With the growing popularity of video content and the ease of sharing files via email, you may have encountered the need to include an MP4 movie in your email. While it’s not as straightforward as attaching other file types, adding an MP4 movie to an email is possible. In this article, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to embed an MP4 movie within an email body, ensuring that your recipients can seamlessly watch the video without the need for external downloads or attachments.
Before diving into the technicalities, it’s important to note that not all email clients support the direct embedding of MP4 videos. Some popular email providers, such as Gmail and Outlook, only allow for the attachment of MP4 files. However, there are workarounds to embed MP4 videos in the email body, which we will explore in this guide. Additionally, the size of the MP4 file plays a crucial role, as some email providers have file size limits. If your MP4 file exceeds the specified limit, you may need to compress it or use alternative methods to share the video.
As we delve deeper into the embedding process, we will provide detailed instructions for different email clients and discuss the limitations and advantages of each method. We will also touch upon alternative solutions for sharing MP4 movies via email, such as cloud storage services and video hosting platforms. By the end of this article, you will have a comprehensive understanding of how to effectively include MP4 movies in your emails, empowering you to seamlessly share video content with your recipients.
Embed MP4 into Gmail
To add an MP4 movie to an email in Gmail, you can embed it directly into the email’s body. Here’s a detailed guide:
1. Enable the Drive Viewer in Gmail
This feature allows you to preview and embed files from Google Drive, including MP4 videos. To enable it:
- Open Gmail and click the gear icon in the top right corner.
- Select “Settings.”
- Scroll down to “Embedded Content” and ensure “Enable Google Drive Viewer” is ticked.
- Click “Save Changes.”
2. Upload the MP4 to Google Drive
If you don’t have the MP4 video in Google Drive, upload it:
- Go to Google Drive (drive.google.com).
- Click “New” > “File Upload” and select the MP4 video.
- Wait for the upload to complete.
3. Embed the MP4 into Gmail
- Create a new email in Gmail.
- Click the paperclip icon in the compose window.
- Select “Google Drive” from the menu.
- Locate the MP4 video in Drive and click “Insert.”
The MP4 will now be embedded into the email body. Recipients can preview and play the video directly from the email.
Email Clients and MP4 Support
Keep in mind that not all email clients support the embedding of MP4 videos. The table below shows the support status for popular email clients:
Email Client MP4 Support Gmail Yes Outlook Yes (Office 365 only) Apple Mail Yes (iOS and macOS) Yahoo Mail No ProtonMail No Include MP4 in Outlook
Including MP4 videos in Outlook emails is a great way to share visual content with your recipients. However, Outlook does not natively support the MP4 format, so you’ll need to use a workaround to embed the video in your email.
Method 1: Convert MP4 to GIF
One way to embed an MP4 video in Outlook is to convert it to a GIF. GIFs are supported by Outlook, and they can be played automatically when the recipient opens the email. To convert an MP4 to a GIF, you can use a free online tool such as Ezgif or CloudConvert.
Once you have converted the MP4 to a GIF, you can insert it into your Outlook email like any other image. Simply click on the “Insert” tab and then click on the “Pictures” button. Navigate to the location of the GIF file and click on the “Insert” button.
Method 2: Use a Cloud Storage Service
Another way to embed an MP4 video in Outlook is to use a cloud storage service such as Google Drive or OneDrive. When you upload an MP4 video to a cloud storage service, it will generate a shareable link. You can then paste the shareable link into your Outlook email.
When the recipient clicks on the shareable link, they will be taken to the cloud storage service where they can view the MP4 video. This method is a good option if you want to share a large MP4 video file that would not be appropriate to attach to an email.
| Method | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|—|—|—|
| Convert MP4 to GIF | GIFs can be played automatically in Outlook | GIFs can only be a maximum of 50 MB |
| Use a cloud storage service | Can share large MP4 video files | Requires the recipient to have an account with the cloud storage service |Insert MP4 in Apple Mail
To insert an MP4 video into an email using Apple Mail, follow these steps:
- Open Apple Mail and compose a new email.
- Click the “Attach” button in the email composition window.
- In the “Choose File” window that opens, navigate to the location of the MP4 video you want to insert.
- Select the MP4 video and click the “Open” button.
- The MP4 video will be attached to the email as a file.
- Send the email.
Additional Notes
Here are some additional notes about inserting MP4 videos into emails using Apple Mail:
- Apple Mail supports the following video formats: MP4, M4V, and MOV.
- The maximum file size for attachments in Apple Mail is 20MB.
- If the MP4 video is larger than 20MB, you can use a file-sharing service such as Dropbox or Google Drive to share the video with the recipient.
