How to Send Excel Files on WhatsApp Without Hassle in 2025?

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Send Excel Files Directly (for small files under 16MB)

If your Excel file is small enough (under WhatsApp’s 16MB limit for documents), you can send it directly without any extra steps. Here are two easy ways:

Use WhatsApp Mobile App

Open chat & attach: Go to the contact or group you want to send the file to. Tap the paperclip icon at the bottom right—this is the attachment button. From the menu, pick “Document” (not “Photo” because Excel isn’t an image). Your phone’s file manager will open, so you can find where your Excel file is saved (like Downloads or Documents).

Select the Excel file: Scroll through the files until you spot your Excel document (look for .xlsx or .xls extensions). Tap it to select—you’ll see a quick preview of the file name and size to confirm it’s the right one. I always double-check this step because sending the wrong file is such a hassle!

Hit send: Once you’re sure it’s correct, tap the paper plane icon to send. The file will upload in a few seconds (faster if you have good internet) and the recipient will get it instantly. They can open it right from WhatsApp using their default Excel app.

Use WhatsApp Web

Log into WhatsApp Web: First, open your computer’s browser and go to WhatsApp Web. On your phone, open WhatsApp, tap the three dots at the top right, select “Linked Devices,” then “Link a Device.” Scan the QR code on your computer screen—this syncs your chats to the web version.

Attach Excel file: Go to the chat window where you want to send the file. Click the paperclip icon at the top right (next to the search bar). Choose “Document” from the dropdown—this lets you pick any file type, including Excel. Your computer’s file explorer will open, so navigate to your Excel file (Desktop or Documents folder works best).

Send the file: Select your Excel file and click “Open” (Windows) or “Choose” (Mac). Wait for it to upload—this is super fast if you’re on a wired connection. Then click the paper plane icon to send. The recipient will get it just like any other message, and you can see the sent status right on your computer screen.

Send Large Excel Files (over 16MB)

If your Excel file is bigger than 16MB (like a file with lots of data or charts), you can’t send it directly—but there are two workarounds that work every time:

Compress Excel File to ZIP

Compress on your device: On Windows, right-click your Excel file and select “Send to → Compressed (ZIP) folder.” A new ZIP file will pop up next to the original. On Mac, right-click and choose “Compress [File Name].” On mobile, use apps like WinZip or Files by Google: open the app, find your Excel file, tap the compress button.

Check ZIP size: After compressing, check the file size. If it’s under 16MB, you’re good to go. If not, try deleting unnecessary sheets or data from the Excel file first—last month, I had a 22MB file with 5 extra sheets; deleting those brought it down to 12MB after compression.

Send ZIP file: Attach the ZIP file to WhatsApp (mobile or Web) and send it. The recipient can unzip it easily: double-click on Windows, click on Mac, or use their default files app on mobile. They’ll get the original Excel file without any loss of data.

Upload to cloud: Open Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive. For Google Drive, drag your Excel file into the web window, or tap “Upload” on mobile. Wait for it to upload—this takes a few minutes for large files, but it’s worth it.

Generate share link: Once uploaded, find the file in your cloud storage. On Google Drive web, right-click and select “Share.” Click “Change to anyone with the link” (so the recipient doesn’t need a Google account) then copy the link. On mobile, tap the three dots next to the file, select “Share,” then copy the link.

Send link via WhatsApp: Paste the link into your chat window and add a quick note like “Here’s the Excel file!” Then send. The recipient can click the link to view or download the file—no extra apps needed. This is my go-to method for files over 50MB because it’s reliable and fast.

WhatsApp Web Common Questions

Can I send large Excel files via WhatsApp Web?

Yes, but you need to work around WhatsApp’s 16MB document limit. WhatsApp Web uses the same restrictions as the mobile app, so direct sending of large files isn’t allowed. However, you can compress the Excel file into a ZIP folder—this often reduces the size enough to fit under the limit. If that doesn’t work, upload the file to a cloud service like Google Drive and send the share link via WhatsApp Web. The recipient can click the link to access the file without any issues. I use this method weekly for work files—last week, I sent a 45MB Excel file via Google Drive link, and my client got it in 2 minutes. Remember, WhatsApp Web syncs with your phone, so any link you send via Web will appear in your mobile chat history too.

Why can’t I find my Excel file on WhatsApp Web when attaching?

There are a few common reasons for this. First, the file might be in a hidden folder—WhatsApp Web can’t access hidden folders on your computer. Move the file to a visible folder like Desktop or Documents and try again. Second, the file extension might not be supported: WhatsApp Web only accepts .xlsx or .xls files. If your file is .csv or .ods, save it as an Excel file first. Third, your file explorer might be filtering files—when attaching, select “All Files” from the dropdown menu to see all file types. I once forgot this step and spent 5 minutes looking for a file that was right in front of me! Restarting WhatsApp Web (log out and log back in) can also fix this issue sometimes.

Is it safe to send Excel files via WhatsApp Web?

Yes, as long as you follow basic security rules. WhatsApp Web uses end-to-end encryption for all messages and files—this means only you and the recipient can access the file, not even WhatsApp itself. However, if your Excel file has sensitive data (like passwords or personal info), make sure you’re sending it to the right person. Also, never leave WhatsApp Web logged in on a public computer—always click the three dots at the top right and select “Log out” when you’re done. I use WhatsApp Web daily for work, and I’ve never had a security issue. Just remember: if you send a cloud link, set it to “view only” so the recipient can’t edit your file without permission.

If you try any of these methods, let me know how it goes! Did you find a better way to send Excel files on WhatsApp? Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your tips.