Sources checked: 12 October 2026.
Hotmail addresses use Outlook.com, whose current email-size limit is 25 MB for the whole message, including text, embedded images and attachments. The old 10 MB claim is outdated. For a large document or several photos, sending a cloud link avoids putting the full file inside the email.
Attach a OneDrive link
- Start a new message or reply in Outlook.com and select Attach.
- If the file is already in OneDrive, choose it there. Otherwise use Upload and share where available.
- Select the file, choose Share link, and check who will be allowed to open it before sending.
Microsoft’s Outlook.com attachment guidance also allows copying a OneDrive link and pasting it into the message. That page lists a 2 GB limit for a linked file through its described attachment flow. Other OneDrive upload limits do not mean every Outlook attachment method supports the same size.
Choose permissions for the recipient
For more control, select the file on the OneDrive website, choose Share, and open the link settings. Use a link for specific people when you want to limit access to named recipients; choose viewing rather than editing unless changes are needed. Microsoft explains the options in its OneDrive sharing guide.
Check the recipient address carefully. An Anyone link can be forwarded and used by other people who obtain it. A whole folder may expose more files than the one you intended to send. Our recommendation is to share the smallest appropriate item and permission.
Help a recipient who cannot open it
Ask which account they are signed into and whether it matches the invited address. Inspect the file’s Manage access panel, rather than changing a private link to public without considering the contents. Microsoft’s access-management instructions explain how to review links and direct access and stop sharing later.
Include the filename and purpose in your message so the recipient can recognize the expected link. If the file must remain available, keep it in the shared location; sending a link is different from sending a separate attachment copy. Do not bypass blocked-file or malware protections just to force delivery. A smaller ordinary attachment may still fail if the recipient’s own mail service has a lower limit.
Independent information: Number Customer Care is not affiliated with Microsoft. We cannot access your account, reset your password or provide Microsoft customer support.