Telling someone they forgot the attachment in an email is a delicate matter. You should know how to approach the situation politely before you even attempt to send an email.
Luckily, you have options. This article will explain how to ask someone to resend an attachment without embarrassing them.
- The attachment didn’t come through
- I’m afraid I do not see the attachment
- I can’t find the attachment
- Could you resend the attachment?
- Would you be able to send the attachment again?
- Can you resend this? I didn’t get an attachment
- I do not see an attachment
- Please resend this with the attachment
- I’m afraid I can’t see the attachment you refer to
- There is no attachment
1. The Attachment Didn’t Come Through
Trying to figure out how to tell someone they forgot to attach a file is tricky when also trying to avoid embarrassment. Luckily, you can use “the attachment didn’t come through” to highlight that you did not receive an attachment.
It does not place blame on the sender for forgetting the attachment. Instead, it simply says that you didn’t receive one and would like the sender to resend the email.
They might want to own their mistake if they did forget the attachment. So, when they resend the email, they may also reply with “sorry, I forgot to attach the file” or something along those lines.
Here’s an email example to show you how it works
Dear Benjamin,
The attachment didn’t come through on my end. I wonder if you wouldn’t mind sending it again.
Thank you so much,
Mary Lamb
2. I’m Afraid I Do Not See the Attachment
Starting any email with “I’m afraid” is a polite way to introduce something negative. So, “I’m afraid I do not see the attachment” allows you to tell someone they forgot the attachment.
It’s an indirect phrase that shows you did not receive the attachment.
You may use it when emailing colleagues. It allows you to avoid embarrassing them if they forget to attach the file.
Of course, forgetting an attachment could happen to anyone. It could even happen to you. So, it’s best not to accuse anyone just to make them feel bad.
Also, this email sample should help you understand it:
Dear Summer,
I’m afraid I do not see the attachment. Please let me know what you are referring to before I continue.
All the best,
Joe Frasier
3. I Can’t Find the Attachment
Another great phrase to use is “I can’t find the attachment.” It is an indirect way to show that you cannot locate the file. However, it does not accuse the sender of forgetting to attach a file.
After all, there could be plenty of reasons why someone forgot to attach a file.
We recommend using this when emailing employees. If you want to appear as a kinder boss than most, this is a simple way to let them know you cannot find the attachment, and you would appreciate it if they could send an email again.
Check out this sample email as well:
Dear Lucy,
I can’t find the attachment in question. Are you sure you included it in the previous email?
Kind regards,
Matt Hancock
4. Could You Resend the Attachment?
Using a question like “could you resend the attachment?” shows you how to ask someone to resend the attachment.
It’s a respectful and professional way to ask for an email containing the attachment you originally expected.
It works well when emailing clients. It shows that you did not receive their attachment and would like them to resend the email to ensure they include it next time.
Also, it avoids embarrassing the recipient. That’s why we like using it in our formal emails.
Here’s a great example if you’re still unsure:
Dear Abbie,
Could you resend the attachment? I’m sure it’s an error in the system, but I cannot find it.
All the best,
Joseph Clarke
5. Would You Be Able to Send the Attachment Again?
You can also ask “would you be able to send the attachment again?” in some formal emails. We recommend it because it avoids an awkward situation between you and the recipient.
This question actually implies something slightly different.
Saying “send the attachment again” implies that you received the attachment, but it did not work. It’s a good way to avoid blaming yourself or the other party.
Instead, you can simply ask them to resend the original attachment. Even if you never received the attachment, this question is polite and useful in most contexts.
You can also refer to this email sample:
Dear Katherine,
Would you be able to send the attachment again? I cannot seem to locate it in your previous email.
Best wishes,
Joseph Quincy
6. Can You Resend This? I Didn’t Get an Attachment
This alternative is a two-parter, so pay attention. The first part is a polite question with “can you resend this?” It shows that you’d like the email to be sent again when the recipient has the time.
The second part if “I didn’t get an attachment.” This explains why you want the email to be resent in the first place.
It is not accusatory, so it works well in most formal cases.
Try it when emailing a client. It’s very polite and shows that you respect them enough to avoid trying to embarrass them for forgetting an email attachment.
Here’s a great email example if you’re still unsure:
Dear Ms. Smith,
Can you resend this? I didn’t get an attachment in your email, and I’m worried that I missed something.
Best regards,
Tom Walker
7. I Do Not See an Attachment
Feel free to use “I do not see an attachment” to avoid embarrassing the recipient.
It shows that you cannot locate the attachment yourself rather than accusing the other party of forgetting to attach it.
However, saying “I do not see” may imply that you are to blame for misplacing the attachment. Naturally, it’s impossible to misplace an attachment when it’s part of an email.
You should still be cautious using this one. It works best when emailing your boss. It’s respectful and shows that you’re willing to take the blame yourself, even though you know your boss made a mistake.
You may want to refer to this example as well:
Dear Mr. Stokes,
I do not see an attachment. Is it possible that you did not attach the file to the previous email?
All the best,
Aimee Green
8. Please Resend This With the Attachment
“Please resend this with the attachment” is a polite and confident way to ask for an attachment. You can use it to remind someone that they’ve forgotten to attach an important file.
Saying “please resend” rather than asking a question (like “could you please resend this?”) is very direct and sincere. It’s very useful in professional emails for this reason, and we highly recommend it when emailing employees.
Check out this example to see how it works:
Dear Duncan,
Please resend this with the attachment included. It appears that I cannot access the file you mentioned.
Yours,
Juliet Borrow
9. I’m Afraid I Can’t See the Attachment You Refer To
It’s worth using “I’m afraid I can’t see the attachment you refer to” in some cases as well. It shows that you cannot find an attachment and may need someone to resend the email.
We recommend using this when emailing coworkers. It’s a useful way to remind them to send you an attachment without directly accusing them of forgetting about it.
You can also refer to this sample email:
Dear Kyle,
I’m afraid I can’t see the attachment you refer to. Do you mind resending it, so I can understand what you mean?
Thank you so much,
Adam Reid
10. There Is No Attachment
You may also write “there is no attachment.” This shows that someone did not attach a file, or you cannot find it. Either way, it’s a great way to show that you can’t see an attachment.
Generally, this phrase avoids any embarrassment for either party.
It does not directly blame the recipient, nor does it say that you made a mistake or misplaced the attachment. It’s a simple problem with a simple solution.
All the recipient has to do is resend the email with the attachment. It’s a great way to encourage them to do so.
Perhaps this email sample will also help you:
Dear Alice,
There is no attachment alongside your previous email. Do you mind sending it again?
Thank you so much,
Carlos Santas