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FIX: Excel File isn’t Sending & Attaching to Outlook Email

Sending under another file format can solve the issue

5 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

Microsoft Excel includes a handySend as Attachmentoption that enables users to attach Excel spreadsheet files to Outlook emails.

Thus, users can attach spreadsheet files toemailsand send them directly from Excel. It’s an option that neatlyintegrates Outlook with Excel.

However, some users have posted on software support forums about aGeneral mail failureExcel error.

That error message can pop up when users try to attach spreadsheets toOutlook emailsfrom within Excel.

Consequently, they can’t attachExcelfiles toemailswith the application’sSend as Attachmentfeature. Below are some potential resolutions for fixing theGeneral mail failureissue.

What can I do if my Excel file is not attaching to an email?

1. Send it in a different format

If Outlook rejects attaching the Excel file, you can also disguise it cleverly in another format. The best way to do that is to compress the file by usingWinZip.

To do that, find the Excel file on your computer, right-click on it and select theAdd to archiveoption. The newly obtained Zip file will be most likely accepted as an Outlook attachment.

Also, this software includes a file conversion option so you can transform your Excel file into another type and see if it gets accepted by Outlook.

WinZip is the most popular file archiving tool but it’s not only that because it evolved a lot during the last few years.

Now, this excellent tool features many other tools like data encryption, data backup, file management, and even file merging.

⇒Get WinZip

2. Repair the Excel file

Your Excel file might be rejected by Outlook because it’s probably corrupted. Don’t worry because you can fix it easily by using specialized software likeStellar Repair for Excel.

This tool’s job is to secure Excel workbooks and data from corruption. However, it can also rebuild corrupted Excel files and restore all the datasets and visuals.

Stellar Repair for Excel can recover all Excel file structures including tables, charts, formulas, and even cell comments.

It also works with more files simultaneously and supports even the older Excel versions from 2000 & 2003 to 2019.

3. Disable the third-party antivirus and firewall software

Some users have confirmed they’ve fixed theGeneral mail failureerror by removing third-party firewall blocks for MS Excel.

So, try turning off (or uninstalling) any third-party antivirus and firewall software to see if they’re blocking Excel’s email attachment feature.

A lot of antivirus utilities include a disable (turn off) option of some kind you can select by right-clicking their system tray icons.

If you can’t find such an option, however, uninstall the third-party antivirus orfirewall software.

You can as well uninstall your antivirus software, but you will have to replace it quickly because you can’t leave the system unprotected for long periods of time.

We recommend you switch to a more effective antivirus, firstly to not interfere with any of your software so you will not be forced to disable or uninstall it.

In order to find the right option, it is recommended to look for the mostefficient antivirus software on the market.

4. Check that Outlook is the default email client

5. Delete the MSMAPI32.DLL file

6. Repair the MS Office suite

7. Uninstall duplicate Office apps

The General mail failure error often arises due to duplicate versions of MS Office apps being installed.

Some users might have older versions of MS Office applications installed alongside newer ones. Thus, removing duplicate MS Office might resolve the issue.

To do that, open the Windows 10Start menuand click the Microsoft Office folder there to see if there are any duplicate Office applications there.

Right-click duplicate Office software there and clickUninstallto remove app entries that don’t relate to your current Office version.

8. Reinstall Microsoft Office

Those are some of the confirmed fixes for Excel’sGeneral mail failureerror. With that error fixed, you can then attach Excel files toemailswith the application’sSend as Attachmentoption.

If you have any other questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to leave them in the comments section below.

FIX: Excel File isn’t Sending & Attaching to Outlook Email#

What can I do if my Excel file is not attaching to an email?#

1. Send it in a different format#

2. Repair the Excel file#

3. Disable the third-party antivirus and firewall software#

4. Check that Outlook is the default email client#

5. Delete the MSMAPI32.DLL file#

6. Repair the MS Office suite#

7. Uninstall duplicate Office apps#

8. Reinstall Microsoft Office#