Attachment Types Supported for Viewing in Gmail

In Gmail, it is possible to view some attachments in your browser without having to download them first. Learn how to open text documents, spreadsheets, PDFs, and other attachment types supported for viewing in your Gmail inbox.

How to Preview Attachments in Standard Gmail

In the standard web version of Gmail, you can open attachments using the Google Docs Viewer, the same pop-up window used on Google Drive.

While viewing a message in Gmail, click on the preview of the attachment to open it.

If the file type is supported, it will open in the Docs Viewer.

Attachments Supported in Google Docs Viewer

Gmail allows you to send almost any file type as an attachment, but only certain files can be previewed within your browser.

Supported Microsoft File Types

Supported Adobe File Types

Other Supported File Types

How to Preview Attachments in Gmail Basic

The simple HTML version of Gmail doesn't support the Google Docs Viewer, but you can view certain attachments as HTML before you download them.

Select View as HTML under the attached file.

If supported, the file will open in a separate window.

Attachments Supported for Viewing as HTML in Basic View

The following file types are supported for viewing as HTML in Gmail Basic: