"This attachment is too large to be opened"

Then how do you explain the 28MB file currently sitting in my GMail inbox? As I already explained, I had no trouble whatsoever emailing this file to myself and opening in on my desktop or laptop using Apple's Mail application. The problem only exists on the iPad. Please read more carefully before responding.

22MB is a huge file try compressing it to reduce size and try again. I'm not sure what the size limit is for e-mailing.

If you scanned pictures or images at full resolution, you can probably reduce the pdf file size without too much loss of picture clarity by scanning the images at a lower resolution. Also, text can be scanned at a fairly low resolution and still be very ledgable.

The other option is break the pdf into smaller sections.

As far as attachment size limits, I've seen 20 Meg mentioned a lot but I think that is an AT&T file size limit, but I am not sure.

Not really sure nowadays, but most mail server used to cap attachments at 5MB or 10MB. Our exchange server here at work defaulted to 10MB.

Same problem here, and this has nothing to do with my ISP, AT&T or 3G.

I emailed myself a 20MB PDF file. I received the file just fine on my MacBook Pro. But when I try to open it from Mail on my iPad I get this message about the attachment being too large. This arbitrary limit needs to go.

Gmail has a limit of 20 MB for email attachments. There a reason for the cap. For one thing email servers would be huge if there wasn't a cap. The Internet would slow to a craw with everyone emailing 2 gig files. And that would end free email. If you can, use the free app Drop Box... Or you can use the app filebrowser. Drop Box is easier to set up.

Additionally, this arbitrary email limitation is particularly troublesome on the iPad considering its very limited file management and input options. I ended up grabbing the file from my laptop via wifi using the Goodreader app. Something as basic as this needs to be integrated into the iPad and shouldn't rely on third party hacks.

A few weeks ago I checked gmails attachment file size limit and it was 20MB. In these last few week gmail change the limitation to 25MB.

http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=8770

Maybe you should check these findings for yourself. Which you haven't. Things change so fast with Google.

I have only gmail to work with. Open your gmail account in Safari and you will be able to open your large email attachment.

I did check and that's besides the point, which is that if I can send and receive an email attachment, my mail application should not set arbitrary limits on it's file size. The attachment was successfully sent and received via GMail. It's only the iPad's Mail app that refused to open it because of it's arbitrary file size limitations. I should not have to rely on a clunky 3rd party solution for a function as basic as this.

This only further supports my position that GMail allowed the file to go through and that the Mail client refused to download it. Yes, I can open the .pptx file in Safari, but I can't save it anywhere so that doesn't do me a load of good. More importantly, I shouldn't have to email myself a file. I should be able to import it via USB or SD card using the camera connection kit.

I already found a workaround which was to use the Goodreader app.. The whole point is that I shouldn't need workarounds for something so basic.

Why can't you just acknowledge that Apple should fix this instead of coming up with silly defensive explanations for the limitation?

You can view attachment in Safari that have been downloaded without bring hookup to the Internet, off line. Make a folder in gmail and save all your PDFs emails in that folder.

Use GoodReader from the app store to send PDFs to the iPad, by way of wifi.

Unfortunately the the photo app is the only app that will read from a SD card or a USB drive. The photo app can't read PDFs.

(The iPad can read from a USB drive. The USB drive needs to be formatted to FAT 16. Mac can do this in the Utility app.)

Message was edited by: David M Brewer

I'm having the same frustrating problem. The attachment is there. It's been sent fine but ipad will not allow me to open it!!!

I have Docs to go but I want to open it up in iBooks. My PDF is big. 23mb but come on... I am trying to build a library of all my manuals for ease of access. the iPad is ideal for this type of library, but not when I have to read them on two different applications.

Come on Apple, Stop getting beaten at the post by 3rd party Apps.

Hi There, i have been experiencing the same issue, one of the guys i support called and advised they could not open a 55mb PDF attachment. these iPads are setup to recieve push mail from the coporate 2003 exchange server. our internal limit is 100mb and this PDf was sent internal. i got the message and attachment forwarded to my corporate mail account and started mucking around. i have downloaded PDFreader pro, goodreader, and PDF comrade, still no luck and receiving the attachment too large message. i then tried downloading the attachment from my mailbox via Outlook web access using safari, no good, timeout errors. i then forwarded to my gmail account, but then noticed the icon for the PDF attachment had changed in the mail app and now resembles the PDFreader pro icon. i can now open the 55mb attachment in the mail app, and get the option to "open in" in the top right. hope this helps guys 🙂