Introduction
Gmail, even with all of its great features, still can leave some to be desired. For example, when trying to manage multiple attachments, there aren't many great ways to do it. Let's explore why you might want to download multiple attachments in Gmail, and how you can actually do it conveniently.
Why Download Multiple Attachments in Gmail
There are a number of reasons why one might want to download multiple attachments from Gmail. Maybe you're a project manager who needs to collate all the files from your team for a project. Or perhaps you're a student who needs to download all the lecture slides your professor has emailed over the semester. Or maybe you just simply want to back up important files and photos. Whatever the reason, downloading multiple attachments from Gmail can save you a lot of time and effort.
How to Download Multiple Attachments in Gmail
Downloading multiple attachments in Gmail doesn't have to be as confusing as it seems. There are a couple of ways to do it - one using a built-in Google tool, and the other using third-party applications. Let's start with the Google tool.
Using Google Takeout for Bulk Downloads
Google Takeout is a fantastic tool that allows you to download data from your Google products, including Gmail. It's a bit like taking all your saved things out of a storage unit - hence the name.
To use Google Takeout for downloading Gmail attachments, follow these steps:
- Go to Google Takeout.
- Under "Select data to include", choose "Mail".
- Click "All mail data included", then select "Include all messages in Mail".
- Click "Next step", then choose your preferred file type and delivery method.
- Click "Create export".
Note: Google will then prepare your download, which could take up to a few hours or even days, depending on the amount of data. You'll receive an email when your download is ready.
And voila! You've got all your Gmail attachments downloaded. Remember, though, Google Takeout downloads all your emails, not just the attachments, so you'll still need to sift through them to find what you need. But this may be a bit easier to do locally on your computer rather than via the Gmail interface.
Forward as Attachment
Another method is to use one of Gmail's features, "Forward as attachment". To do this, follow these steps:
- From your Gmail inbox, select all emails with attachments you want to download
- At the top of your inbox, click the three vertical dots icon
- Select "Forward as attachment"
- A new draft email will pop up with the selected emails as attachments. Fill out the recipient (it can be yourself), the subject, and body.
- Click "Send"
- The resulting email will include both the emails and their attachments as an attachment. You can easily download all from this one email and then only keep the actual attachments you want.
Tips to Manage Gmail Attachments
Managing your Gmail attachments effectively can save you a lot of time. Here are a few tips to help you out:
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Keep your inbox organized: Use labels to categorize your emails. This way, you can easily find emails with important attachments.
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Use the search function: Gmail has a powerful search function. You can use it to search for emails with attachments. For instance, you can type "has:attachment" in the search bar to find all emails with attachments.
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Delete unnecessary attachments: If you're running out of space in your Gmail account, consider deleting unnecessary attachments. Remember, you can always download them first if you think you might need them later. Gmail allows you to undo an action within a few seconds of performing it. So, if you accidentally delete an important attachment, don't panic! Just click the "undo" button that appears at the bottom of the screen.
Conclusion
Gmail offers several ways to download multiple attachments, from using Google Takeout to forwarding emails as attachments. But remember, the key to managing your Gmail attachments effectively is to keep your inbox organized, use the search function, and delete unnecessary attachments.
