Preview the attached file or link in Gmail before sending

Have you ever wondered if you’ve attached the correct file to your email? Or perhaps you want to give one last look before hitting that daunting “Submit” button. No worries – you can easily preview attachments or links in your Gmail before finalizing your message. Here’s how:

Learn How to Preview Attachments and Links in Gmail

This article provides valuable insights into different methods to preview attachments or links in Gmail before sending your email.

Method 1: Preview Before Attaching a File in Gmail

When attaching files in Gmail, you can actually preview them (especially if they’re images or documents) on both Windows and Mac devices. This preview option ensures that you’re uploading the right file.

• On Windows, you can readily preview attached files.
• On Mac, if you can’t see the preview, you can adjust the view option. After tapping the “Attach File” button in Gmail, follow these steps:
  1. In the Finder window, click the “Watch” button at the top and change it to “Icons.”
  2. For enhanced previews, select “Columns” and tap the file for a right-pane preview or choose “Gallery” for a comprehensive view of your attachment options.

Method 2: Download for a Preview

If you prefer a more hands-on approach, you can download the attachment to preview it:

1. Click the “Attach” button and select the file you want to attach.
2. Once the file is attached, tap “Attach” to upload it.
3. The file will be downloaded to your computer. Open it to verify its correctness.

Alternatively, you can right-click the attachment, choose “Open in a new tab,” and download the file for a preview.

Method 3: Add a Full Link Preview in Gmail

Would you like to offer a sneak peek of the link you’re attaching? To provide recipients with a glimpse of the content without needing to open the link, consider adding a full preview or screenshot using third-party extensions:

1. Visit the Chrome Web Store.
2. Click “Add to Chrome” > “Add Extension.”
3. Open Gmail and compose an email, inserting the links you want to share.
4. Click the link you want to preview, and wait for the extension options to appear.
5. Choose from the following options:
   • “Add Preview”: Offers a compact URL preview.
   • “Add Screenshot”: Embeds a webpage screenshot in the email.
   • “Add Content”: Includes the entire webpage content in the email.

This feature simplifies the process of reviewing linked content within an email and aids recipients in understanding the context of the attached web pages.

Additional Tips: Previewing Received Gmail Attachments

You can preview most attachments received from others in Gmail without downloading them, including images, audio files, PDFs, and videos. These attachments are conveniently integrated into Google Drive, allowing you to save them directly without consuming storage space on your computer.

1. Open the email containing the attachment you want to preview.
2. Click the attached file’s name.
3. Preview the document, video, image, or audio file. Reply to the email as needed.
4. Use the options in the top right corner to open the document in Google Docs or another app. You can also save, print, download, or perform related actions. For larger files, downloading and previewing might be necessary.

Conclusion

This guide has provided you with insights into previewing attachments and links in Gmail before sending your emails. We’ve also explored how to preview Gmail attachments received from others. Implement these tips to enhance your Gmail experience on Chrome, Edge, or other browsers.