How to add attachments and images

Files ride along with your email 📎

An attachment is a file that travels with your email, like a photo slipped into an envelope. The person opens the email, and the file is right there.

Pictures can travel two ways:

• As an attachment: a separate file the person can download.
• Inside the message: right in the middle of your text, like a picture in a letter.

Talanoa lets you do both.

Step 1: Add a file

Open a new email (or a reply), then pick the way you like best:

Click the paperclip. In the top bar of the email window, click the paperclip button (Add attachment). Choose one or more files on your computer.

Drag and drop. Drag files from your desktop onto the email window. Two zones appear:

• Drop here to attach: at the top of the window. Files become attachments.
• Drop here to insert inline: over the text. Pictures go inside your message, other files become attachments.

Paste. Copied a file or a screenshot? Press Cmd+V on Mac, Ctrl+V on Windows and Linux, right in your email.

No email open yet? Just drop files anywhere on the Talanoa window. A new email opens with your files already in it. Handy little trick.

Step 2: Check your files

Your files show up as little cards under the recipients.

• Click a picture’s card to preview it.
• Click the × on a card to remove it.
• After three files, Talanoa shows a more button with the rest, so things stay tidy.

Step 3: Put a picture inside your message

1. Click where you want the picture in your text.
2. In the top bar, click the picture button (Insert image in the message).
3. Choose your image.

The picture lands in your text. Click it, then drag its corners to make it bigger or smaller.

Small pictures you add with the paperclip also go straight into your message. Big ones become attachments.

And… that’s it! 🎉 Send your email as usual.

How big can files be?

Every email service has a limit, a bit like a mailbox slot that only fits envelopes up to a certain size. The limit is for all the files of one email together.

Your email	Limit per email
Gmail	25 MB
Outlook	20 MB
iCloud Mail	20 MB
Yahoo Mail, AOL Mail, Proton Mail	25 MB
Fastmail	50 MB
Other email services	usually 10 MB

25 MB is roughly a dozen phone photos. Talanoa tells you right away if a file is too big, before you even try to send.

A picture placed inside your message can be up to 5 MB. A bigger one is added as an attachment instead.

Need to send something huge? For big videos or folders, use a file sharing service (like WeTransfer), and paste the link in your email.

Something went wrong?

“Talanoa says my file is too large.” Your file (or all your files together) is over your email service’s limit. Send fewer files per email, make the file smaller, or share a link instead.

“My picture became an attachment instead of going in the text.” It’s over 5 MB. Make it a bit smaller and try again, or leave it as an attachment. It works just as well.

“I’m looking for a file from an old email.” Open the menu at the top left of your inbox and click Attachments. See Find any attachment.

Still stuck? Write to us at [email protected]. A real human will answer.