Apple Mail has a 20–25MB attachment limit. For larger files, Mail Drop automatically uploads to iCloud and sends a link. Compress yours here if you need a direct attachment.
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Drop your PDF here
or click to upload — PDF only
Target size (optional)
targeting 20 MB
💡 Good to know
→Apple Mail supports Mail Drop, which automatically uploads attachments over the size limit to iCloud and sends the recipient a download link.Apple Support ↗
→Mail Drop allows sending files up to 5GB and stores them in iCloud for 30 days before the link expires.Apple Support ↗
→Mail Drop can be enabled in Apple Mail under Settings > Accounts > Account Information.Apple Support ↗
→Even if Apple Mail sends a large file via Mail Drop, the recipient's email provider may reject it if their inbox has a smaller storage limit.
→Base64 encoding adds approximately 33% overhead to email attachments in transit — a 20MB file becomes ~27MB on the wire.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
What is Apple Mail's attachment size limit?+
Apple Mail has a standard limit of 20–25MB per message. For larger files, Mail Drop automatically uploads the file to iCloud and sends a download link instead.
What is Mail Drop in Apple Mail?+
Mail Drop is an Apple feature that automatically handles attachments too large to send directly. It uploads the file to iCloud and sends the recipient a link. Files are stored for 30 days and can be up to 5GB.
Do I need to do anything to enable Mail Drop?+
Mail Drop is available in Apple Mail settings under Accounts > Account Information. Once enabled, it activates automatically when an attachment exceeds the size limit.
Will a Mail Drop link work for recipients on Gmail or Outlook?+
Yes. Mail Drop sends a standard download link that any email recipient can open in any browser, regardless of their email provider.
When should I compress instead of using Mail Drop?+
Compress when the recipient needs a direct attachment (e.g. for a job application portal or form submission), or when you need the file to arrive as an attachment rather than a link.