Want to share a big file without any fuss, uploading or converting—and in a simple email? Find out here how to use Mail Drop on an iPhone to send files.
First, the Stolonberry
Strawberries are famously berries that are no berries at all but enlarged flower bases with seeds on them that are, of course, no seeds at all but its nuts with seeds inside.
With that in mind, is it any wonder that strawberries, to reproduce, also send out stolons—runners that grow near the soil and, when an opportunity arises, send out adventurous roots of their own?
Now, while you’re running around with your iPhone, how about sending out stolons with enlarged… files of your own?
How to Use Mail Drop with iPhone Email to Send Big Files
Time needed: 1 minute
To send a large file using Mail Drop from iOS Mail on an iPhone:
- Make the file available on the phone itself, in iCloud Drive, on Google Drive, OneDrive or another online storage service that integrates with iPhone Files.
- Start a new message in Mail on your iPhone.
- Position the text cursor where you want the attachment to appear inside the messages’ text.
- Swipe left over the auto-complete bar above the keyboard.
- Select the Attach File icon.
Context menu: You can also tap in the message text to bring up the context menu, then select Attach File from it.
- Find and tap the file.
Wait: For large files, adding the attachment can take time, and iPhone Mail will be irresponsive; be patient.
- Select Use Mail Drop to send the big files through iCloud.
File size: You can send files up to 5 GB with Mail Drop.
No “Mail Drop”: If you do not see the Mail Drop menu, iPhone Mail has determined the file (or files) can be sent as regular attachments (included in the email).
How to Use Mail Drop with iPhone Email to Send Big Files: FAQ
Can you use Mail Drop to send to Android or PC?
Yes.
If you send an attachment using Mail Drop, it turns into a web download at iCloud. Anybody with the link and browser or other means to download can retrieve it.
Can I use Mail Drop with Gmail or other email services?
Yes.
Mail Drop works with all email accounts in Mail for iPhone
Can I force an attachment to be sent using Mail Drop?
No.
Mail for iPhone will offer to send using Mail Drop when it determines sending through SMTP email will not work. Typically, this happens when a file exceeds some 10 MB.
How long before the Mail Drop link expires?
Files sent through Mail Drop are available to be downloaded for 30 days from iCloud.
(How to use Mail Drop with iPhone email to send big files tested with iOS 15–17; updated February 2024)