File attachments in iOS 17 Messages App

Tap the “+” next to the text field, then More. I sync my documents to Dropbox, so I tap on Dropbox, then the file I want to attach.

Another way is to open the Files app, tap on a file, then the Share icon (the box with an up arrow) then Messages.

User error. lol. Click the plus sign to the left of your text message and the options appear.

Hello Neil_Maz71,

Thanks for choosing the Apple Support Communities. It looks like you are trying to send files using Messages. We have a few steps that may help.

Send files from Files on iPhone - Apple Support

"Send a file

1. Touch and hold the file, then tap Share.
2. Tip: To send a smaller version of the file, tap Compress before you tap Share. Then touch and hold the compressed version of the file (identified as a zip file), and tap Share.
3. Choose an option for sending (for example, AirDrop, Messages, or Mail), then tap Send."

Also, to submit feedback on this, please follow: Product Feedback - Apple

We hope this helps.

Cheers!

OneDrive works, but iCloud Files isn’t an option. You shouldn’t have to go to the files app in order to share something in Messages. This needs to be fixed, but more importantly, stuff like this needs to STOP getting broken and forcing us to use workarounds without notice.

doubtful it’s a user error, the option to share a file or something from iCloud is no longer there. Neither are Files nor iCloud apps you can choose in messenger set up. Additionally, not sure if OP is having this problem as well, but I can’t send an attachment or receive photo or attachment from non-iPhone users, even from source file (using Support’s suggested work around).

Nvalese01 wrote:

OneDrive works, but iCloud Files isn’t an option. You shouldn’t have to go to the files app in order to share something in Messages. This needs to be fixed, but more importantly, stuff like this needs to STOP getting broken and forcing us to use workarounds without notice.

Tell Apple:

Product Feedback - Apple

Tomato tomato.

I've tried attaching the PDF to a message, which can't be done anymore because there are now limited options available as to where you can pick a file up (which has been clearly explained above.)

I tried going into the folder from both iCloud and from "on my phone", tapping the thumbnail, and then "share". It attaches, I guess, it looks like a text message does when you send a photo. I hit the send icon. Then immediately get "message failed to send". I've gone back to the source and reduced the PDF to 50 KB, still having the same problem.

Further research has revealed that possibly my carrier won't allow this. How is a PDF so much harder to send than a video or image which is much larger than 50 KB? Why can it be done via WhatsApp but not iMessage? Why can't we get a message that addresses what the problem is like "you can't send a PDF via text".

And I don't keep up with what phone my friends have. I thought we had solved that problem years ago.

If it’s your carrier then it is not iMessage; iMessage is only between iPhones. When you receive a message if it has a blue “bubble” background the sender is using iMessage and is sending from an iPhone over a data connection (Wi-Fi or cellular). If it has a green bubble it is not from an iPhone, and it is an MMS (MultiMedia Service) message and is handled entirely by your carrier. iMessages between Apple devices do not have a size limit; MMS messages do, and they can also limit the types of messages. So check with your carrier; perhaps they have some limitation.

Note that to send to a non-iPhone you must have cellular data turned on, and in Settings/Messages you must have MMS turned on.

ybsimple wrote:

Where are all the Apple Geniuses to answer this question? Seems to be only customers who don’t have a clue, but trying to be helpful. Apple, please don’t turn the IPhone into a children’s toy. Enable the feature or explain how to access this feature in IOS 17. Provide screenshots. This is a legitimate question that people are asking and you shouldn’t incarnate into crickets when people ask this. Thank you in advance. June of 2024, the feature to send file attachments is not there.

PS: With all due respect, people who think they know the answer, please don’t bother asking questions like - Why do you need it or what are you trying to do. It was already explained- people want to send a file attached to a Message in the Messenger app.

This is a user-to-user technical support forum. So, yes, everyone answering here is a fellow customer. However, many of them have decades of technical experience.

The reason people ask clarifying questions is that sometimes, the issue is not as straightforward as you seem to think. There can be lots of factors that affect how things work. In order to give the most useful answer, people try to understand the whole issue.

If you want assistance from Apple, you can use the Support link at the bottom left of every page of these forums. Note that they will also ask clarifying questions.

Apple also doesn't read here for feedback or suggestions. You can let them know your thoughts here:

Product Feedback - Apple

Using WhatsApp or similar is the easiest fix. Wonder why they’d make Messages inconvenient!

If Apple took away that capability it would be annoying, but they didn’t. I just sent file attachment to verify that it still works.

As of Feb 25, 2024, this does not work. I am getting "Message Failed to Send" every time via regular messages. My PDF went through beautifully in WhatsApp but most of my contacts are not on that one.

ave you tried tapping Edit to see if you can add others?

No