Ever needed to forward an important email, but wanted to include it as an attachment rather than just a forwarded message? It’s a common task, especially when you want to keep the original formatting or send a specific thread without all the clutter of a standard forward. If you’ve found yourself scratching your head, wondering how to do this on your iPhone, you’re not alone. Many people find this feature a little hidden. But don’t worry! I’m here to guide you through it, step-by-step. We’ll make sure you can confidently attach emails to other emails on your iPhone in no time. Let’s get started!

Why Would You Attach an Email Instead of Forwarding?

Sometimes, a simple forward just doesn’t cut it. Attaching an email to another email on your iPhone offers several advantages that can be super helpful:

• Preserves Original Formatting: When you forward an email, your iPhone’s mail app might reformat it, changing fonts, spacing, or layouts. Attaching it keeps the original look exactly as it was sent.
• Cleaner Presentation: Instead of a long, forwarded chain, you can send a single, clean email with the original message neatly tucked inside as an attachment. This is great for important documents or lengthy discussions.
• Easier Archiving: Some people prefer to keep original emails as separate files. Attaching them allows you to easily move or save them within other messages or for later reference.
• Reduces Clutter: If you’re replying to someone and need to include a previous conversation, attaching the relevant email keeps your current message focused and easy to read.
• Specific Use Cases: Think about sending a client a contract that was previously emailed, or sharing a specific piece of customer feedback without the entire email thread. Attaching is perfect for this.

It might seem like a small detail, but knowing how to attach an email can really streamline your communication and make your messages more professional and organized.

The “Hidden” Feature: How to Attach an Email on iPhone

Apple keeps this feature accessible, but it’s not always obvious. The key is knowing where to look within the Mail app. Here’s the proven method:

Step 1: Find the Email You Want to Attach

First, open your Mail app on your iPhone. Navigate to the inbox or folder where the email you want to attach is located. You might need to search for it if you have a lot of emails.

Step 2: Select and Copy the Email

This is where it gets a little different from a standard forward. Instead of tapping a “Forward” button, you need to select the email itself.

1. Tap and hold down on the email message you wish to attach.
2. A small menu will pop up. Look for the option that says “More…”. Tap it.
3. In the next menu, you’ll see several options. Find and tap the “Copy” icon (it looks like two overlapping squares or pages).

You’ve now copied the email, ready to be pasted!

Step 3: Compose Your New Email

Now, go to compose a new email or reply to an existing one where you want to include the attached email.

1. Tap the compose button (usually a square with a pen or a plus sign) to start a new email, or tap on an email to reply.
2. Tap and hold in the body of the email message.
3. A menu will appear. This time, you want to select “Paste”.

You will see the email you copied appear in the body of your new message. It will look like a snippet of the original email, often with the sender, subject, and a portion of the content. This is the email you’re attaching!

Step 4: Add Recipients and Subject

Fill in the “To,” “Cc,” “Bcc,” and “Subject” fields as you normally would for any email. You can also add any additional text or context in the body of the email above or below the pasted email snippet.

Step 5: Send Your Email

Once everything is ready, tap the send button (usually an upward-pointing arrow or the word “Send”).

And that’s it! The recipient will receive your email with the original email included as an attachment, typically in a format they can open or view easily.

Understanding the Attachment Format

When you “paste” an email into the body of another email on your iPhone, it doesn’t always appear as a traditional file attachment with a paperclip icon in the same way you might attach a photo. Instead, it’s usually embedded directly into the email’s content.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Embedded Snippet: The email will appear as a distinct block within your outgoing message. It often shows the original sender, the subject line, and a preview of the content.
• Openable: Most email clients (like Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, etc.) on a computer or other devices will recognize this embedded block and allow the recipient to open it as a separate email message. Sometimes it might appear as a link to open the original email.
• Not a Standard File: It’s important to note that this isn’t like attaching a PDF or a Word document. It’s more of a “message within a message” functionality. The exact appearance can vary slightly depending on the email clients used by both sender and receiver.

Think of it as a very neat way to reference or include another email without the mess of a traditional forward.

When to Use This Method vs. Standard Forwarding

Both forwarding and attaching emails have their place. Knowing when to use each can make your email communication much more effective.

Choose Standard Forward when:

• You just need to share information quickly.
• You want to add your comments directly above the forwarded content.
• The original formatting isn’t critical.
• You’re not worried about a bit of thread clutter.

Choose Attaching an Email when:

• Preserving the exact original look of an email is important.
• You want to send a specific, self-contained email as part of a new message.
• You need to keep your primary email’s body clean and focused.
• You’re sending important documents or records that need to be clearly separated.

By understanding these differences, you can select the best method for your communication needs.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While this method is generally reliable, you might occasionally run into a hiccup. Here are some common problems and how to solve them:

Issue: I don’t see the “More…” option.

