When you get an email with attachments, you can download a copy of the attachment to your computer. 


Download an attachment to your computer 

  1. On your computer, go to Gmail.
  2. Open an email message.
  3. Hover your mouse over the thumbnail, then click Download Download.

Your browser saves attachments you've downloaded in a download folder. Check your browser’s settings to see where to find your downloads.

Download to Google Drive

Note: Some attachments can be seen or shared, but not saved to Google Drive.

  1. On your computer, go to Gmail.
  2. Open an email message.
  3. Hover your mouse over the thumbnail, then click Add to Drive Save to Drive.

You can see any files you've downloaded in Google Drive.

Download a photo inside an email

Some photos are sent inside an email message, and not as attachments.

Here are a few ways to save photos from inside emails:

  • Download: Right-click the photo and choose the option to save the photo.
  • Save to Drive: Download the photo to your computer and then upload to Google Drive.

Open an Office file attactchment in Docs, Sheets or Slides

  1. On your computer, go to Gmail.
  2. Open an email with an Office file attachment.
  3. Hover your mouse over the thumbnail and then click Edit with Google Docs/Sheets/Slides.
A copy of the new Office attachment is stored in Drive.
You can now:
  • Edit
  • Share
  • View version history
  • Collaborate in real time

For other email options, click File and then Email.


Include attachments when replying or forwarding

Attachments are included when you forward a message, but aren’t automatically included when you reply to a message.

To include the original attachments when replying:

  1. On your computer, at the bottom of the reply box, click the Down arrow Down arrow.
  2. Click Include original attachments.

To remove original attachments when replying, go to the right of the attachment, then click Remove.

Attachments won't open or download

Note: If the sender turned on confidential mode, you won't be able to copy or download the message text and attachments. 

If attachments won't upload or download, try these steps in order:

  1. On your computer, check that you're using a supported browser.
  2. Try turning off extensions you have on your browser one at a time.
  3. Clear your browser's cache and cookies.