Home > Additional Resources > Apple Mac users - How to Send Large Files to Others

Step #1 - Using Safari to log into your school email account

Launch Safari and log into your school email.  Once you have done that, click on the nine dot icon in the upper right.  A menu will appear..

Step #2 - Opening up the Google Drive tab in Safari

Select Drive from the menu.

 Step #4 - Locating the file you want to send

When Finder opens, navigate to the file you want to send out via email.  

Step #5 - Selecting the file you want to send

Grab (mouse click) on the item you want and keep pressing on the mouse button or trackpad.  Do NOT let go of the mouse button or stop pressing on the trackpad.

Step #6 - Opening up Safari to its Google Drive tab

While holding the Command (CMD) key down continuously, hit the Tab key repeatedly on the keyboard until Safari opens with your Google Drive tab.  

KEEP HOLDING DOWN ON THE MOUSE BUTTON, OR PRESSING ON THE TRACKPAD, WHILE YOU DO THIS. 

Step #7 - Dropping the file into Google Drive

Move the mouse to the area shown in the red box (see below) in the Google Drive tab of your Safari, and then let go of the mouse button (or raise your fingers off of the trackpad).  This will copy the file into your Google Drive.

Step #8 - Uploading the file to Google Drive

You will notice in the lower right of your screen a small message box that shows the status of your file being added to Google Drive.  When that is completed, your file will appear in Google Drive.  

Step #9 - Opening the Share option

Right-click on the file you put there (if using a trackpad, hold two fingers together and click on the file).  A contextual menu will appear.  Select Share.

Step #10 - Moving to the Advance Options

The Share with others dialog box will open.  In the lower right, click on Advanced.

Step #11 - Changing the Share options

The Sharing settings dialog box will appear.  On the line that reads "Private - Only you can access", click on Change.

Step #12 - Allowing others to access your file

The Link Sharing dialog box will appear.  Select the second option, "On - Anyone with the link."

Step #13 - Saving the share settings

After doing that, click on the Save button at the bottom.

Step #14A - Copying the highlighted link using your keyboard

You will now copy the highlighted text in the Link to share box (red arrow) that is highlighted in blue.  Point your mouse over the highlighted text, press the Command and C keys (Command + C) simultaneously on your keyboard.  This copies the link to your Clipboard.

Step #14B - Copying the highlighted link using your mouse or trackpad

You will now copy the highlighted text in the Link to share box (red arrow) that is highlighted in blue.  Right-click on the highlighted text to open a contextual menu (if using a trackpad, hold two fingers together and click on the highlighted link).  Click the Copy option in the dropdown menu (red arrow).   This copies the link to your Clipboard.

Step #15 - Finishing the process of sharing the file

At the bottom of the Sharing setting dialog box, click on Done (green arrow).

Step #16A - Copying the link you have in your clipboard into an email using your keyboard

Compose an email to whomever you wanted to send the file to.  First enter the email(s) you are going to send the file to, and then enter a subject, i.e. "This is the file you were looking for."  Now hover your mouse over the message part of your email, and press the Command and V keys (Command + V) at the same time.  This will paste the link to your file into your email.  When the email is sent out, the recipient will then be able to click on that link to download your file.

Step #16B- Copying the link you have in your clipboard into an email using your mouse or trackpad

Compose an email to whomever you wanted to send the file to.  First enter the email(s) you are going to send the file to, and then enter a subject, i.e. "This is the file you were looking for."  Now hover your mouse over the message part of your email, and  right-click on the plain area to open a contextual menu (if using a trackpad, hold two fingers together and click on the highlighted link).   In the contextual menu, find and click Paste Item. This will paste the link to your file into your email.  When the email is sent out, the recipient will then be able to click on that link to download your file.