Gmail is quite a reliable tool when it comes to sending and receiving emails. However, this tool isn”t without its flaws. Sometimes, Gmail can give you issues when you try to attach files to your emails.
When this happens, you can”t drag and drop files to Gmail, or the dedicated file attachment button won”t respond. You”ll usually see a popup error message that reads: “There was an error attaching your file” or “Attachment failed. This may be due to a proxy or firewall.”
Let”s help you resolve this issue.
Watching: Anyone having issues attaching files?: gmail
What Causes This Error?
As the error message suggests, this issue could be caused by a firewall or a proxy server. However, that”s not always the case. Let”s explore a few other causes for this error:
In other instances, this error is caused by a browser-related issue. For example, a browser extension could be limiting Gmail”s functionality.
Now that you know what causes this error, let”s help you resolve it.
1. Switch Off Your Firewall
One of the best ways to overcome this issue is by switching off your firewall. Here”s how you can do this on a Windows PC.
Open the Run dialog command by pressing the Windows key + R. Type firewall.cpl and press OK. On the left-hand side pane, select Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off.
Under the Domain, Private, and Public network settings, select the Turn off Windows Defender Firewall option. From there, press OK to close the tab.
If you”re using a third-party antivirus program, you might also need to temporarily switch it off. Be sure to switch it back on immediately when you finish sending your email.
2. Disable Your Proxy Server
If your proxy server is enabled, you might want to disable it to get rid of the problem. Here”s how you can do this on your Windows PC.
Type Internet options in the Windows Search bar and click Internet Options when it appears. In the next window, navigate to the Connections tab and click the LAN settings button.
See more: Vietnamese – Thay Đổi Kích Cỡ Và Kiểu Phông Chữ Trong Gmail
Click OK on the LAN Settings window. Next, click Apply and then click OK on the Internet Properties window.
If this is a browser-related issue, then clearing your browser cache and cookies could help. Cookies are files created by the websites you visit. They enhance your browsing experience by saving browsing data. The cache remembers parts of pages, such as images. This helps load webpages faster during your next visit to the site.
While browser cache and cookies enhance your browsing experience, they can overwhelm your browser if you don”t regularly clean them. Simply clear your browser cache and cookies to resolve this error and any other browser-related issue.
Do you have a lot of add-ons or extensions in your browser? If that”s the case, one of them could be interfering with Gmail”s functionality. To check if an extension is causing this error, enable incognito mode or private browsing mode. From there, sign back into your Gmail account.
If you”re now able to attach files to Gmail, then one of your extensions has a problem. Disable all browser extensions and then re-enable them—one at a time. This will help you find out which extension is problematic. From there, you might want to remove or replace the problematic extension.
5. Update Your Browser or Use a Different One
Web browsers usually update automatically when you close and reopen them. However, if you haven”t closed yours in a while, there could be a pending update. Here”s how you can update common web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge:
How to Update Chrome:
Click the menu button (three vertical dots) on the top-right corner of the screen. Navigate to Help > About Google Chrome. To apply any available updates, click the Relaunch option.
How to Update Firefox:
Click the menu button (three horizontal lines) on the top-right corner of the screen. Navigate to Help > About Firefox. Firefox will check for updates and download them automatically. Click Restart to Update Firefox to complete the process.
How to Update Edge:
Click the menu button (three horizontal dots) on the top-right corner of the screen. Navigate to Help and feedback > About Microsoft Edge. Click the Restart button when Edge finishes checking for updates.
Attach Files to Gmail Without a Hassle
By using the tips we”ve provided, you should be able to attach files to Gmail without any trouble. Just be sure to attach supported file types and use a compatible web browser. Should you still encounter this error, maybe you might want to try a new email service provider.
The 6 Most Popular Email Providers Better Than Gmail and Yahoo Mail These popular email providers all offer different benefits that set them apart from Gmail and Yahoo Mail.
See more: How To Remove Your Ip Address From Gmail’S Blacklist, Gmail Blocking My Emails
Modisha is a Tech Content Writer & Blogger who’s passionate about emerging tech and innovations. He enjoys doing research and writing insightful content for tech companies. He spends most of his time listening to music and also likes playing video games, traveling, and watching action-comedy movies.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join our newsletter for tech tips, reviews, free ebooks, and exclusive deals!
Categories: Mail