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Email File Attachment Limits

The University of Oregon's main email servers limit the size of files that can be attached to email messages to 10MB. This applies to both outgoing and incoming messages. There is no option to turn off this limitation.

This limit safeguards the functionality of our user accounts and our mail servers:

• Our mail accounts have a 1GB storage limit. If the file attachment limit was five times greater (50MB), then just ten of these 50MB file attachments would fill an account, preventing you from receiving further email messages. Messages that can't be delivered while you are over-quota are returned to the sender.
• A large file sent to hundreds or thousands of users can cause serious performance problems for our mail system. If a user sends a 6MB file to 1,200 people, our servers must process 7,200MB (or 7GB) of data at once for only this one outgoing email message.

How to Share Large Files

There are several ways to share large files with colleagues. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages.

• Use Alphamail (our new Web Email) which includes a "Share a File" feature.
• Use a free file drop service like YouSendIt or YouShareIt. These web-based services will allow you to upload the file and then send a download link to a person you specify. The recipient clicks the download link to get the file.
• Make the file available for download from a web server
• Burn the data to a CD and ship the CD
• Print and fax

If you have more questions please contact our Help Desk.

© 2007; UO Information Services | 1212 University of Oregon, Eugene OR 97403-1212 Phone: (541) 346-4412 | Fax: (541) 346-6836 | Comments? microhelp@lists.uoregon.edu