Are you a Gmail user? Here are some tips and tricks for working with attachments, including photos.

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Gmail Essential Training
In the video tutorial series Gmail Essential Training, you can watch short segments that take you step-by-step through the process of working with attachments and inserting images.
- Watch: Work with attachments (2:51 minutes)
- Watch: Insert images into messages (2:34 minutes)
Quick steps for working with attachments
Open & download attachments in Gmail on your computer
- On your computer, go to Gmail.
- Open an email message.
- Hover your mouse over the thumbnail, then click Download.
Your browser saves attachments you’ve downloaded in a download folder. Check your browser’s settings to see where to find your downloads. If you use Google Chrome, learn about downloading a file on Chrome.
Download to Google Drive
Note: Some attachments can be seen or shared, but not saved to Google Drive.
- On your computer, go to Gmail.
- Open an email message.
- Hover your mouse over the thumbnail, then click Add 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 attachment in Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides
- On your computer, go to Gmail.
- Open an email with an Office file attachment.
- Hover your mouse over the thumbnail, 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 > Email.