Some swear by Mac and macOS, others by PC and Microsoft Windows. Some find advantages such as graphic design and service at Apple important, while others attach more importance to the acquisition costs. Either way, everyone is free to decide which computer to choose. The market shares are clearly distributed with almost 80% for Windows and about 14% for Mac. Users will also find the usability interesting because both operating systems are different. This also becomes apparent when sending large files – it’s a little easier to do this on a Mac than on a PC!
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Send large files – Mac with built-in compressor
If you want to send large files and you have a PC, sometimes you can’t avoid compressing them. This requires a so-called Zip program, which you have to download separately. This reduces the size of files so that you can send them by e-mail, for example. This is important because e-mail providers have size limits. These are between 20 and 25 MB on average, although there are some exceptions that even allow up to 100 MB.
If you have a Mac, you can send large amounts of files without downloading an extra zip application. The reason: macOS has an integrated compressor. This is how it works:
- In the Finder, select the document or folder you want to send and mark it.
- Now open the context menu with the right mouse button and click on the command “Compress”.
- A zip archive is then automatically created from your files, which you can send by e-mail – if it is possible in terms of size.
The archive can be opened with any PC and an appropriate Zip program.
Send large files via Mac: Shrink images directly in the e-mail application
If you want to send photos, Macs have a special feature: the built-in e-mail application automatically resizes the pictures – in three different sizes. Just add the images you want to send as an attachment to the e-mail. A menu opens above the message area, allowing you to select smaller image sizes. You have the option of choosing three smaller versions and thus determine the size of the photos yourself. Of course, this only makes sense if the recipient does not need the photos in their original size. Note: The e-mail program also sets a limit of 20 MB when sending large files via Mac.
Send up to 5 GB with Mail Drop
Apple’s e-mail application offers another special feature: the Mail Drop function. If you activate this, your data volume will increase from 20 MB to 5 GB. However, Mail Drop does not send the files directly to the recipient, but they are stored temporarily in the so-called iCloud. This is located on an Apple server and is therefore identical to cloud services such as Dropbox & Co.
With the iCloud, you will receive a link after transferring the files to the server, which you send to the recipient. The recipient can then use the link to retrieve the files. He does not need Mail Drop or a Mac operating system. Attention: If you want to send whole folders, you have to zip them first, as they cannot be sent uncompressed.
Send large files via Mac – only one mouse click away with TransferXL
What if you could send large files from your Mac in just one click? There’d be no need to zip files or folders, and no megabyte limits. With TransferXL, you can easily upload and send your files directly online, regardless of whether it’s photos, videos, text documents or entire folders. Your data volume: up to 200 GB!
Handling is easy because you can send large data volumes of up to 5 GB without an account – completely free of charge. Upload, get the link and done. You then pass on the generated link, together with a password, to the recipient, who can retrieve the files at any time. The end-to-end encryption is particularly secure, and the large number of servers around the world is responsible for fast transmission. If you use the service more often, you can create an account in which you will find a clear administration, a timeline and tracking. This way, you have everything in view and can always see when your files were downloaded by the recipient.
The most important questions and answers about sending files via Mac
How can I send large files with my Mac?
Often, files are so large that you can’t easily send them. Mac owners can benefit from the fact that the Apple operating system has a built-in Zip application, so you can automatically compress files without downloading an external app. Depending on their size, these zipped files can then be sent via e-mail applications.
Can I reduce the size of photos in my e-mail program?
With a Mac, you can do that easily. If you’re sending large photos, you can resize them directly in the e-mail application – three smaller versions are available. Because the e-mail application only allows file sizes of 20MB, there are limits to what you can reduce.
Which possibilities do I have with Mail Drop?
Mail Drop can be activated directly in the e-mail program, providing you with the possibility to send files up to a size of 5 GB. However, these files do not end up directly with the recipient, but are loaded into a cloud where they can be accessed. Folders will still need to be zipped.
How can I send large files with my Mac and TransferXL?
TransferXL offers the simplest method: upload directly to their website. Without an account, free of charge and with a file volume of up to 5 GB, you can send photos, videos, text documents and much more without having to compress them yourself. Sending large files on your Mac is done in seconds and with maximum security. If you want to send files up to 200 GB, you can create an account for a fee.