Attach Files as PDF by cloudHQ is a browser extension that works inside Gmail. It adds an Attach Files as PDF button to the Gmail compose window. Choose files from your computer and cloudHQ converts them to PDF, then adds the new PDF files to your open Gmail draft as normal attachments.

A PDF looks the same on every computer, phone, and email app. It is easy to open, print, review, and archive. It is also less likely to be changed by accident than a Word document, spreadsheet, or presentation.

Attach Files as PDF creates the PDF from the source file you choose at that moment. This helps you avoid sending an old PDF that you exported before your latest edits. Common uses include contracts, invoices, proposals, resumes, reports, forms, presentations, and private business documents.

Install Attach Files as PDF by cloudHQ from the Chrome Web Store. Refresh Gmail, open a new compose window, and click the Attach Files as PDF icon in the compose toolbar.

For full instructions, read Getting started with Attach Files as PDF.

The extension converts common document and image formats, including:

• Microsoft Word and RTF files
• Microsoft Excel spreadsheets
• Microsoft PowerPoint presentations
• OpenDocument files from apps such as OpenOffice and LibreOffice
• Plain text and HTML files
• Images such as JPG, PNG, GIF, BMP, TIFF, and WebP
• Email message files and many other formats

Existing PDF files are supported too. They do not need to be converted again – but we can encrypt and password-protect them if you need that.

Common documents and images are converted into normal PDF pages. If a file type cannot be displayed as PDF pages, cloudHQ creates a one-page PDF and places the original file inside it as an embedded attachment. The PDF explains how the recipient can extract the original file with Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader.

Adobe blocks some attachment extensions, including several archive, program, and script formats. For those files, cloudHQ adds .txt to the embedded file name. For example, documents.zip may be embedded as documents.zip.txt. After saving the attachment, remove the final .txt to restore the original name. The instruction page explains this when it is needed.

An existing PDF is attached without being converted again. Its current pages, paper size, and orientation stay the same. You can still choose to password-protect it as part of the batch.

You can select up to 5 files in one batch. You can add files with the file picker or drag them into the dialog. The selected-files list lets you review and remove files before you click Convert and Attach.

If you’re a Google Workspace admin, you can remotely install the cloudHQ Chrome extension. Find instructions in support note How to install cloudHQ extensions on your employee’s Chrome browsers. The extension ID is: bfhaienophdigbdknjamfcbhinmmnbha

Each source file can be up to 15 MB. The 15 MB limit applies to each file, not to the whole batch.

Several very large files can still be too much for one browser request or one Gmail message. If a batch of large files fails, try converting fewer files at a time. If the final PDF attachments are too large for Gmail, split them across more than one email.

Yes. If a resulting PDF is larger than 18 MB, cloudHQ tries to compress it automatically. The compressed copy is used only when it is smaller than the original. There is no compression checkbox or compression setting.

Compression helps with Gmail’s attachment limit, but Gmail still controls the total size allowed for all attachments in one message.

The converted PDF files are returned directly to your open Gmail draft and appear as regular email attachments. They are not automatically saved to Google Drive or downloaded to your computer.

The PDF file name is based on the source file name. The attachments are added in the same order as the files in your selected-files list.

No. The source files are uploaded directly from your browser to the cloudHQ conversion service. The converted PDFs are returned directly to your Gmail draft. Google Drive authorization is not required.

No. The recipient gets a normal PDF attachment and can open it with a PDF reader. If you password-protected the PDF, the recipient also needs the password.

For a PDF that contains an unsupported original file as an embedded attachment, Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader is recommended because some other PDF readers do not show embedded attachments.

Paper format and orientation are chosen separately for each supported file in the Gmail dialog. Available paper formats include A0, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5, Legal, Letter, and Tabloid. You can choose portrait or landscape orientation.

These controls are shown for files such as text, HTML, and images. They are not shown for existing PDFs or Microsoft Office and OpenDocument files.

The starting paper size is selected from your country or region. It is usually Letter for users in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. It is usually A4 in other locations. The starting orientation is portrait.

Paper size and orientation are per-file choices. They are not saved on the settings page.

Yes. In the file-selection dialog, select Password protect the PDF and enter a password before you click Convert and Attach. Password protection applies to every file in that batch. The recipient must enter the password to open each protected PDF.

For better security, give the password to the recipient through a separate message or another trusted method. If cloudHQ cannot encrypt a PDF, that file is reported as failed and is not attached without protection.

The recipient cannot open an encrypted PDF without its password. If you saved the password as your default, check it on the Attach Files as PDF settings page. If the password was not saved or is no longer available, choose the original source file again and create a new PDF with a password you know. The finished PDF does not provide a way to reveal its password.

Conversion time depends on the file type, file size, number of files, and document complexity. Small files may finish quickly. Large presentations, spreadsheets, images, and batches can take longer. Keep the Gmail draft open while the extension converts and attaches the files.

A conversion can fail if a file is damaged, empty, too large, or cannot be read by the conversion software. Encryption can also fail if a valid protected PDF cannot be created. Try these steps:

1. Confirm that the source file opens normally on your computer.
2. Confirm that the file is no larger than 15 MB.
3. Try the file by itself instead of in a large batch.
4. Try saving a new copy of the source file, then convert the new copy.
5. Refresh Gmail and try again.

If the problem continues, contact support@cloudhq.net and include the file type and the error message you saw. Do not email a confidential source file unless cloudHQ support asks for it and you are comfortable sharing it.

Try these steps:

1. Confirm that Attach Files as PDF is installed and enabled in Chrome.
2. Refresh the Gmail browser tab after installing the extension.
3. Close the current compose window and open a new one.
4. Confirm that you are signed in to the correct Gmail and cloudHQ accounts.
5. Restart Chrome if the button still does not appear.

You can also review the Attach Files as PDF support page or contact support@cloudhq.net.

Yes. Install Attach Files as PDF from Microsoft Edge Add-ons. The extension works with Gmail in the Edge browser.

No. Browser extensions do not run inside the Gmail app on iPhone, iPad, or Android. Use Gmail in a supported desktop browser with the Attach Files as PDF extension installed.

Yes. Attach Files as PDF has a 30-day trial. The trial starts when you begin your first PDF conversion, not simply when you install the extension or view the dashboard. After the trial ends, you must upgrade before starting new conversions. The upgrade message provides the current plan and purchase link.

No. The source file on your computer is not replaced or edited. cloudHQ uses the uploaded copy to create the PDF result.

The selected files must be uploaded to cloudHQ so the service can perform the conversion, compression, and optional encryption you request. The extension does not need Google Drive access for this process.

For complete details, read how cloudHQ handles the privacy of your data, the cloudHQ Privacy Policy, and the current cloudHQ sub-processor list.

Visit the Attach Files as PDF website, watch the video overview, or open the Attach Files as PDF dashboard. For additional help, email support@cloudhq.net.