How to Send Executable Files (.exe) in Gmail

Email services including Gmail won’t allow us to send and receive executable files. Gmail automatically blocks these exe files and if you are able to send exe files Gmail will bounce it back to it’s original sender automatically. The reason is simple, executable files may contain viruses. But with this simple trick we can send safe executable files through Gmail.

Send executable files (.exe) files in Gmail

Click on Start > Control Panel > Folder Options > View tab, under Advanced settings, uncheck “Hide extensions for known file types”  and click Apply, OK to save changes.

Now you will be able to see files extensions, example: program.exe. Now replace exe with txt extension so the program file becomes program.txt, click yes to Rename warning “changing file name extension makes file unusable”.

Now go to Gmail and send the text file as an attachment and it will be downloaded by your colleague without any problems after virus scan by Gmail. Tell your friend to change text file to executable file by Unchecking “Hide extensions for known file types” in the Control Panel > Folder Options, just like you did.

Video Tutorial:

Miguel

I started this tech blog back in 2011 as a place to write down processes I took to fix my client systems and network. Now I write some tips and tricks to help others with the tech issues that one might encounter.

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