Summary
Attach a file to an Outlook message, open an attachment you have received, and send a large file that email will not accept by sharing it from OneDrive instead. Includes what to do with an attachment you were not expecting.
Body
📎 Send and Open Attachments
Attach files, open what you are sent, and handle files that are too large.
✅ Before You Begin
- You need an active NEO A&M College account with SSO access
- An internet connection is required
- 🕐 Estimated time: 10 minutes
💻 Which Outlook do these steps describe?
Written for
Outlook on the web and
New Outlook for Windows, which share the same layout.
Classic Outlook for Windows is laid out differently — if your ribbon has a
Send / Receive tab, you are using classic. See
Classic Outlook vs. New Outlook.
📎 Attach a File 🕐 ~2 minutes | While composing
⚠️ Note: These steps come from Microsoft’s current published documentation rather than from a walkthrough on a NEO computer. The button names should match; if yours differ, tell the Help Desk so this article can be corrected.
- Start a new message with New mail, or open a reply.
- Select Attach on the message toolbar.
- Choose Browse this computer to pick a file from the machine, or Browse cloud locations to pick one from OneDrive.
- You can also drag a file from a folder straight onto the message.
- Wait for the file to finish uploading before selecting Send.
💡 Tip: Sending the same file to several people? Attach it once and use Cc rather than sending separate copies — it uses far less mailbox space for everyone.
📦 When the File Is Too Large 🕐 ~5 minutes | Use OneDrive
Email has a size limit, and it is smaller than most people expect. Video, large PDFs, and folders of photos will usually be refused.
- Upload the file to OneDrive first.
- In OneDrive, select the file, then Share.
- Copy the sharing link and paste it into your email instead of attaching the file.
💡 Tip: A link is better than an attachment even when the file would fit. The recipient always sees the current version, and it does not take up space in anyone’s mailbox. See the OneDrive guides for sharing and permissions.
⚠️ Note: Attaching from OneDrive inside Outlook sends a link automatically. If you need the recipient to have their own separate copy, choose to send it as an attachment instead.
📂 Open What You Are Sent 🕐 ~1 minute | Read carefully first
- Select the attachment in the message to preview it without downloading.
- Select Download to save a copy to your computer.
- Select Save to OneDrive to keep it in your own cloud storage instead.
🚨 Warning: Do not open an attachment you were not expecting, even from someone you know — a compromised account sends real-looking mail. Files ending in
.zip,
.htm,
.iso, or asking you to
Enable Content deserve particular suspicion. Report it instead: see
Junk, Phishing, and Suspicious Email.
📞 Still Need Help?
If you encounter any issues not covered in this guide, please contact the NEO A&M College IT Help Desk:
🌐 Helpdesk Portal: support.neo.edu
📞 Phone: (918) 540-6099
📧 Email: neosupport@neo.edu
📍 Walk-in: I.T. Services, Library/Administration Building, 2nd Floor, Room 216
🕐 Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM