# How to Send Large Files from a Windows PC

Email stops at around 20 to 25 MB, so big files from a Windows PC need another route. Here are the built-in options in Windows 10 and 11, their limits, and the simplest way to send to anyone.

_Source: https://sharelargefilesfree.com/send-large-files-from-windows · Updated 2026-09-30_

**Quick answer:** On Windows, use Nearby Sharing for a PC in the same room, a OneDrive link if you have the storage, or upload the files at Share Large Files Free (up to 20 GB per transfer) and send the download link to anyone, with no account. Zipping a folder first makes many small files faster to send.

## Your options at a glance

| Method | Size | Recipient | Catch |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Email attachment (Outlook, Gmail) | About 20 to 25 MB | Anyone | Too small for video or photo sets |
| Nearby Sharing | No fixed limit | A Windows PC nearby | Slow over Bluetooth; both PCs must have it on |
| OneDrive link | Your OneDrive space (5 GB free) | Anyone with the link | The file uses your storage until you delete it |
| Download link from this site | Up to 20 GB per transfer | Anyone, on any device | Link expires after 1 day |

## Nearby Sharing: to another PC in the same room

1. On both PCs, open **Settings**, go to **System** and then **Nearby sharing**, and choose My devices only or Everyone nearby.
2. In File Explorer, right-click the file and choose **Share**, then pick the other PC from the list.
3. The other person accepts the notification and the file is saved in their Downloads folder.

Nearby Sharing uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, so it only reaches PCs close by, and large files can be slow when it falls back to Bluetooth. It does not send to Macs or phones.

## OneDrive: share a link from File Explorer

Move the file into your OneDrive folder, wait for the green tick, then right-click it and choose **Share** to copy a link. It works well for people who already pay for Microsoft 365 storage. On a free Microsoft account OneDrive has 5 GB, shared with your Outlook.com mailbox attachments, so a single video can fill it. Work accounts may block sharing with people outside your organisation.

## Send to anyone with a free download link

1. Open [Share Large Files Free](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/) in Edge, Chrome or Firefox.
2. Drag files or a folder in from File Explorer: up to 1000 files and 20 GB per transfer.
3. Choose _Link_ to copy a download link, or _Email_ to send it to your recipients.
4. Keep the tab open until the upload completes, then paste the link into an email, Teams, WhatsApp or anywhere else.

No account for you or the recipient, no storage used, and the file arrives exactly as you sent it. If the upload is large, the [upload time calculator](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/tools/upload-time-calculator) shows how long it will take on your connection.

## Zip a folder first

Hundreds of small files upload and download faster as one archive, and the recipient gets your folder structure intact. In File Explorer, right-click the folder and choose **Compress to ZIP file** (Windows 11) or **Send to** and then **Compressed (zipped) folder** (Windows 10). Zipping does not make videos or photos much smaller, because they are already compressed; to actually shrink a video, use the free [video compressor](https://sharelargefilesfree.com/tools/compress-video).

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I send a file that is too big for email in Windows?

Upload it here (up to 20 GB) and paste the download link into your email, or share it as a OneDrive link if it fits in your OneDrive storage.

### How do I send a large file from Windows to an iPhone or Mac?

Nearby Sharing only works between Windows PCs. Upload the file here and open the link on the iPhone or Mac, or send it by email.

### Does zipping make a video smaller?

Hardly. Video and photos are already compressed. Zip to bundle many files into one; use a video compressor to make a video smaller.

### Is there a limit on how many files I can send?

Up to 1000 files per transfer here, or a whole folder, as long as the total stays within 20 GB.

### Does the recipient need an account?

No. They open the link in any browser and download the files.