How to attach files, documents, and photos to the Mail app on iPhone and iPad

Have PDF documents, Word files, Keynote presentations, spreadsheets, images, videos, or other files that you want to send through email? In this tutorial, we will show you how to attach media and documents saved in the Photos app, Files app, or iCloud Drive to the Mail app on your iPhone or iPad.

Email with an attachment on iPhone

Attach documents from the Files app or iCloud Drive to an email

1) Open the Mail app on your iPhone or iPad and create a new email or reply to one.

2) Tap the email body once to bring up the action menu. Tap the right arrow until you see the Attach File or Add Document option. Alternatively, you can tap the document icon from the top of the keyboard.

3) Following the previous step will take you directly to the Files app, from where you can select what document you want to attach to your email. Tap Browse from the bottom until you see the Locations screen. From here, select iCloud Drive or On My iPhone.

Attach File to an email from iCloud Drive

4) Select the document you want, and it will be attached to your email. If necessary, repeat the process for each document you want to attach.

Note: If the iCloud Drive document is not downloaded locally, you will see a download arrow, and tapping it will first download that file before attaching it to the email.

5) Finish up your email and hit the Send button. Your document will be sent along with the rest of your email.

Adding a presentation file to Mail app on iPhone

Unable to see iCloud Drive when attaching files in Mail?

If you’re facing this problem, all you need to do is enable iCloud Drive in the Files app via these steps:

1) Open the Files app and tap Browse.

2) Tap the menu icon from the top and choose Edit.

3) Turn on iCloud Drive and tap Done.

Turn on iCloud Drive in iPhone Files app

In case you don’t see iCloud Drive while following the above steps, make sure you’re signed into iCloud on your iPhone and iPad. Additionally, you can go to the Settings app > your name from the top > iCloud > iCloud Drive and turn on Sync this iPhone.

Attach photos or videos to your email

The steps for this are similar to what we have discussed above. Here’s the important part.

1) Tap the empty area when you’re composing a new email or replying to one, and select Insert Photo or Video. You can also tap the photo icon above the keyboard.

2) You will now see a small Recent Photos screen. Select your media from here and tap X to add the selected image to your email body. Alternatively, you can tap the blue All Photos > Albums, pick the media from the full-screen photo picker, and tap Choose > X to add it to your email.

Attach photos or videos to your email

Other tips for the Mail app: