This article is a part of the Gmail Tips series.


Gmail offers a few different ways to view attachments.

Here's how to view an attachment in its original format:

• Open the message containing an attachment.


• Click 'Download' at the bottom of the message.


• Choose to 'Open' or 'Save' the file. Opening the file displays the attachment in a new window. When you're finished reading the attached file, close the new browser window to return to Gmail.

If you'd like the contents of your attachment to appear in a new browser window without having to download the file, view the attachment as HTML. Here's how:

• Open the message containing an attachment.


• Click 'View as HTML' at the bottom of the message.


• When you're finished reading the attached file, close the new browser window to return to Gmail.

Viewing attachments as HTML is a quick and easy alternative to downloading files. You can view the following types of files as HTML: .pdf, .doc, .xls, .ppt, .rtf, .sxw, .sxc, .sxi, .sdw, .sdc, .sdd, and .wml.