Regardless of the platform you use, there is certainly no shortage of methods for sending a Microsoft Word document to anyone over the internet. Most cloud services (such as Google Drive and Dropbox) offer the ability to send documents directly from their desktop and mobile applications. You can also attach a file to an email or Facebook conversation. Also, if you have an e-mail program installed on your computer, you can send the document without even having to leave Word.
Steps
Method 1 of 8: Attach a Document to a Message on Gmail or Yahoo
Step 1. Log into your Gmail or Yahoo! email account
The Word document can be attached in a Gmail or Yahoo! Mail on a computer or using the mobile application of these services.
The free email applications and sites are almost all similar. These instructions can help you use providers other than Gmail and Yahoo
Step 2. Tap or click "Write"
In both mobile applications the "Write" icon is represented by a pencil. A new window will appear, in which you can write your message.
Step 3. Tap or click the paperclip icon
On almost all platforms this action opens a box that allows you to select the file to attach.
If you use the Yahoo! Mail on a mobile device, tap the "+" button, then tap the second icon (a sheet of paper) in the toolbar that appears. At this point a window should open in which you can select the file to attach
Step 4. Tap "Attach File" or "Insert from Google Drive"
You can skip this step if you are not using the Gmail app on a mobile device.
- Select "Insert from Google Drive" if the document has been saved to Google Drive.
- Select "Attach file" if the document has been saved on your phone or tablet.
Step 5. Search for the document you want to attach
Explore the files until you find the document you want to send and double-click on it (or tap it) to attach it.
If you want to attach a document saved in Google Drive, tap the file in question and then tap "Select"
Step 6. Add the recipient's email address
Type his email address in the "To:" field, then enter the subject and content of the message.
Step 7. Tap or click "Submit"
When the recipient opens the email, they will be presented with the option to view or download the file to their computer or mobile device.
Method 2 of 8: Attach a Document in the Mail Application on an iPhone or iPad
Step 1. Open the "Mail" application on your device
To use this method, make sure the application is set up correctly to send emails from your account.
- You will be able to attach a document that you have saved on your device or in iCloud Drive.
- If you've installed Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive on your device, you'll have the option to attach a document from one of these accounts.
Step 2. Tap the icon that will allow you to compose the message
It is depicted by a square with a pencil inside.
Step 3. Enter an email address in the "To:
You should enter the address of the person you intend to send the document to.
Step 4. Write your message
Enter a subject in the field of the same name and write a message to the recipient in the typing area indicated.
Step 5. Touch and hold the body of the message with one finger
A black bar will appear with several options available.
Step 6. Tap "Insert Attachment"
By default, your iCloud Drive will open for you to browse files.
Step 7. Tap "Locations" to switch to another location
If the document isn't in your iCloud Drive, select it from one of the folders listed (including Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive, if applicable).
If you don't see the icon of the cloud service you use, tap "More" and select the right one. Swipe the button to activate it, then tap the back button to reopen the screen titled "Locations"
Step 8. Select the file and tap "Insert Attachment"
You will return to the message you wrote. At this point you will have attached the document to the email.
Step 9. Tap "Send"
The file will be delivered to the indicated email account.
Method 3 of 8: Attach a Document in the Mail Application on a Mac
Step 1. Open the "Mail" application on your Apple device
To use this method you will need to have configured the "Mail" application to send emails via your email account. Perform the procedure now if you haven't done so already.
Step 2. Press ⌘ Cmd + N to write a new message
You could also click on "New message" (the icon is represented by a square with a pencil inside) or on "File"> "New message".
Step 3. Click on the paperclip icon
It is located at the top right of the window titled "New Message".
Step 4. Select the document and click "Choose File"
If you want to select multiple files, you can hold down the ⌘ Cmd key as you click on the documents.
Step 5. Enter the recipient's email address
Type the recipient's e-mail address in the "To:" field, then write the subject in the field of the same name and a message in the indicated area.
Step 6. Send the email
Click on the paper airplane icon in the upper left corner of the message to send the email and the attached document.
Method 4 of 8: Share a Document from Google Drive
Step 1. Open Google Drive
If the Word document is in Google Drive, it will be easy to share it with other people. Access to Drive varies depending on the platform used:
- Mobile device: Open the Google Drive app on your device.
- Desktop: Go to https://drive.google.com in a browser.
Step 2. Search for the document you want to share
If you don't see it in the root folder, try looking for it in one of the subfolders.
If you haven't uploaded the document from your computer yet, click "New"> "File Upload". Then, double click on the Word document
Step 3. Tap or click on the "⋮" icon and then on "Add people"
Skip this step if you are using the web version of Drive.
Step 4. Click on the file with the right mouse button and select "Share"
Skip this step if you are using the mobile application.
Alternatively, click on the document once and then click on the "Share" icon (it is represented by a human silhouette flanked by the "+" sign)
Step 5. Enter the email address of the person you want to send the file to
If it is among your Google contacts, you can simply start typing its name and then select the correct user in the search results.
Step 6. Check if the recipient can edit the copy of the document on your Google Drive account
By default, Drive offers the ability to edit the document in Google Drive.
Do not touch these settings if you and the person you are sharing the document with are planning to make changes
Step 7. If you want the recipient to be able to download a copy, without modifying yours, remove the check mark from "Can edit" by selecting "Can view" instead
Step 8. Select "Done" or "Share" to share the document
An email will be sent to the recipient with all the information needed to access the file. You can view it online or download it to your computer.
Method 5 of 8: Share a Document from Dropbox
Step 1. Open Dropbox on your computer or mobile device
If you are a Dropbox user, you can use this service to share documents with anyone on the web. Using this method a message will be sent to the recipient, including a link to the file. The recipient will be able to download it by accessing the link in question (but will not need a Dropbox account).
