How to Send Pictures from Android Phone to Email

Learn how to easily send photos from your Android device to an email address.

Step-by-step instructions for sharing images in original quality or compressed.

Sending Photos from an Android Device

Sharing photos via email directly from your Android smartphone or tablet is useful for quickly sending images to friends, family members, colleagues and clients.

While most Android devices make it simple to attach and send pictures through the Gmail app, you may want more flexibility on quality, file size and email service.

In this guide, you’ll learn multiple methods to email photos from an Android phone or tablet.

We provide clear instructions for sharing images in their original quality or compressed to reduce attachment file size.

You can also discover how to send batches of pictures in a ZIP file.

Benefits of Emailing Photos from an Android Device

• Send pictures when you don’t have an active data connection for MMS or mobile uploads.
• Share images with non-mobile numbers and email addresses.
• Control compression to meet recipient limits and optimize deliverability.
• Queue up photo sharing for when you have WiFi access.

Send Photos Through Gmail App

The Gmail app that comes preloaded on most Android devices provides the simplest way to email photos.

You can attach images from the photo gallery or take a new picture directly within Gmail to include.

The app handles compression automatically.

Steps to Email Photos with Gmail:

1. Open the Gmail app on your Android device.
2. Tap Compose to start a new blank email.
3. Tap the attachment paperclip icon in the top right.
4. Select “Attach file” then choose “Images”
5. Tap the photos you want to attach from your gallery.
6. Compose your email message.
7. Enter the recipient address(es).
8. Tap Send.

The attached images will display in the email with compression applied automatically.

This makes sharing fast and easy, though you have limited control over image quality and attachment file size.

Use Android’s Share Sheet

The Share sheet in Android provides another handy option for emailing photos directly from the gallery.

Tap the share icon on an image then select the email app to launch a draft with the photo added as an attachment.

Instructions for Sharing Photos from Gallery:

1. Open the Photos app and navigate to the image(s) you want to send.
2. Tap the Share icon (typically bottom right).
3. Select “Email” from the Share sheet.
4. Choose email app – Gmail, Outlook, etc.
5. Compose your email message.
6. Enter the recipient email address(es).
7. Review attachments then hit Send.

This shares photos from Android in their original quality without compression.

But some email providers may flag or block large attachments.

Continue reading for the best way to compress images before sharing.

Use a File Explorer to Zip and Email Photos

To maintain the best image quality while optimizing delivery, use a file explorer app to select images then zip them together as a compressed archive attachment.

Step-by-Step Photo Sharing Instructions:

1. Install a file explorer app like MiXplorer, Solid Explorer, FX File Explorer, etc.
2. Open the app then browse to the folder with your photos.
3. Tap Select then check the photos want to zip together.
4. Choose Zip from the toolbar menu.
5. Tap the Share icon on the zipped file.
6. Select Email and choose your email app.
7. Compose your message then enter recipient(s).
8. Review the zip attachment then Send.

This gives you complete control over photo quality and compactness.

The recipient gets a handy archived folder with all images bundled together.

Pro Tip

For easy access across devices, upload the zipped photos to cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox first.

Then paste that shared link into the email for the recipient to download.

Frequently Asked Questions