Why IOS email functionality so annoying...

If you have the DropBox App you can tap on the file you wish to email, and then tap on the icon and then on Open In. (You may need to scroll the bottom row of icons to show the Open in option), then just choose Outlook, or even Mail to create a new email with the selected file actually attached rather than as a link.

Other than that there does not seem to be any other way to attach a file, and there does not appear to be a way to attach a file to an existing email reply or similar.

It only works for completely new emails.

The first 3 stem from the same basic premise. Attaching files. iOS has no user accessible file system. So no way to navigate to files. Files reside within Apps and all Apps are limited to their own space, as such, the Mail App can't simply access files on another Apps space for you to attach.

File Attachment for that reason is always initiated from the App that holds the file, and will always create a new email with the attached file.

For the last item, if you have an App that can open Zip files, you can use the Open in facility from Mail to send the file to the specific App to be opened.

With that said, these I don't believe are flaws, its just differences in how things work in an effort to keep the Os secure and virus free.

If you are using mail professionally are you on Exchange with something like MobileIron?

If so you have to tap down on the attachment that comes in the email and open it in MobileIron from the list provided - at least for me the attachments open fine

Else you can also look at the Office 365 app

Yes, it's in the App Store, just within the last couple of days. I have it on my phone but haven't really explored the attachements functions. However, some of the reviews I've read says it's very good at that. Don't know if it will meet the OP's needs but thought it was worth mentioning.

It's basically Accompli (which MS bought last year) reworked.

Give it whirl, Chris. Considerable improvement over the OWA app. It will handle Gmail, iCloud mail, and Yahho as well. No integration with OneDrive for Business yet, but it does handle attachments through several other services such as Box and Dropbox. Not bad for an MS app.

An iOS version of Outlook was just released. It is reputed to be the best email app to handle attachments. You may want to check to see if it will work with your email account.

Oh, I would be curious to investigate this, as a somewhat power Outlook user. Is this in the App Store, and could you let me know where you found this information? As always, thank you in advance. 🙂

I had gotten a message about "Outlook for smart phones" a few weeks ago - turned out it was for Android - so yes Meg this is welcome news

Thanks!! Something to do this afternoon after work. 😉

ChrisJ4203 wrote:

Thanks!! Something to do this afternoon after work. 😉

Isn't it great that we have a hobby? 😁

😝