Solution: Ensure you are tapping and holding on the actual email message in the list view, not on the sender’s name or a preview line. If you’re in the email itself, you might need to go back to the inbox list view to perform the long-press. Sometimes, depending on your iPhone’s iOS version or mail app settings, the exact wording or placement might slightly differ. If “More…” isn’t there, look for a similar option like “Actions” or a context menu that appears after a long press.

Issue: The email pasted into the new message looks jumbled or unreadable.

Solution: This can happen if the original email had complex formatting or was sent in a less common format. Try opening the original email again and see if there’s an option to “View Source” or a different way to display it. If the recipient is having trouble, you might need to resort to a standard forward or save the email as a PDF (if your email client allows) and attach that file instead. For a more robust way to save emails as files, consider using a dedicated email management tool or saving them to cloud storage.

Issue: The recipient can’t open the attached email.

Solution: As mentioned, this “attachment” is more of an embedded message. If the recipient uses a very old or a niche email client, they might not display it correctly. In such cases, a standard forward is often more universally compatible. Alternatively, you could try downloading the email (if possible through a web interface) and then attaching it as a .eml file, though this is more complex and usually requires a computer.

Issue: I accidentally copied the wrong email.

Solution: No problem! Simply tap and hold in the body of the email you’re composing again, and select “Undo Paste” or delete the embedded email snippet. Then, repeat the process of finding and copying the correct email.

Issue: My email is too large after attaching another one.

Solution: While attaching an email itself doesn’t usually add significant file size, if you’re attaching very long emails or multiple emails, the total size could increase. Most email providers have sending limits (e.g., 25MB for Gmail). If your email is too large, consider compressing the content, removing unnecessary attachments from the original email before copying, or using a file-sharing service like iCloud Drive or Dropbox to share large amounts of data. Apple’s Mail app can also integrate with iCloud Drive for sending large attachments.

Alternative Methods for Sharing Emails

While the copy-paste method is a neat trick for embedding emails within other emails, there are other ways to share email content, especially if you need to send a file or a more universally accessible format.

1. Standard Forwarding

As discussed, this is the most common method. It’s quick and easy for sharing information, but can sometimes clutter threads and alter formatting.

2. Saving as PDF

Many email clients on a computer allow you to “print to PDF” or save an email as a PDF. While this isn’t a direct iPhone Mail app feature for outgoing emails in the same way, you can sometimes use the Share Sheet after selecting an email.

1. Open the email you want to save.
2. Tap the forward icon.
3. Look for a “Print” option.
4. On the print preview screen, you might be able to “pinch to zoom” out on the print job, which often turns it into a PDF.
5. Tap the Share icon that appears and choose to save it to Files or send it via another app.

This creates a true file attachment that’s universally readable.

3. Using Cloud Storage Services

For very important or lengthy emails, or if you want to ensure the recipient can access it regardless of their email client, saving the email to a service like iCloud Drive, Google Drive, or Dropbox and then sharing a link is an excellent option. This is especially useful for large attachments or when you want to maintain control over who can access the information.

4. Screenshotting (for visual sharing)

If you only need to share a small portion of an email visually, or if the formatting is critical and the copy-paste method fails, taking a screenshot of the email can be a quick solution. However, this is not an actual attachment and cannot be interacted with as an email.

The copy-paste method is unique because it embeds the email itself within another email, offering a blend of convenience and original context.

Making Your iPhone Email Experience Smoother

Beyond attaching emails, optimizing your iPhone’s Mail app can make your daily tasks much easier. Here are a few tips:

• Organize with Folders: Create custom folders to sort emails by project, sender, or importance.
• Use VIPs: Mark important contacts as VIPs to get notifications only from them.
• Manage Notifications: Customize which mail accounts send you notifications to avoid constant interruptions.
• Swipe Actions: Configure swipe gestures (e.g., swipe left to archive, swipe right to mark as read) for quicker email management.
• Signatures: Set up personalized email signatures for different accounts.

For more in-depth tips on mastering your iPhone’s built-in apps, you can explore resources from Apple Support, such as their official guides on using the Mail app.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion

Mastering how to attach an email to another email on your iPhone might seem like a small trick, but it’s a powerful way to keep your communications organized and professional. By following the simple copy-and-paste steps within the Apple Mail app, you can embed original messages directly into new emails, preserving their format and making them easy for recipients to access. Remember, while standard forwarding is quick, this method offers a cleaner presentation and better control over how your email content is shared.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with these features. With a little practice, you’ll be attaching emails like a pro, making your digital life a bit smoother and more efficient. If you ever get stuck, just revisit these steps, and you’ll get the hang of it. Happy emailing!