What to Do When Email Attachments Won’t Open

If you’re unable to open email attachments, follow these steps to resolve the issue quickly.

Step 1: Verify the Attachment Type

1. Check the file type of the attachment (e.g., PDF, Word document, Excel sheet).
2. Ensure you have the appropriate software installed to open the file (e.g., Adobe Reader for PDFs, Microsoft Word for DOCX files).

Step 2: Save the Attachment

1. Right-click on the attachment and select Save As to download it to your computer.
2. Open the file from your computer rather than directly from the email.

Step 3: Check the File Size

1. If the attachment is very large, it may not have downloaded completely.
2. Ask the sender to confirm the file size and resend the attachment if needed.

Step 4: Verify Internet Connectivity

1. Ensure you have a stable internet connection, as weak connections can cause incomplete downloads.
2. Retry downloading the attachment after verifying your connection.

Step 5: Escalate to IT Support

If you still cannot open the attachment:

• Contact your IT support team.
• Provide details such as:
  • The type of file you are trying to open.
  • Any error messages you encountered.
  • The steps you have already tried.