How to Insert a PDF into Gmail

There’s a reason that Gmail is one of the most popular email provider services in the world – it has so many cool features. But that doesn’t mean it’s perfect. Sometimes you want to do something that just isn’t possible natively within the app.

If you want to add a PDF as an embed in Gmail, you can’t do it natively. But, there are alternative ways that you can do so.

Why Would You Want to Embed a PDF in Gmail?

Before we look at how you can embed a PDF in Gmail, you may be wondering why you would want to do so.

There are a couple of reasons. One of the main ones is that you might want the recipient to see the PDF directly in Gmail to make sure that they don’t miss it as an attachment. When it’s clearly visible, they are more likely to read it.

Documents like contracts will almost definitely be downloaded by the recipient, but if you’re sending reports or similar documents, embedding the PDF will bring the recipients’ attention to it.

The following will take you through how to embed a PDF in Gmail:

How to Embed a PDF in Gmail

Step 1. Fire up your favorite web browser. You’ll then need to find a tool that converts PDFs into JPEGs. Zamzar is a handy free tool that you can use for this. If you want to give another free tool a spin, you can try to Docupub or YouConvertIt instead. In this walkthrough, we will use Zamzar.

Step 2. Upload your PDF to Zamzar. Then choose to Convert to JPEG and click Convert Now.

Step 3. Wait for your download link.

Step 4. Once the file is converted, download it to your computer.

Step 5. Open up Gmail. Now, you’ll need to insert the image.

Step 6. Go to the bottom ribbon in your Gmail interface.

Step 7. On the Insert photo option, click the 3rd option: Upload.

Step 8. Either drag and drop your new file into the box or click Choose photos to upload.

Step 9. You should now see the PDF (converted into an image) in your email.

A quick word of warning: because of how this hack works, you may want to think twice before doing it with really big PDFs since each page will be saved as a separate image.

There you go – you now have a way to get important PDFs embedded into Gmail.

Additional Reading: How to Attach an Email in Gmail

An Alternate Way to Embed a PDF in Gmail

If you want to take the easy route, there is another way to “embed” your PDF in Gmail:

Step 1. Pull up the compose window of the email you are going to send your PDF in, and click on the attachment icon that looks like a paper clip.

Step 2. Select the PDF you want to upload as an attachment from your files and click “Open”.

Step 3. Your PDF is now attached in your email, you’re all set.

How to Remove a PDF from Your Email

While this article is primarily about adding a PDF in Gmail, there may come a time when you actually want to remove one. Or, perhaps you need to add the correct PDF after attaching the wrong one.

Luckily, this is just a one step process. All you need to do is hover over the “X” symbol of the attachment (located near the bottom of your compose window) and click it.

Just like that, your attachment is removed. You can edit the attachment to add it again, add the correct attachment, or send your email without any attachments.

How to Embed a PDF in Gmail Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is it possible to embed a PDF in Gmail?

Yes. However, consider the size of your PDF and whether you want to embed it in the HTML itself or send it as an attachment. See the step-by-step instructions above to select the best option for you.

How do I embed a PDF in Gmail?

In the article above, there are two step-by-step ways you can embed / attach a PDF in Gmail, depending on your needs.

Can I mass send a PDF in Gmail?

Yes, it is possible to send a PDF — either embedded or attached — to a large list of recipients in Gmail. The best tool to automate this process is Right Inbox, which is free to install in Chrome. Unfortunately the mass email feature is part of the paid plan which starts from as little as $14.95 per/month.

What is the maximum file size for attaching a PDF in Gmail?

Gmail has a maximum attachment size limit, which is typically 25 MB. If your PDF file exceeds this limit, you can compress the PDF. Alternatively consider uploading it to a cloud storage service and sharing the link instead.

How can I ensure that the recipient can view the embedded PDF?

To ensure that recipients can view the embedded PDF, it is recommended to convert it to a widely supported format, such as a PDF, before sending. Additionally, providing clear instructions on how to download or open the PDF is helpful.