- When you insert an MP4 video into an email using Apple Mail, the video will be displayed as a thumbnail in the email. The recipient can click on the thumbnail to watch the video.
File Size Resolution < 1MB 320×240 1-5MB 640×480 5-10MB 1280×720 10-20MB 1920×1080 Add MP4 to Yahoo Mail
Follow these steps to add an MP4 video to a Yahoo Mail email:
- Compose a new email message in Yahoo Mail.
- Click the “Attach Files” icon in the email composer.
- Select the MP4 video file you want to attach from your computer.
- Click the “Send” button to send the email with the MP4 video attached.
4. Troubleshooting
If you are having trouble attaching an MP4 video to a Yahoo Mail email, try the following troubleshooting tips:
**Make sure that the MP4 video file is not too large.** Yahoo Mail has a maximum file attachment size of 25MB. If your MP4 video file is larger than 25MB, you will need to compress it before you can attach it to an email.
**Make sure that the MP4 video file is in a supported format.** Yahoo Mail only supports MP4 video files that are encoded in the H.264 video codec and the AAC audio codec. If your MP4 video file is not encoded in these codecs, you will need to convert it before you can attach it to an email.
**Make sure that your Yahoo Mail account is not full.** If your Yahoo Mail account is full, you will not be able to attach any files to emails. You can check your account storage space by clicking on the “Settings” icon in the Yahoo Mail toolbar and then clicking on the “Storage” tab.
If you are still having trouble attaching an MP4 video to a Yahoo Mail email, you can contact Yahoo Mail support for help.
Attach MP4 in Zoho Mail
Adding an MP4 movie to an email in Zoho Mail is a simple process that can be completed in just a few easy steps. Here’s how it’s done.
1. Open a New Email:
Log in to your Zoho Mail account and click on the “Compose” button to start a new email.
2. Attach the MP4 File:
Click on the “Attach” icon located at the bottom of the compose window and select the MP4 file you want to attach from your computer.
3. Add a Subject and Body:
Enter a subject for your email and compose the email body as usual.
4. Send the Email:
Once you’re done, click on the “Send” button to send the email with the attached MP4 file.
5. Limitations and Workarounds:
While Zoho Mail allows you to attach MP4 files, there are some limitations to keep in mind.
Attribute Value Maximum File Size 25 MB Supported File Types MP4, M4V, MOV Email Size Limit Varies depending on the recipient’s email provider If your MP4 file exceeds the size limit, you can use a cloud-based storage service like Google Drive or Dropbox to share the file and include a link in the email instead.
Encode MP4 for Email
To successfully embed an MP4 video in an email, you need to encode it in a format compatible with email clients. Here are the steps to encode an MP4 for email:
- Choose a compatible video format: Convert your MP4 video to a format supported by most email clients, such as H.264 (MP4) or WebM.
- Reduce file size: Optimize the video size to reduce the file size while maintaining acceptable quality. Aim for a file size under 20MB.
- Set appropriate resolution: Adjust the video resolution to optimize it for email viewing. Recommended resolutions for email are 640×360 (SD) or 1280×720 (HD).
- Set video duration: Keep the video duration short and engaging. Most email clients support videos up to 30 seconds in length.
- Add audio if necessary: If desired, add audio to your video. However, note that many email clients disable audio playback by default.
- Recommended Encoding Settings: Utilize the following encoding settings for optimal email compatibility:
Encoding Setting Value Video Codec H.264/MPEG-4 Video Bitrate 2-5 Mbps Frame Rate 24-30 fps Video Resolution 640×360 or 1280×720 Audio Codec AAC Audio Bitrate 128-192 kbps Send MP4 via ProtonMail
ProtonMail, a secure email service, allows users to send MP4 videos as attachments. Here’s how to do it:
- Compose an email: Click “Compose” and enter the recipient’s email address.
- Attach MP4 file: Click the “Attach” icon and select the MP4 file you want to send.
- Enter text: Write the email’s content and include any necessary details.
- Encrypt message (optional): For extra security, click the “Encrypt” button to encrypt the email.
- Review and send: Double-check the email before clicking “Send.” ProtonMail allows you to send up to 250MB of attachments per message.
- Confirm successful delivery: Once sent, you’ll receive a confirmation message. To ensure the MP4 file was received successfully, ask the recipient to verify it’s in their inbox.
