Open Gmail attachment Outgoing email

Browser Support
1

When I link a file to an email (Google Email) I usually wait until it loads then I click on it to make sure it is the right file. The file opens and wants me to save it. It opens up with the Edge Browser and in Chrome. It does not with open with Brave. Brave wants me to save the file.

  1. I create an email in Gmail, then attach a picture (jpg) to it.

  2. Before I send it, I click on the attached file and I get a Save File dialog.

  3. I expect the browser to open the file immediately so I can verify it. I attached the file…, I don’t need to save it again.

  4. This happens every time I’ve tried to do this with Brave.

  5. I’m using Windows 10 Home, version 21H1, and Brave version
    Version 1.43.93 Chromium: 105.0.5195.127 (Official Build) (64-bit)

  6. My PC is an Intel i7 with 16Gb of RAMM and 106Gb of free space on my boot drive SSD.

2

@jpaul_johnson,
To have the browser open images (or any file type) automatically without asking you to save it, please try the following:

  1. Go to Gmail and attach an image/file
  2. Click on it once it’s fully uploaded and go ahead and save the file (you should only have to do this once)
  3. Then, on the downloads bar at the bottom of the window, click the arrow on the downloaded image, then select Always open files of this type (shown below):
    image

Now when you attach a file (an image in this example) and click on the attachment, it should just open the file rather than prompting you to save it again.

Hope this helps!

3

Really wanted to see a download bar, but none. Your test example looks a Mac screen. I’m thinking this wont work this way for a Windows PC. Is there a different method I can use? Perhaps setting a default action in Settings?

Thanks

4

If I’m understanding you correctly, you’re saying you think it should just open the attachment without ever trying to download. I mean, why does it have to save or download if it’s already on your device?

When I tested this in Chrome and in Brave, it always has to download again. It’s seeing it as a fresh download because it’s a file removed from your computer, it’s no longer carrying the location info of where it’s stored on your device. I mean, it’s not like when you sent it to the other person that they are going to see you had it on C:\Users\Name\Pictures\ or that it would replicate there. So it’s asking where to put it.

So there’s two settings to look at if you want it to just automatically download and open without you clicking on extra buttons.

  1. brave://settings/downloads where you’d have to disable the toggle for Ask where to save each file before downloading.

  2. The button that Mattches showed you. That button for him is when the file is downloaded, the thing you usually click on to open. I have an arrow pointing and circled it in blue below.

Inbox

Once you click that, it opens up with the menu like Mattches shared.

Of course, toggling it that way means 2 things.

  • All downloads will happen without asking you if you’d like to save
  • All JPEG will automatically open when you download them.

So not quite sure that’s what you want, but seems to be the primary option being suggested for now. Not sure if @Mattches or anyone else might have a better solution of their sleeve.

And yes, I did mine on Windows 10 Pro. So the options are there and it works.

1 Like
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I think you’re onto something…

You said, “it’s no longer carrying the location info of where it’s stored on your device…”

Well, it’s in my draft email until it’s sent. Perhaps Brave should have the location info until it’s been sent. Brave should know that this email is a draft and it should keep the link to it’s location just for paranoid people like me that might click on it to verify the file.

It’s ridiculous for me to attach a file from my computer, click on it in the draft email, and be prompted for a location to save it.

You also noted… , “So there’s two settings to look at if you want it to just automatically download and open without you clicking on extra buttons.”

Sorry. I’m likely not explaining this well. I don’t want to download it at all. I attached it from within my computer. It’s already available. Seriously, don’t you think this is a bit insane? I regard this as buggy. I can find 'em, but I can’t fix 'em.

One last point pertaining to the menu, you said, “And yes, I did mine on Windows 10 Pro. So the options are there and it works.”

Congrats. I have Windows 11 Pro Version 21H2, and this little arrow you’re pointing out does not exist on my system. So I have to say, no, the option is not there. I’d be thrilled to send you the screen shots so you can take a good look at the missing arrow.

Just to clarify, again, what I want is to be able to select an attachment I put in a draft message and view it by clicking on it before sending the message, without having to save it again. Just one click. No Save dialog. It just makes sense.

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