Gmail Cannot Send Email — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Gmail can't send your email for one of a few reasons. The attachment may be too large, the email address may be wrong, or you may have hit Gmail's daily sending limit. Most sending errors have a simple fix.

Affected Models

Gmail on web
Gmail on Android
Gmail on iPhone

Common Causes

Your attachment is larger than Gmail's 25MB limit
The recipient's email address is typed incorrectly
You've hit Gmail's daily sending limit of 500 emails
Your internet connection dropped while sending
A browser extension is interfering with Gmail

How to Fix It

Check if your attachment is too large.

Gmail's file attachment limit is 25MB. If your file is larger, upload it to Google Drive first and share the link in your email instead.
Double-check the recipient's email address.

Look carefully for typos — a wrong letter or missing dot will cause the email to bounce back. Gmail will usually tell you 'Address not found' if the address is invalid.
Wait if you've hit the daily sending limit.

Free Gmail accounts can send up to 500 emails per day. If you've sent that many, you'll need to wait until the next day. Google Workspace (paid) has a higher limit.
Try sending from a different browser.

If Gmail is open in Chrome, try Firefox or Edge instead. Browser extensions can sometimes block Gmail from sending emails correctly.
Disable browser extensions and try again.

In Chrome, type chrome://extensions in the address bar. Toggle off your extensions one at a time to find which one is causing the problem.

When to Call a Professional

Gmail sending problems are always a settings or limit issue — no professional help is needed. If your account has been suspended, visit support.google.com for account recovery help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Gmail say my email bounced back?

A bounce-back means the email couldn't be delivered. The most common reasons are a wrong email address or a full inbox on the recipient's side. Read the bounce-back message carefully — it usually tells you exactly why it failed.

How do I send a file larger than 25MB with Gmail?

Upload the file to Google Drive at drive.google.com. Then, in Gmail, click the Google Drive icon in the compose window and select your file. Gmail will insert a shareable link instead of attaching the file directly.

Gmail says 'Sending failed' — what do I do?

First, check your internet connection. If you're connected, try saving the email as a draft, waiting a minute, and sending again. If it still fails, try a different browser or clear Gmail's cache.