Emailing photo attachments from my iPhone 11

Okay I figured out a fix to this since we can't get a useful response from the Specialists. As a heads up, this was through Outlook, not Gmail, but I am assuming the process would be the same/similar.

1. Open the email with the embedded photos.
2. Click File -> Save As.
3. Choose the folder where you want the photo files to be saved.
4. Change the "Save as type" in the bottom dropdown box from "Outlook Message Format - Unicode" to "HTML".
5. Save file.

There will be a couple of extra random files that won't be used, but a folder with all of the photo files will now appear in the folder you selected to save the email to!

Hope this helps

I also had this problem, and this is what I found. (I am not a tech person.)

I have two email icons on my iphone, the Outlook icon and the Apple icon (with the envelope). Both of them reflect my Outlook email account, in slightly different formats. When I select a photo to email, if I select the Apple icon the photo is embedded. If I select the Outlook icon it is an attachment. Prior to the last update they were both attachments.

Lotus9999 wrote:

There's a similar thread also, which has double the number of pages of this one:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251807601

There only seems to be 2 solutions to it:

ONE: I've done some testing now Sending pictures using Outlook app, and here are my findings:

1 - If you start in the Outlook app and attach pictures, they will still show up EMBEDDED. …

Actually, just as with Apple Mail, I expect that they are just as much attachments! (I wouldn’t be inclined to think otherwise, unless such was demonstrated to be otherwise upon inspecting the Raw email text.)

However, this does seem to demonstrate that Outlook, as well, is able to format emails as rich-text (text/html, actually). (When I worked within the corporate/governmental sectors, I would only send emails as plain-text if the other party had requested such, or I was replying to a plain-text email.)

I suspect, however, that if you sent this email to an email address where you use Outlook to read the email, that Outlook would allow you to perform bulk attachment operations (such as bulk-saves).

If not, I would actually be surprised! However, in that case y’all could use that as the best leverage to have Microsoft (at least partially) fix Outlook, and its derivatives.

… 2 - However, if you start in Photos (as others I believe have indicated), then choose the method to share as the Outlook app, they DO in fact show up as attachments! And there's no need to attach a 1 second video...

Yes. This should surprise no one.

Of course, as always, the real test is not in the appearances, but in the functionality: does Outlook (or another email client) allow you to perform bulk attachment operations (such as bulk-saves)?

… The only downside is that unlike when sending pictures by Mail, where you get the option to choose the size of the photo (S/M/L/Original), there are no options and they are sent as full-size by default.

Meh …

… Based on this solution, perhaps any other third-party app on the iPhone can be used with similar results, and not just the Outlook app. …

Make sure y’all don’t get caught up in the appearance, but pay attention to the functionality: does Outlook (or another email client) allow you to perform bulk attachment operations (such as bulk-saves), regardless of appearance?

… TWO: The other one allows you to still use the default Mail app, and by attaching a different file (such as a 1 second video), it forces it to send all of the pictures as attachments also.

As always, «the pictures» are sent «as attachments», always.

The only potential differences are:

1. In the appearance of the email, and
2. Whether Outlook (or one of its derivatives) will allow you to perform bulk attachment operations (such as bulk-saves), regardless of appearance.

Welcome, ultra50, to Apple Support Communities!

Those of us, here on Apple Support Communities, that actually took the time (a month or two, starting in September) to understand the root causes of this issue are all in agreement:

The answer, as I, and others, have posted for months, here and within previous Discussions on this issue, are trifold:

1. Apple Mail is, and always has been, «send[ing] emails … where the photos are … attachments, like how it [has always] be[en] for years», even at those times, through the years, when this Outlook issue surfaced with previous iOS versions.
2. As far as getting your Outlook (and Outlook derived) email clients to allow you, the user, to perform bulk attachment operations (such as bulk-saves), that is not something Apple can actually fix. Y’all must contact the responsible company, in order to have that fixed. (Your feedback matters to Microsoft)
3. Anything else is but a fragile workaround, subject to being easily broken by any tiny changes in the web of interactions involved in transferring emails. (This is how this issue came up with the change to iOS 14, as well as many other times, in the past years, with earlier iOS versions.)

I realize this answer is not what many want to hear (much like some other answers people receive, here, on Apple Support Communities).

Now. All that being said, there are some workarounds that have been shared, here, and in related Discussions.

Unfortunately, all such are but fragile workarounds, as per item 3, above.

Additionally, y’all should always feel free to provide your Feedback to Apple through their provided Feedback Mechanisms: Product Feedback - Apple.

(Be aware that Feedback that tries to claim that the problem is with Apple Mail “embedding” photos/images/pictures/etc., rather that “attaching” them, will likely result in something like the following “response” [which will never get back to you, unfortunately] from the responsible Apple Software Programming supervisor: “Apple Mail already sends, and always has sent all files as attachments. NEXT!”

That’s why I have been trying to educate people on the realities, so y’all can make better informed decisions, along with where, with whom, and what sort of feedback may be best to lodge.

However. As always, what you believe and what you do is up to you.)

Hello deane160,

It sounds as though you're having issues attaching photos to emails after updating to iOS 14. Being able to attach photos, and successfully send via email is very important. We have recently released iOS 14.0.1 which does provide a variety of fixes. If you haven't already we do recommend updating.

Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

Have a great day!

Hello deane160,

Thank you for providing those details. This is expected when attaching a photo to an email. We do appreciate all feedback regarding our products, features, and services. If you'd like to provide feedback about the Mail application you can do so through our Product Feedback website.

Take care!

There is no change in iOS 14 how an image is attached to an email. Since Mail app has been added to iOS, images have always been embedded/inline in the emails. Don’t believe me, search for all older posts about this behaviour, e.g.:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/250182741

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251338339

How images appear (embedded or as attachments) it’s controlled by the receiving email client; some have an option to force embedded images appear as end of email attachments.

