompress media, keep copies on their servers and tie the file to a chat. Fine for a clip to a friend; wrong for client deliverables or anything confidential.
Option 4 — compress or split
ZIP rarely helps with video or photos (already compressed). Splitting archives works but is painful for recipients. Use it only when no network transfer is possible.
Option 5 — physical media
Still the fastest for tens of terabytes. For everything under that, a link wins.
Choosing
- Confidential (contracts, medical, unreleased work): end-to-end encrypted link with password.
- Casual (a video to family): any link service; prefer one that deletes automatically.
- Recurring with the same team: shared drive.