Send an email as an attachment in Gmail

How do you forward an email as an attachment?

1. Step 1

   Open the message

   In Gmail on a computer, open the email you want to send on.

2. Step 2

   Open the menu

   Click the three-dot More menu at the top right of the message.

3. Step 3

   Choose Forward as attachment

   A new message opens with the original attached as an .eml file.

4. Step 4

   Add recipients and send

   Write your note, add the recipients and click Send.

How do you attach several emails, or save one first?

1. Step 1

   Several at once

   In the inbox, tick the messages, then open the three-dot menu at the top and choose Forward as attachment. You can also drag messages from the list into an open draft.

2. Step 2

   Save one as a file

   Open the message, click the three-dot menu and choose Download message. Gmail saves it as an .eml file.

3. Step 3

   Attach the file

   In any new message, click the paperclip icon and choose the .eml file. Outlook, Apple Mail and Thunderbird can all open it.

What should you watch out for?

• Tip

  Forward as attachment for support tickets

  When you report a phishing email or a delivery problem, an attached message keeps the full headers, which a plain forward does not.

• Good to know

  Size limit

  The 25 MB attachment limit includes the attachments inside the forwarded message.

• Good to know

  Mobile apps

  The Gmail apps on Android and iPhone do not offer forward as attachment. Use a computer.

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