Mail Drop is Apple’s built-in way to send large files by email. Instead of attaching a huge file directly to a message, the Mail app uploads it to iCloud and sends the recipient a download link. That lets you send attachments of up to 5 GB, far more than most email providers allow. This guide shows how to turn Mail Drop on in the Mail app on a Mac, how to send a file with it, and what to do when it does not kick in.
Quick answer
Open the Mail app, go to Mail > Settings (Preferences on older macOS versions) > Accounts, select your email account, and tick Send large attachments with Mail Drop on the Account Information tab. After that, attach a large file to a message as usual. When the attachment is too big for your email provider, Mail offers to send it with Mail Drop.
What you need
- A Mac signed in to an Apple Account (Apple ID) with iCloud.
- The built-in Mail app. Mail Drop does not work in Outlook, Spark or other third-party mail apps.
- Any email account added to Mail. Mail Drop works with iCloud Mail, Gmail, Outlook.com, Yahoo and most other accounts.
How to turn on Mail Drop on a Mac
- Open the Mail app.
- Click Mail in the menu bar and choose Settings (or Preferences on macOS Monterey and earlier).
- Click the Accounts tab.
- Select the account you send from in the left column.
- On the Account Information tab, tick Send large attachments with Mail Drop.
- Close the window. The setting saves automatically.
For iCloud Mail accounts, Mail Drop is built in, so you may not see the checkbox at all.
How to send a large file with Mail Drop
- Click the New Message button (the pencil and paper icon) or press Command + N.
- Add the recipient, subject and your message.
- Click the paperclip icon, or drag the file into the message window.
- Click Send.
- If the attachment is larger than your email provider allows, Mail asks whether to use Mail Drop. Click Use Mail Drop.
Mail uploads the file to iCloud and sends the message. Depending on the file size and your internet speed, the upload can take a while, so keep the Mac awake and online until the message leaves the Outbox.
What the recipient sees
If the recipient uses Mail on a Mac, iPhone or iPad, the file usually appears like a normal attachment and downloads automatically. Everyone else sees a link in the message. Clicking it opens a page where they can download the file from iCloud. They do not need an Apple Account.
Mail Drop limits
- File size: up to 5 GB per message.
- Link lifetime: download links expire after 30 days. After that, you must send the file again.
- Storage: Mail Drop attachments do not count against your iCloud storage, but Apple applies an overall Mail Drop storage limit. If you hit it, you have to wait until older links expire.
- Folders: you cannot send a folder directly. Right-click it in Finder and choose Compress to make a .zip file, then attach that.
Using Mail Drop on iCloud.com
If you are on a PC or a computer that is not yours, sign in to iCloud.com, open Mail, click the settings (gear) icon, and make sure the Mail Drop option for large attachments is turned on in the composing settings. Large attachments you add there are then sent with Mail Drop in the same way.
Mail Drop not working?
- Check iCloud. Go to System Settings > [your name] > iCloud and confirm you are signed in. Mail Drop needs an active iCloud session.
- Check the checkbox in Mail > Settings > Accounts for the account you are sending from. It is set per account.
- Check the file size. Files over 5 GB cannot be sent. Split or compress them, or use iCloud Drive file sharing instead.
- Check the connection. A slow or interrupted upload leaves the message stuck in the Outbox. Open the Outbox and try sending again.
- Restart Mail and, if that fails, the Mac.
Alternatives to Mail Drop
If you need a link that lasts longer than 30 days or a file larger than 5 GB, share the file from iCloud Drive, Google Drive or Dropbox and email the link instead. If you are sharing a Google Drive file with someone, see how to download large files from Google Drive for what they will need on their end.
Summary
- Open Mail > Settings > Accounts.
- Tick Send large attachments with Mail Drop.
- Attach your file to a new message and click Send.
- Choose Use Mail Drop if prompted.
- Remember that links expire after 30 days.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.