- To use this method, you must have a Dropbox account.
- You should also have the application installed on your device. If you use a computer, you can use the web version by going to
Step 2. Upload the document to Dropbox
If you haven't uploaded your Word document to Dropbox yet, do so now.
- Mobile application: tap the "+" icon and then select "Upload file". Search for the document you want to add and tap "Upload File".
- Desktop application: If the folder where you saved the file hasn't already synced with Dropbox, drag the document from its current location to the Dropbox folder.
- Dropbox.com: Open the folder where you want to save the file, then click the "Upload" icon to select the document.
Step 3. Open the "Share" window
This step varies slightly depending on the platform used:
- Mobile application: Tap the down arrow next to the document and select "Share".
- Desktop: click on the document with the right mouse button (or Ctrl} + Click) in the Dropbox application and then click on "Share…".
- Dropbox.com: Hover your mouse cursor over the document and select "Share" (when the menu appears).
Step 4. Select "Can View" from the various authorization options
If you are using a mobile device, you will find this option in the section titled "These People".
Step 5. Enter the email address of the person you want to send the file to
Enter it in the "To:" field. To add multiple recipients, separate each email address with a comma (,).
Step 6. Select the "Invite" or "Send" button
The name of the key varies depending on the application.
If you use the Dropbox.com site, this button will be called "Share". An e-mail will be sent to the specified e-mail address or addresses
Method 6 of 8: Attach a Document to a Facebook Post
Step 1. Log into Facebook
If you have a Word document on your computer that you want to send to another person, you can do so using the web version of Facebook.
- For this method to work, both you and the recipient of the document must have a Facebook account.
- The Messenger application allows you to attach only photos and videos, while it does not support other types of documents saved on the phone.
Step 2. Open a conversation with the recipient
The document should be attached to a message in the chat.
- Click on the message icon at the top right and select "New message".
- Start typing the recipient's name in the "To:" field and then click on it when it appears in the search results.
Step 3. Click the paperclip icon at the bottom of the chat window
You can now search for the Word document on your computer.
Step 4. Select the document and click "Open"
If you are using a Mac, this key will show "Choose File".
Step 5. Press Enter to send the document
The recipient can download it by double clicking on the icon that will appear in the chat window.
Method 7 of 8: Share a Document on Word Online
Step 1. Open the document in Word Online
If you use the free version of Microsoft Word available online, you will be able to share the document directly from the program.
This method is similar to the one to follow to share a document from your OneDrive account. If the file is on OneDrive, search for it to open it in Word Online
Step 2. Click on the "Share" button
It is located in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 3. Select "Invite People"
Here you can enter the email address of the person you want to share the document with.
Step 4. Enter the recipient's email address in the "To:
. To add multiple recipients, separate each email address with a comma (,).
Step 5. Select the editing permissions for the document
By default, the recipient of the file will have the ability to make changes. This setting can be found on the invitation screen, more specifically in the drop-down menu titled "Anyone with the link can edit".
- If you want access to the document to be constantly available and you want everyone on the invitation list to have the ability to make changes, do not change this option.
- To share a read-only version of the document (which cannot be edited by other users), click "Anyone with the link can edit" and select "Anyone with the link can only view".
Step 6. Write a note in the "Add a message (optional)" field
This field should be treated as if it were the body of an email. Write a message to notify the recipient of the content of the email and document.
Step 7. Click on "Share"
An email will be sent to the recipient with the link to the file. Once the link is obtained, the recipient can make changes to the document on Word Online (if you have given them permission to do so) or download it to their computer.
Method 8 of 8: Share a Document on Word 2016
Step 1. Open the document with Microsoft Word
If you use Word 2016 for Windows or Mac, you can use the built-in "Share" feature to send the document directly from the program.
If you are using an older version of Word, click on the "File" menu (or the "Office" button in the 2007 version) and select "Send" or "Send to" to send the file
Step 2. Save your changes to the document
To avoid sending an old version of the file, click on "File" and then on "Save".
Step 3. Click on the "Share" icon
You'll see it in the top right corner of Word. It is depicted by a human silhouette flanked by the "+" sign.
Step 4. Click on "Save to Cloud" if prompted
If you haven't saved the document to the cloud, you will be prompted to do so. Word will try to save the file to the cloud if you wish to share it for editing rather than sending it as an attachment (the latter feature will be explored shortly).
Step 5. Click on "Send Attachment"
You may need to click "Share" again to see this option. The "Send Attachment" option will allow you to send a copy of the document to a recipient via email.
If instead of sending the file to the recipient you prefer to share online access to edit it, choose "Invite other users". Type the user's email address when prompted, then click "Send" to send them an email invitation so they can edit the document
Step 6. Select an attachment type
There are two options available:
- Send a copy: Choose this option if the person you want to send the document to needs to edit it or add other content.
- Send a PDF: Choose this option if you don't want the document to be edited.
Step 7. Enter the recipient's email address
After selecting the attachment type you prefer, a new message will open in your default email program (such as Outlook or Apple Mail). Enter the recipient's email address in the "To:" field, write the subject and add a description of the file in the body of the message.
To send the document to multiple people, separate each e-mail address with a comma (,)
Step 8. Click on "Submit"
The document will be delivered to the recipient within seconds.
Advice
- Almost all cloud services offer the ability to send documents via email or mobile applications. The instructions are similar for most services.
- If you don't have Microsoft Word, you can use Microsoft Office Online. The service includes a free and updated version of Word available only on the web.
