In today's digital era, PDFs have become the mode for sharing official documents in educational and professional environments. Their utility is made possible by their ability to preserve a document’s integrity and format across devices and platforms. Whether it is contracts, reports, or legal documents, PDF documents are the chosen format for every user, which makes them an essential tool in modern communication.

However, with users depending on digital communication, the question of how to safely send PDFs has become common. Most individuals search for the best methods to send documents because there's always a risk of the file being lost or corrupted. With the help of this article, you can understand how to send PDFs through Gmail in a secure and dependable way.

In this article
  1. Featured Method to Send PDFs Through Gmail
  2. The Direction to Take When PDF Size is Large For Gmail’s Limit
  3. Pros & Cons of Sending PDFs through Gmail
  4. Exploring a Better Alternative to Send PDF: PDFelement
  5. Pros & Cons of Sending PDF Through PDFelement
  6. Tips to Remember When You Send PDFs through Gmail

Part 1. Featured Method to Send PDFs Through Gmail

Moving forward, after a brief understanding of the importance of being able to send PDFs through Gmail, let us look into the steps for it. Your file size must be less than at least 25 MB to share through Gmail. To improve efficiency, users can attach multiple files simultaneously within a single mail. Take a look at the steps below to learn how to send PDFs through Gmail:

Step 1

To get access, log in to your Gmail account with your credentials and click on the "Compose" button to share the PDF file with the recipient.

compose a new email on gmail
Step 2

After clicking "Compose," a box will appear where you can add the PDF documents you want to share. Select the "Paperclip" icon to add the files, and then select the "Send" button to share the PDFs with your team.

upload pdf to share and send

Part 2. The Direction to Take When PDF Size is Large For Gmail’s Limit

Now that we know how to send a large PDF file through Gmail, we can examine what to do if the file is too large to share. Gmail creates a Google Drive link since it does not allow sharing a file size larger than 25MB. The recipient can then access the PDFs on your Google Drive through the link shared across the email.

A different approach to this problem could be compressing the file size through a third-party tool like PDFelement. Compressing your file through PDFelement can protect the PDF documents' formatting and integrity. This PDF editor also allows users to split the PDF so that the file size is reduced, and you can share the files.

use compression in pdfelement

Part 3. Pros & Cons of Sending PDFs through Gmail

In addition to learning how to send large PDF files via Gmail, take a look into the pros and cons you might face while doing so:

Pros
  • Built-in Security Feature: In case you are sharing confidential PDFs, you can switch on the toggle confidential mode so that the recipient cannot forward, copy, or print the email.
  • Easy to Search: Gmail’s powerful search functionality allows you to locate emails containing specific PDFs or attachments by searching for keywords, making document retrieval later convenient.
Cons
  • Compatibility Issues: Due to different email systems or settings, recipients might encounter compatibility issues with attachments, which can make opening or viewing the PDF file difficult.
  • Limited Editing Capabilities: Gmail doesn't offer collaborative editing tools if you need the recipient to make edits or provide feedback on the PDF.

Part 4. Exploring a Better Alternative to Send PDF: PDFelement

Apart from knowing how to send a PDF file in Gmail, there is a better alternative method you can consider: PDFelement. This third-party PDF editor tool allows you to seamlessly share your large PDF files with others. With the help of its integrated cloud system, users can store their edited files further to avoid corruption or data loss.