If email client app you use show the images as embedded and not as an attachment, right-click on it to get option to save the file or drag and drop to the Desktop or other folder. Check app settings that apply for email attachments.

iOS Mail app always (and it has in the past too) put images as embedded. Workaround would be to ZIP the file prior to adding it to the message. There is a handy shortcut for it in Shortcuts app gallery called ‘ZIP and Email’: https://www.icloud.com/shortcuts/1f8e3e6c38c446f68f249520b1303bb7

WEB2002aab wrote:

Hi, I’m now using outlook, if i could delete Apple mail I would.

So why don't you?

Remove built-in Apple apps from the Home screen on your iOS 10 device or Apple Watch - Apple Support

No. Solution is talk to MS to implement ‘Save All Files/Attachments’ option into their app.

Here is another thread about it with more details https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251807601?answerId=253920693022#253920693022

TPITTS437 wrote:

Apple needs to fix so you can send through the mfg installed photos app using the share button, then email with mfg installed mail app. I have found that sending any other way takes too long to send.

You should tell Apple:

Product Feedback - Apple

Welcome, PLCornell, to Apple Support Communities!

Apple is not here, nor do they monitor this forum to see what issues users are having.

We are but your fellow users, trying to help other users, like yourself.

If you wish to get a message to Apple, about their products, you will be best served by sending Apple Feedback through their provided mechanisms, such as Product Feedback - Apple.

However, it’s amazing how many, here, are ignoring the fact that the core of the issue is not about appearances, but functionality.

Sure. In both cases (and many others) the attachments are displayed (rendered) inline with text and other features (what so many here refer to an «embedded»). (This is the Internet standard for HTML type rich-text [text/html], that’s been around since the ‘90s.)

However, in all email clients, except one (and its derivatives), you, the user, can perform all bulk attachment operations (such as bulk-saves), regardless how the email client chooses to display (render) the received email.

As I wrote:

«I challenge anyone to find another email client (that isn’t a derivative of Microsoft Outlook) with this flawed handling of your received emails.»

As for whether your photos are in JPEG format, or a more modern, more efficient format, you can change the settings on how photos you take with your phone are stored on your phone: Settings -> Camera -> Formats: High Efficiency vs. Most Compatible (JPEG).

(Unfortunately, this will not solve the issues of the «one (and its derivatives)» email client, that prevents its users from performing bulk attachment operations [such as bulk-saves] based only upon how said email client chooses to display (render) your received email.)

Welcome, Chris-Me, to Apple Support Communities!

Apple isn’t here, generally. It is only us, your fellow users.

You may provide Feedback to Apple, at any time on anything related to their products through their provided Feedback mechanisms: Product Feedback - Apple.

Admittedly, this issue is far from as simple as it may appear, at first.

It took many of us a while, working with people, like yourself, for quite a while (mostly on Discussions that predate this version), in order to work out the causal relationships.

While my discussion with Chris-FW, earlier in this Discussion, doesn’t go into many of the details, it did seem to help him better understand the issue. Perhaps it may help you, as well.

Of course, John3Tr, even that email composition modification wouldn’t be, in any way, “necessary”, if it were not for the bulk attachment operation flaw of the very tiny subset of email clients that prevent such, based upon obscure criteria that are no part of the Internal Internet Standards governing email creation and interchange.

Please see my comment to, Rachel.H.U., at https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251807601?answerId=254660973022#254660973022

Welcome, BJP73, to Apple Support Communities!

It may help to read my comment to Scamp468, at https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251807601?answerId=254744057022#254744057022.

(There are other reasonably good comments within this Discussion, as well as that one I referenced, above, and at least one other Discussion, also more extensive than this one.)

Unfortunately, the «multi step process», to which you refer, is only “necessary” on a very tiny subset of email clients, all created by the same company.

Furthermore, since the responsible company is not Apple, there is no fix that is within Apple’s power or authority.

All anyone (other than that responsible company) can accomplish are fragile workarounds, that easily break with any tiny change in the web of interactions involved in transferring emails.

Such a fragile workaround broke with iOS 14, as it had in various previous iOS versions over many years.

deane160:

Have you read my comment to Scamp468, at https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251807601?answerId=254744057022#254744057022?

The add-an-additional-attachment workaround seems to work due to the attachments—and they are always attachments, regardless how they may appear or how a certain very tiny subset of email clients (all created by the same company: not Apple) may prevent you, the user, from performing bulk attachment operations (such as bulk-saves)—not all being of the same filetype: hence, using Content-Type: multipart/mixed, rather than Content-Type: multipart/related, for the attachments.

The workaround of sending the Apple Mail email through a non-Exchange server, to get to your email account that uses an email client from that very tiny subset of email clients, may or may not involve some such transformation: that is the workaround we know the least about why it “kicks” that very tiny subset of email clients into “doing the right thing”™️ with the attachments within your received emails.

Incidentally, do make sure your iPhone Camera is set to save its pictures in “Most Compatible” format (JPEG), rather than “High Efficiency” (a more recent and superior format, but one that many PC programs want to charge you extra, in order to handle such).

(The workaround of using MMS messaging compresses the pictures further, probably due to MMS limitations.)

By the way, have you ever tried to use a non-Microsoft created email client to access you emails that you usually use Outlook to receive?

Use the same email account, with the same email server that Outlook is accessing, but using a non-Microsoft created email client, like GMail, or Thunderbird, or some such.

Regardless how such received email may appear, see if the non-Microsoft created email client will have any problem performing bulk attachment operations (such as bulk-saves).

Please let us know your results.