How to quickly email yourself a File from Windows Explorer

Microsoft will shortly include several updates and enhancements to Windows 11, including a new Share button in the right-click context menu. This Share button will help you to email yourself a file from File Explorer quickly. It is a major update following the launch of Windows 11 Copilot. The feature is currently available in Insider builds, but will soon be released to the Stable versions too.

Emailing a file from Windows Explorer can be a quick and convenient way to share documents, photos, or any other file type with yourself or others. Hence, this new feature can save you time by avoiding unnecessary steps such as opening an email client separately and manually attaching files. Instead, you can seamlessly send files directly from Microsoft File Explorer in just a few clicks.

How do I email a file from Windows Explorer?

Not all users can share files and folders using Explorer in Windows 10 or Windows 11. While Microsoft added the Share option for Edge users, it wasn’t available for the files and folders on your system till recently. However, Microsoft soon realized this and enhanced this feature. You can now manually add the Share item in the right-click context menu.

However, the new update takes it a step ahead. It now makes it easier for you to email a file to yourself. We already have two options to share files via email, which are via the Share option and the Send To option. Here, we will explain how to quickly share a file to yourself from File Explorer using the new feature.

1. Email a file to yourself via Share
2. Use the Send To option

1] Email a file to yourself via Share

The latest update adds a dedicated Share icon at the top of the right-click context menu. This makes it easier for you to share files with anyone in the blink of an eye. For example, you can email a file to yourself or anyone from the File Explorer.

So, open the File Explorer, navigate to the file you want to share with yourself, right-click on it, and click on Share. You will then see the Send Link window. Here, type in your email ID and click on Send. That’s it, and this is how it allows you to email a file to yourself from Windows Explorer quickly.

Note- To avail of the Share option on regular Windows OS builds, your OneDrive must be up and running.

Read: How to remove Share item from right-click context menu

2] Use the Send To option

Alternatively, you can also use the Send To menu in the right-click context menu to email a file to yourself from File Explorer.

For this, launch the File Explorer (Win + E) > expand the hidden Send To menu > select the Mail Recipient option.

That’s it!

Read: Send To Menu is Empty or Not working in Windows

How do I quick view in File Explorer?

The Quick Access menu opens by default as you launch the File Explorer and helps you to view files and folders quickly. So, if you want a specific folder to show up in the Quick Access path, right-click on it and select Pin to Quick Access. But, if you do not want the recently used files and folders to show, you can disable Quick Access in File Explorer.

How do I copy files from Explorer?

To copy files from File Explorer, press Win + E shortcut keys to launch the File Explorer > select the file/s > right-click > select Copy. Alternatively, you can select the files and press Ctrl + C keys simultaneously. If the file is too large, or you want to copy a batch of files together, and the speed is slow, you can use a free fast File Copy software.

How do I zip a file to email?

You can use the Windows built-in feature to zip a file to an email quickly. For this, right-click on the desired file, right-click, select Send to, and then select Compressed (zipped) folder. Alternatively, you can use a free file compression software.