"Offering free computer help, hints, and tips to the Internet populace." Now with over 3,820 tips!

Google Gmail

Search for Email Containing a File Attachment Type or Filename

SUMMARY: Query Gmail to find e-mail containing specific types or names of file attachments.

This tip was written on August 15, 2006. Gmail's interface is subject to change.

Need to quickly examine your Gmail inbox and folders to see if you have any JPG image file attachments? Or what if you remember that you have an e-mail with a file attachment containing a specific filename but can't find the e-mail? Here's how to perform a search.

1. Sign onto Gmail.

2. Next to "Search Mail" enter a query in the following format:

filename:FILENAME_OR_EXTENSION

For example, to search for e-mail containing JPG image attachments:

filename:jpg

To find e-mail containing the attachment "birthday.pdf"

filename:birthday.pdf

To clear the search query, just re-click on your current folder name.