Before you start
- A cloud storage account (or a file transfer service)
Method 1 Google Drive
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Step 1: Upload
Go to drive.google.com > New > File upload.
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Step 2: Share
Right-click the file > Share. Add people’s emails, or under General access choose Anyone with the link.
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Step 3: Copy link
Click Copy link and paste it into your message. Gmail offers this automatically for attachments over 25 MB.
Method 2 OneDrive and Dropbox
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Step 1: OneDrive
Upload to onedrive.com, select the file > Share, choose permissions (view/edit, expiry on some plans) and Copy link.
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Step 2: Dropbox
Upload, then hover > Share > Copy link. Paid plans add passwords and expiry dates.
Method 3 iPhone and Mac: iCloud
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Step 1: Mail Drop
In Apple Mail, large attachments (up to 5 GB) are sent as a Mail Drop link automatically.
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Step 2: iCloud Drive link
In Files or Finder, select the file > Share > Collaborate/Copy Link (or Share File) and choose who can access it.
Method 4 No account: transfer services
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Step 1: WeTransfer and similar
Go to wetransfer.com, add files and get a download link or email it. Free plans have size limits and links expire after a few days.
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Step 2: Privacy-focused option
For sensitive files, use an encrypted service such as Proton Drive links, or password-protect the file before uploading.
Troubleshooting
Recipient says access denied
Change sharing to Anyone with the link, or add their exact email address.
Upload is slow or fails
Use a wired or strong Wi-Fi connection, and the desktop sync app for very large files.
Frequently asked questions
How large can a shared file be?
It depends on your storage. Google Drive allows very large single files (up to terabytes) if you have space.
Do recipients need an account?
Not for “Anyone with the link” shares or WeTransfer.
Summary
Upload to Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox or iCloud and share a link with the right permissions, or use WeTransfer when you don’t want an account. Restrict access for private files.
