To email a large PDF file, you can compress or split it using PDF.net tools or upload it to cloud storage and share the link.
Sending large e-documents may not always go as planned, as many channels have size limits. For instance, Gmail's limit is 25 MB, whereas Outlook's maximum email file size is 20 MB.
Luckily, we know an efficient way to send large PDF files via email for free. Read on to learn more about cloud storage, how to use PDF.net for compression and splitting, and what other interesting tools you can find on our platform.
Key Takeaways
- Emailing large PDFs can be difficult due to size limits, attachment restrictions, and lengthy upload and delivery.
- Compressing and splitting PDFs is the best way to send a large file through Outlook, Gmail, Yahoo, and other email services.
- Using cloud storage to upload documents, create a link, and send it via email is an alternative to PDF compression and splitting, which is not always recommended for safety reasons.
- In addition to adapting your large PDF for emails, you can use PDF.net software to make it flawless by reordering pages.
Why Large PDF Files Are Hard to Email
Large PDF files are hard to email due to size limits, slow upload and delivery, and attachment restrictions. For example, if you want to send a file over 25 MB on Gmail, a notification will appear saying that you cannot do so.
Moreover, large files are generally challenging for cloud servers to process, so they are slow to upload, download, and open online. Some servers may even restrict large file uploading, so, instead of slow processing, you will not be able to attach a PDF at all.
Best Ways to Send Large PDF Files via Email
The best way to send large PDF files via email is to adapt your documents to specific emailing criteria using reliable tools and then email them.
Let’s discover the top four methods for emailing large PDF files.
#1. Compress the PDF to Reduce File Size
Whether you want to send a large PDF file through Gmail or another email service, one of the best ways to streamline the process is to make it smaller by resizing it.
Our PDF compression tool makes this quick and easy. All you should do to compress PDF file size for email is to select the compression tool, upload your document, choose the compression type, and download the new version of the file.
In addition to reducing the size of your file, our software allows you to compress PDFs without losing quality. This is known as lossless compression, which preserves readability and document formatting.
#2. Split the PDF into Smaller Parts
Splitting PDFs into multiple files using PDF.net is another effective way to email large PDFs. All you should do is visit our website, find the splitting tool, upload your document using the upload box, and select the Split feature.
Select all pages and click the scissors icon after the last page you want to keep in that document to indicate where it ends. You can repeat this process based on the number of PDFs you want to create and the number of pages you want each of them to contain. Once it’s done, click the Download button in the top-right corner to save all the files to your drive.
If your receiver needs the original file with all its elements in one place, they can use the merging tool to reassemble it. To do so, they need to download multiple PDFs you sent via email, upload them to our website, arrange them, combine them, and download a single PDF document.
#3. Use Cloud Storage & Share a Link
If you want to send a PDF larger than 25 MB or above any other size limit, you can upload it to cloud storage and share a link. The most popular cloud platforms for this include Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.
The process is simple. You should go to the platform of your choice, create an account, select the file, upload it, and copy the link you will later paste into an email and share. Cloud sharing is beneficial because it allows you to send files with several clicks instead of manually attaching them whenever you want to send them via email.
Still, email links are often regarded as suspicious, and many users hesitate to click on them due to security threats. For one, email clients might block links from unknown or untrusted sources, which could prevent your recipient from accessing the file. Additionally, storing sensitive documents on cloud platforms may expose them to privacy risks if the platform's security measures aren't up to par or if the link is shared with unintended parties.
It's always best to ensure the cloud service you're using offers strong encryption and to only share links with trusted recipients to minimize these risks.
What Else Can You Do With PDF.net?
Besides splitting and compressing PDFs that are too large with PDF.net, you can also edit, rearrange, or rotate PDF pages, as well as translate PDFs.
Let’s examine these features:
- PDF editor. This tool allows you to change text font, style, or color and add, replace, or delete text from a PDF file.
- Rearranging and rotation software. Before splitting or merging your PDFs, you can rearrange pages or flip and rotate them to improve document organization.
- PDF translation tool. This revolutionary feature allows you to translate PDFs from English into various languages (Chinese, French, Italian, etc.) and vice versa.
Final Thoughts
Emailing large PDFs is much easier with compression and splitting tools, as these make files smaller. Another way to send large PDFs via email is to upload them to a cloud drive and share the link, which is not always preferred due to safety concerns.
This is why we recommend using designated tools such as PDF.net, which offers quick and easy compression and file splitting. You can check it out and also learn about many other useful options (PDF merging, translation, editing, etc.).
FAQs on Emailing Large PDF Files
#1. What is the maximum PDF file size I can send via email?
The maximum PDF file size you can send via email is 25 MB. If your file is larger than this, you must compress or split it before emailing it.
#2. How do I reduce the size of a PDF without losing quality?
To reduce the size of a PDF without losing quality, use PDF.net. Our software provides lossless compression, meaning you can shrink your document but keep its quality and formatting intact.
#3. Is it better to compress or split a PDF for email?
Whether you should compress or split a PDF for email depends on how important it is to keep a single file for your receiver. If your receiver does not mind using PDFs separately or merging them into one after receiving them, you can split them; otherwise, you should shrink them.
#4. Can I send a large PDF without attaching it?
Yes, you can send a large PDF without attaching it using cloud services. To do so, visit a cloud website, create an account, upload your document, and copy the link to share in the email.
#5. What file formats are best for emailing large documents?
The PDF format is the best for emailing large documents because it can store many layers and elements and keep the file size low. Plus, PDFs are also easy to compress or split, which is another reason they are best for this purpose.