How to download, open, and save e-mail attachments

Updated: 12/30/2021 past Computer Hope

E-mail icon

Eastward-mail is an fantabulous tool for communicating with other users over the Internet. In addition to messages, e-mail allows users to send and receive pictures, videos (small), documents, and other media through attachments. The following sections show yous how to download, open, and save e-mail attachments sent to your east-postal service inbox on a Windows or Mac computer.

How to download webmail attachments

The directions in this department are for web-based electronic mail services, also known as webmail. These services require an online business relationship to access them (e.1000., Gmail or Yahoo! mail).

Google Gmail logo.

Google Gmail

  1. Log in to your Gmail business relationship and open the bulletin containing the attachment(s) you lot desire to download.
  2. Any attachments are shown in the lesser-left corner of the message body (A).
  3. To download the attachment(southward), move your mouse cursor over each of the attachments and click the download arrow that appears (B).

How to open Gmail attachment window.

  1. A prompt appears to allow yous know when the download is consummate. The location of this prompt and the related instructions depend on the Internet browser you're using. For further data, see: How to open and relieve webmail attachments.
Microsoft Outlook Logo

Outlook.com (formerly Hotmail)

  1. Log in to your Microsoft Outlook electronic mail account and open the message containing the zipper(s) you desire to download.
  2. The attachments are above the body of the message (A).
  3. Move your mouse over the correct side of the attachment and click the downward arrow that appears (B).
  4. From the driblet-down carte du jour that appears, select Download (C).

Instructions on how to download an e-mail attachment in Outlook mail.

  1. A prompt appears to let you know when the download is consummate. The location of this prompt and the related instructions depend on the Internet browser you're using. For further information, see: How to open up and save webmail attachments.
Yahoo! mail logo.

Yahoo! mail

  1. Log in to your Yahoo! business relationship and open the message containing the attachment(s) y'all want to download.
  2. The attachment(s) are below the torso of the message (A).
  3. Move your mouse over the correct side of the zipper and click the down arrow that appears (B).

How to download an attachment in Yahoo! mail.

  1. A prompt appears to let you know when the download is consummate. The location of this prompt and the related instructions depend on the Cyberspace browser you're using. For farther information, see: How to open and save webmail attachments.

How to open and save webmail attachments

Different browsers use dissimilar methods for viewing and moving electronic mail attachments. Once your attachment is downloaded, select your preferred browser from the list below and follow the directions.

Note

Some files require specific software. For example, the .xls or .xslx file extensions require a programme similar Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets to open and view them. If yous don't accept the program needed to open an e-mail attachment, inquire the e-post sender to salvage the file as another file type, if possible.

Google Chrome logo

Google Chrome

  1. After the download has completed, a prompt appears in the lower-left corner of the browser window.

Download is complete prompt.

  1. Click the download prompt to open the file.
Firefox logo

Mozilla Firefox

  1. Later the download has completed, a prompt appears in the middle of the browser window. Click Save File and select where to relieve the file on your figurer.

Prompt asking users if they'd like to save a download.

  1. After the file is saved, click the downloads progress Firefox downloads progress icon icon in the upper-right corner of the browser window, and and then click the downloaded file to open information technology.

View recent downloads in Firefox.

Alternatively, printing Ctrl+J to open the Downloads section of the Library.

  1. In the Library window, double-click the downloaded file to open up it.

List of recent downloads in Firefox.

Internet Explore logo

Net Explorer

  1. After the download has completed, a prompt appears at the bottom of the browser window in the heart. Choose Run or Save to open the downloaded media.

Prompt asking if the user wants to save or run a download in Internet Explorer.

  1. Printing Ctrl+J to view your downloads.

Run button on a download in Internet Explorer.

  1. In the View Downloads window, locate your downloaded file and click the Run button to open up it.
Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge

  1. Subsequently the download has completed, press Ctrl+J to view your recent downloads.

View recent downloads in Microsoft Edge.

  1. Click the downloaded file to open it.
Opera logo

Opera

  1. Later on clicking the zipper, y'all are prompted to cull a location where the download should be saved. Select a location and click Save.

Selecting where to save a download in Opera.

  1. When the download completes, press Ctrl+J to view your recent downloads.
  2. In the Downloads window, locate your downloaded file and click the Run push to open up it.

How to run a recent download in Opera.

How to save offline e-mail programme attachments

This section has directions for saving attachments from messages sent through electronic mail programs you install in Windows, not those that are web-based.

Thunderbird logo

Mozilla Thunderbird

  1. Open up the east-mail service bulletin containing the attachment.
  2. Correct-click the picture or file and choose Save As or Save Image.
  3. Specify the location y'all want to save the file. You may also modify the file name at this betoken.
Microsoft Outlook Logo

Microsoft Outlook

In newer versions of Outlook (Outlook 2010 and later), right-click the file and select Save Equally if the zipper is a carve up file. You tin can and so salve the file anywhere on your calculator. If in that location are multiple attachments in the email, select the Save All Attachments selection.

At that place is no Right-click to save option in older versions of Outlook (earlier Outlook 2007). However, there are a few workarounds to save your e-mail images and files. Y'all may have to try more one pick depending on your version of Outlook.

  1. Open up the e-mail message, and nether the Message tab, select Other Actions, then View in Browser. This method allows you to salve your attachments the same fashion you would with web-based email.
  2. You can copy an image to the clipboard and paste it to photo editing software, such as Paint or Adobe Photoshop. Once the image is pasted, yous may save it by opening the File carte du jour, then choosing Salve or Salve As.
  3. Open the email bulletin and save it as an HTML file by clicking File at the top-left corner, select Salve As, and cull the Web page format. This method saves all the embedded pictures in one folder, making it useful to download multiple images from the aforementioned message.

Email on an iPad or iPhone

If you view eastward-post on an iPad or iPhone and desire to relieve an zipper, follow the steps below.

For pictures:

  1. Open the electronic mail message.
  2. Tap the photo in the electronic mail to view the photograph equally fullscreen.
  3. Tap and agree your finger down on the image.
  4. In the menu that appears, select Save Image.

Annotation

Images saved using this procedure should be accessible in the photograph album on your device.

For other attachments:

  1. Open the e-mail message.
  2. Tap the zipper to download it.
  3. If the zipper doesn't open on its own, expect for it in your downloads app.