You’re ready to fire off that important document when, suddenly, Outlook hits you with: attachment size exceeds the allowable limit. If Outlook attachment size limit errors are killing your productivity, relax. A few smart moves will have those massive files reaching inboxes faster than you can hit “Reply All.”
Whether you’re dealing with hefty presentations, high-res images, or comprehensive reports, getting stuck at the Outlook attachment size limit doesn’t have to derail your workflow. The good news? You don’t need a computer science degree to bypass these restrictions and send large files like a pro.
What’s Outlook’s Attachment Size Limit Anyway?
Most Outlook attachment size limits cap you at 20 MB for the default attachment size limit, though exchange server configurations often drop that to a mere 10 MB. Microsoft 365 users get a sweet 150 MB allowance as their max attachment size, but don’t get too excited, your recipient’s mail server might still bounce emails back.
Outlook attachment size limits vary significantly depending on your email account type:
Here’s the kicker: even if your outlook desktop app allows larger attachments, the recipient’s email servers might have their own size limits. That 25 MB file you successfully send might get rejected by yahoo mail or another service provider with stricter outlook’s attachment size limits.
The email attachment size limit exists for good reasons. Large attachments can clog up storage space, slow down email servers, and create network bottlenecks that affect smooth operation for everyone. But when you need to send files that exceed these boundaries, you need workarounds that actually work.
3 Smart Ways to Beat the Outlook Attachment Size Limits
1. Compress Everything Within Preferred Attachment Size Limit
ZIP files can slash file size by 90% in seconds, and compression tools like 7-Zip make it painless. This is often the quickest solution when you’re dealing with large sized files that need to go out immediately.
Most files compress beautifully, especially documents, spreadsheets, and text-heavy presentations. You can also select resize large images as they respond well to compression, though already-compressed formats like JPEGs and MP4s won’t shrink much further.
The process is simple: right-click your files, select “Send to compressed folder” in Windows, or use a dedicated compression tool for better results. You can even split large files into multiple smaller archives if one compressed file still exceeds your size limit for Outlook.
Pro tip: You can also try third-party tools such as Weight Diet for Outlook to shrink attachments without manually compressing each file.
2. Go Cloud-First to Bypass Email Attachment Size Limit
Toss files into OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox, then share the link, your recipients get full-quality files without the email drama. This approach completely sidesteps the Outlook attachment size problem while giving you more control over file access.
Cloud storage services integrate beautifully with Microsoft Outlook. When you try to attach files larger than your limit, many Outlook versions will automatically suggest uploading to your preferred cloud storage service instead. Simply upload your large file to the shared location, then insert the sharing link into your email body.
This method works especially well for:
- Large attachments that multiple people need to access
- Files that require collaboration or editing
- Situations where you want to track who accessed the content
- When dealing with on premises exchange servers with strict size limits
The recipient clicks the link, downloads the file, and you avoid the whole attachment size exceeds error message entirely. Plus, cloud storage often provides better security and version control than traditional email attachments.
3. Send Files Using Split and Conquer
Break monster files into bite-sized chunks or fire off multiple emails with numbered parts. While not the most elegant solution, file splitting works when other methods aren’t practical.
Use file splitting tools to divide your large attachment into smaller pieces that fit within your attachment limit. Label each part clearly (Part 1 of 3, Part 2 of 3, etc.) so recipients can reassemble them correctly. Learn more about bulk emails here.
Some compression tools like WinRAR can allow you to send large files by creating multi-part archives automatically. Just set the maximum size per part to stay under your Outlook size limits, and the tool handles the rest.
Bonus Hack For Email Management: Registry Editor Tweaks
Tech-savvy users can bump up Outlook's local limit through registry editing. This method modifies how your outlook app handles the maximum attachment size, though it won’t override server-side restrictions.
Here’s the step-by-step process:
- Back up your windows registry first - This is crucial for system safety
- Open the registry editor by typing “regedit” in the Start menu
- Navigate to the correct path:
- Go to hkey_current_user software microsoft office
- Then continue to your version of Outlook: \16.0\Outlook\Preferences for Office 2019/2016/365
- For older Outlook versions, use 15.0 for Office 2013 or 14.0 for Office 2010
- Create the MaximumAttachmentSize value - Right-click in the Preferences folder, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value
- Set your desired limit - Enter the size in kilobytes (51200 for 50 MB)
- Reopen Outlook for changes to take effect
Important warnings: This registry modification only affects your local Outlook desktop app. Your exchange mailbox, business email server, or the recipient’s email client may still reject larger files. The limit applies only to outgoing messages from your specific installation.
Bringing It All Together to Ensure Smooth Operation
The most effective approach combines multiple strategies. Start with compression to reduce file size, then use cloud storage services for anything that’s still too large. Keep the registry hack as a last resort for specific situations where you need more local flexibility.
Remember that different email clients and service providers have varying size limits. What works for sending to another Outlook account might fail when sending to gmail or yahoo mail. Always have a backup plan, especially for time-sensitive communications.
For business users dealing with exchange management shell policies or exchange admin center restrictions, work with your IT department to understand your organization’s specific Outlook email attachment size policies. They might be able to adjust server-side limits or recommend approved file sharing services that integrate with your business email infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions About
What is the maximum attachment size allowed in Outlook?
The maximum attachment size, also known as your total file size limit, usually sits at 20 MB in the desktop client and about 34 MB online. Remember, that’s the combined size of all files you attach, not each one individually.
What are a few ways in which file size limit and attachment size limit differ?
A “file size limit” refers to the biggest single file you can attach, whereas “attachment size limit” covers the total of all attachments in one email. In Outlook’s case, both are governed by the same combined cap.
Can I use a cloud storage service for my email account to bypass Outlook’s size limit?
Yes, services like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox let you share large files via a simple link. Just upload, grab the share link, and paste it into your email, no bouncing back.
How can I increase the file size limit for Outlook attachments using the Registry Editor when connected to an on-premises Exchange server?
To increase Outlook’s attachment file size limit, you can edit the Registry Editor on your local machine — specifically the MaximumAttachmentSize value. However, if you're connected to an on-premises Exchange server, that server also has its own limits configured by your IT team.
Does my mail server impact the attachment size limit?
It can. If you’re on a corporate mail server (like on-premises Exchange), your administrator might have set a lower or higher cap than Outlook’s defaults. Checking with IT is your safest bet.
Will the Outlook attachment allowable limit change with the version of Outlook I use?
It might. Older Outlook versions (pre-2013) sometimes cap attachments at 10–15 MB, while newer releases bump the desktop limit to 20 MB. Keeping your app updated ensures you get the highest default cap.
Final Thoughts on Size Limit for Outlook
Crushing the Outlook attachment size limit doesn’t require a computer science degree. Compress, cloud-share, or tweak the registry, and those hefty files will sail through, no bounced emails, no frustrated clients, no stress.
The key is having multiple tools in your arsenal. Sometimes a quick ZIP compression does the trick. Other times, uploading to cloud storage and sharing a link provides the most professional solution. For power users, registry modifications offer additional flexibility within your local environment.
Pick the method that fits your situation, and get back to focusing on what really matters, your actual work, not wrestling with email technical limitations.
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Author’s Details
Sattwik Das
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