Send and share files in Google Chat messages

You can attach files up to 200 MB from your computer, mobile device or Google Drive directly to Google Chat messages.

In spaces, you can view a list of files shared with the space, open files and add them to Drive.

Supported image files:

• BMP
• GIF
• JPEG
• PNG
• WBMP
• HEIC

You can’t send certain files. Read File types blocked in Chat below. 

1. On your computer, open Google Chat or Gmail.
   • In Gmail: On the left, click Chat.
2. Open a conversation.
3. Enter your message and choose an option:
   • To add an emoji, click Emoji .
   • To send a GIF, click GIF .
     • If you use Google Chat on a work or school account, you may not have the option to send a GIF.
   • To attach a file from your computer, click Upload file .
     • The file has not been added to Drive. Other users get the file directly in the message.
   •  To add a link to a video meeting, click Add video meeting .
   • To attach a Drive file, click Integration menu Drive .
     • When you send the file, you'll be notified if someone needs access.
     • With edit access, you have an option to grant access.
     • If you grant access to a conversation or space, people who join the space later also have access.
     • If people leave the space, they lose access to the file unless they're given access individually or through a group.
   • To create a Google Calendar invite, click Integration menu Calendar invite .
4. Click Send .

To add files from Drive in your message, add '@' followed by the name of your file.

1. In the reply area of the conversation, type '@'.
   • To search for more related files, you can enter the filename or related keywords after '@'.
2. Under 'Files', select from the list of suggestions.
3. Click Send .
   • When you send the file, you'll be notified if someone needs access.
4. Select the type of access.
   • Optional: To share access to the file with others, refer to the section to attach a Drive file.

Tip: You can find file suggestions that you have access to from your Drive.

In 1:1 conversations, group conversations and spaces, you can find a list of shared files, links and media. You can open a file and add a file to Drive.

• If you delete a chat message with a shared file, it's also deleted from the conversation or space.
• If you delete a file in Drive, the file link remains in the conversation or space until you delete it from the chat message.
• When you delete the file from the chat message, the file link is removed from the chat and the 'Shared' tab of the conversation or space.

1. On your computer, open Google Chat.
2. Select a conversation or space.
3. At the top, click the Shared tab.
   • Tip: In Gmail, you might have to expand the space to view the Shared tab.
4. In the 'Shared' tab, sort files by Category or Date shared.
   • Sort by category: Organises the Shared tab into separate sections for files, links and media.
   • Sort by date shared: Shows files, links and media in a list organised by date.
5. To open the file, click the name of the file.
   • Google files: File opens in the chat window, next to the conversation, or opens in a new browser tab.
   • Other types of files: File opens as a preview in full screen. Files not in Drive will download, except PDF and video files, which open in a new browser tab.

Optional: To view or save a file, next to the file, click:

• : Adds a shortcut to Drive
• : Opens the chat message that shared the file

Important: To remove a file from a conversation or space, you must use a Google Workspace account.

1. On your computer, open Google Chat.
2. Select a conversation or space.
3. At the top, click the Shared tab. Next to the file, click View in chat .
4. Hover over the message with the file.
5. Click More actions Delete Delete.

Tips:

• If you delete a file in Drive, the file link remains in the conversation or space until you delete it from the chat message.
  • If you don't delete it from the chat, the file link will show a 'File in bin' message when you select it.
  • If you don't delete it from the chat and the Drive bin has been emptied, you won't be able to open the file from the file link.
• When you delete the file from the chat message, the file link is removed from chat and the 'Shared' tab of the conversation or space.

There are several reasons why you might get an upload error in Google Chat. Chat blocks files or links that might spread viruses, such as executable files. To keep up with harmful software, Chat regularly updates the file types that aren’t allowed.

You can’t attach certain types of files. These include:

• ADE, ADP, APK, BAT, CAB, CHM, CMD, COM, CPL, DLL, DMG, EXE, HTA, INS, ISP, JAR, JS, JSE, LIB, LNK, MDE, MSC, MSI, MSP, MST, NSH, PIF, SCR, SCT, SHB, SYS, VB, VBE, VBS, VXD, WSC, WSF and WSH.
  This list includes any compressed form, such as GZ or BZ2 files, or files found in archives, such as ZIP or TGZ files.
• Documents with malicious macros.
• Password-protected archives whose content is an archive.

If a blocked file isn't listed above and you're sure that the blocked file is safe, upload the file to Drive and then send the file as a Drive attachment.