How to Send Executable Files by Email

Executable files cannot be sent over email by just attaching them. You might be knowing this. Few old tricks like changing the file extension to .jpg from .exe, sending the file into a ZIP folder, or else adding some random file extension will not work.

So here is one method that will work. You can encrypt your executable file into an image file, send it by mail, get it decrypted, and extracted by the receiver. Remember, you shouldn’t run any attachment files from an unknown source on your PC.

The process is as follows:

  • Prepare the file to be sent
  • Send the file (via Gmail or Outlook)
  • Extract the file

Preparing the file:

This explanation is for Windows OS.

  • Create a folder on one of the local drives. Here a folder is created on local drive C: and it is named MTE Test. Make sure you create a folder on a local drive only.
  • Copy paste an image into the folder. Any image below size 50kb is fine
  • Now copy paste the executable file you have to send into your folder
  • Convert the .exe file to a compressed file format (.zip or .rar)
  • You have to encrypt executable files to send them by email
  • Now bring up the Command Prompt window. The window will pop up with your directory path to the current folder
  • Type this command in it:

copy/b [Your Image Name along with its Extension] + [The Compressed File along with its Extension]

For eg: copy/b flower.png + greentestfile.rar

  • Press Enter. You will get a message signifying that the image file is encrypted with the executable file

Sending the file: Now you have to send this file via Gmail or other email services, like Outlook.

Note: If you want to fix WinRAR extraction error cannot execute on RAR file, then follow the link to know how to fix the error. 

Extracting the file:

  • Open the folder containing the image with the embedded .exe file in it
  • Right-click on the picture and hover to Open with to bring up a list of programs
  • Select WinRAR if that option is displayed. Suppose you have already downloaded and it is running (but not displayed), then click Choose default program and click Browse to find the WinRAR.
  • Double click on that application to go to the Open with option
  • Double click on WinRAR program in Open with to use the app
  • Now click on the software found in WinRAR compression folder to install it on your computer

Extra information: If by any chance, the file gets corrupted while sending it via email, then you can extract corrupted RAR files with the help of this RAR Repair software.

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John Harris

Senior Editor, Content Analyst and a fan of exceptional customer service. John develops and publishes instructional and informational content regarding partition management, Windows hot-fixes, data management and computer troubleshooting.

As a tenured data recovery specialist, John shares exceptional insights and blog posts about data loss and data recovery across any storage device. With 8+ years’ experience in writing for Data Recovery for both Mac OS and Windows OS computers, he is an avid learner who always wants to polish and simplify the data recovery process. John passes his free time playing Chess and reading Science Fiction novels.

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