You can also convert your scanned PDFs into editable documents using PDFelement’s OCR feature. Users can edit and annotate the PDF documents before sharing them using PDFelement Cloud to improve team collaboration. To further understand the process of opting for PDFelement as a mode to share PDFs, look at the steps below:

Step 1Download PDFelement and Open the PDF File To Share

As you download PDFelement, launch to initiate the sharing process by selecting the "Open PDF" button on the top-left corner of the homepage.

open pdf across pdfelement
Step 2Add the PDF onto PDFelement Cloud

Once your PDF is imported, hit the "Cloud" icon to upload the PDF document on PDFelement Cloud and share the PDF with your recipient.

upload pdf across pdfelement cloud
Step 3Select the PDFelement Cloud Tab and Copy the Created Link

Lead into the "PDFelement Cloud" tab on the left across the main interface to find the uploaded document. Use the "Share" icon next to the file to open a dialog box, where you need to proceed to the "Link" tab. As a link is created, use the "Copy Link" button to share it with other users.

share the pdf as link

Part 5. Pros & Cons of Sending PDF Through PDFelement

PDFelement might be the best alternative to knowing how to send a PDF file in Gmail. Regardless, it is crucial to be aware of the pros and cons it brings to the table. Below are the pros and cons of PDFelement to help you understand how the tool can help us share PDFs:

Pros
  • Customizable Email Templates: PDFelement allows you to create and use customizable email templates when sending PDFs, helping you maintain a consistent appearance in your communications.
  • Batch Processing: This PDF editor allows users to enjoy batch processing capabilities, which allow them to perform different actions on multiple files before sending them in a single email.
  • Trackable Document Sharing: Its document tracking feature lets you monitor when a recipient opens or views your PDF to give you insights and ensure your document is being reviewed.
Cons
  • Dependency on Installed Software: Sending PDFs through PDFelement requires installing the software on your device. This may not be ideal for users who need to send PDFs on the go or from different devices where they have to install or log in every time.

Part 6. Tips to Remember When You Send PDFs through Gmail

Here are a few tips you must remember while you understand how to send PDFs in Gmail on laptops to avoid any mishaps. This section will help you confidently share your documents without encountering any issues:

  • Compress Large PDF Files: You can use tools to reduce the file size without tampering with quality to help you stay within Gmail's 25 MB attachment limit and ensure quicker delivery.
  • Add Passwords to Sensitive PDFs: For confidential information, consider protecting the PDFs with passwords to add security in case the email is accidentally sent to the wrong recipient.
  • Use Google Drive for Larger Files: If your PDF exceeds Gmail's attachment size limit, upload it to Google Drive and share its link.
  • Double-check the Email Address: You must always recheck that you provided the correct email before you hit "Send" to avoid sharing confidential documents with the wrong person.
  • Include a Clear Subject Line and Message: A clear subject line and brief message can help the recipient determine the attachment's importance and ensure that the email isn't overlooked as spam.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this article has discussed the method of how to send PDFs through Gmail and PDFelement. If you are looking for tools that can help you enhance your PDF content and share it with others simultaneously, PDFelement is your top choice. You can download the comprehensive PDF editor on your local device today through the official website to enjoy its extensive features.

People Also Ask

  • What should I do if Gmail blocks my PDF attachment?
    Gmail may block attachments that contain executable content, scripts, or other potentially harmful elements within the PDF, as these could pose security risks. You need to ensure that your PDF is free from embedded scripts, macros, or executable content. When Gmail blocks your attachment, regardless of these points, compress it into a ZIP or upload it across Google Drive for sharing.
  • How do I ensure my PDF attachment is not flagged as spam?
    To minimize the risk of your email being marked as spam, you can use clear subject lines that accurately match the content of the email. You must avoid using promotional language that could trigger spam filters. Additionally, users can limit the large files in a single email, as multiple attachments and files can increase the chances of their message being marked as spam.
  • Can I track if the recipient has opened my PDF attachment?
    Gmail does not offer a built-in feature to track whether the recipient has opened your PDF document. However, you can consume third-party tools or services to monitor PDF activity. For instance, using PDFelement’s integrated cloud storage system, you can track when and if the recipient accessed or opened the PDF. This lets you gain insights into the recipient’s engagement with the document, providing more control over your communications.
Audrey Goodwin
Audrey Goodwin Sep 27, 24
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12 years of talent acquired in the software industry working with large publishers. Public speaker and author of several eBooks on technical writing and editing.