- File size limitations (for free and paid accounts):
Account Type Attachment Size Limit Free 25MB per attachment Paid (ProtonMail Plus) 500MB per attachment
Embed MP4 in Roundcube Webmail
To embed an MP4 video in Roundcube Webmail, follow the steps below:
1. Compose a new email message.
2. Click on the “Insert” tab in the toolbar.
3. Select “Attachment” from the dropdown menu.
4. Click on the “Browse” button and select the MP4 file you want to embed.
5. Once the file has been selected, click on the “Upload” button.
6. The file will be uploaded and a link to the file will be inserted into the email body.
7. To embed the video, click on the “” button in the toolbar.
8. In the HTML code, find the line that contains the link to the MP4 file.
Add the following code before the link:
“`
“`
Replace `[file_link]` with the link to the MP4 file.Modify the width and height attributes to change the size of the video.
9. Click on the “Update” button to save the changes.
10. Send the email message.
The video will be embedded in the email body, and the recipient will be able to play the video by clicking on the link.
Note: Not all email clients support embedded videos. If the recipient does not see the video, they may need to download the MP4 file and open it in a media player.
Attribute Description width The width of the video in pixels. height The height of the video in pixels. controls Show playback controls (play, pause, volume, etc.). source The URL of the MP4 file. Inline MP4 in Thunderbird
Thunderbird is an email client that supports inline MP4 playback. To add an MP4 movie to an email in Thunderbird, follow these steps:
- Open Thunderbird and compose a new message.
- Click the “Attach” button in the toolbar.
- Select the “Browse” button and locate the MP4 file you want to insert.
- Click the “Open” button.
- The MP4 file will be attached to the email.
- Compose the email and click the “Send” button.
The recipient of the email will be able to view the MP4 movie inline by clicking on the attachment.
Additional Notes
Here are some additional notes about inline MP4 playback in Thunderbird:
- Only MP4 files that are encoded with H.264 video and AAC audio will play inline.
- The maximum file size for inline MP4 playback is 25MB.
- If the MP4 file is larger than 25MB, it will be attached to the email as a regular file.
Supported File Formats
File Format Codec MP4 H.264 video, AAC audio Embedding an MP4 Video in an Email
1. Create an HTML email template.
2. Insert an HTML5 video tag into the template.
3. Set the video source to the MP4 file you want to embed.
4. Set the video controls to display the video’s playback controls, such as play, pause, and volume.
5. Upload the HTML email template to your email marketing platform.
6. Send the email to your recipients.
Troubleshooting MP4 Email Issues
1. Check if your email client supports HTML5 video.
2. Make sure that the MP4 file is in a format that is compatible with your email client.
3. Ensure that the video file is not too large.
4. Check if the video file is corrupted.
5. Clear your browser’s cache and cookies.
6. Try using a different email client.
7. Contact your email service provider for support.
8. Check the file size of the MP4 video. Most email providers have a limit on the size of attachments that can be sent.
9. Use a video hosting service. If you have a large MP4 video file, you can upload it to a video hosting service, such as YouTube or Vimeo, and then embed the video in your email using an HTML5 video tag.
10. Convert the MP4 video to a smaller file size. There are a number of free online tools that you can use to convert MP4 videos to smaller file sizes, such as HandBrake or FFmpeg.
Email Client MP4 Support Apple Mail Yes Gmail Yes Microsoft Outlook No Yahoo Mail Yes How to Add an MP4 Movie Inside an Email
Adding an MP4 movie inside an email is not as straightforward as it may seem, as email service providers have restrictions on the types of files that can be attached. However, there are a few methods you can use to work around these limitations and send an MP4 movie via email.
One method is to use a cloud storage service, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, to host the MP4 movie. You can then share a link to the movie in your email. This method is relatively simple and does not require any special software or plugins.
Another method is to convert the MP4 movie to a different file format, such as GIF or MOV, which are more likely to be accepted by email service providers. You can use a free online converter to do this. Once you have converted the movie, you can attach it to your email as a regular file.
If you need to send a large MP4 movie, you may need to use a specialized service that allows you to send large files over email. These services typically offer paid plans that provide additional storage space and bandwidth.
People Also Ask
How do I send a video email?
There are a few ways to send a video email. One way is to use a cloud storage service, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, to host the video. You can then share a link to the video in your email. Another way is to convert the video to a different file format, such as GIF or MOV, which are more likely to be accepted by email service providers. You can use a free online converter to do this. Once you have converted the video, you can attach it to your email as a regular file.
What is the maximum file size for an email attachment?
The maximum file size for an email attachment varies depending on the email service provider. However, most providers have a limit of around 25MB. If you need to send a larger file, you can use a cloud storage service, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, to host the file and share a link in your email.
Can I send a video email from my iPhone?
Yes, you can send a video email from your iPhone. To do this, open the Mail app and tap the Compose button. Then, tap the paperclip icon and select the video you want to send. You can also record a new video by tapping the camera icon. Once you have selected the video, tap the Send button.
