How To Email Executable (EXE) Files
We’ve all run into this problem before. You’ve got a cool program that you want to send to someone. So what do you do? You open up your email and you try to send it.
Well, this is where you run into problems. Most email services (Gmail, Yahoo!, Outlook, etc.) will not send files that end in .exe (executable files), for the simple fact that executable files often contain viruses, and all it takes is a click to activate it.
Here’s a workaround for that problem. It’s very simple.
All you have to do is rename the file. Say you have a file called “program.exe” that you want to send to a friend. All you need to do is rename it to something like “program._xe,” or “program.exe1.” Something like that. Your email program will not recognize it as an executable file and will send it without any problems.
The part about this process that gives people trouble is the fact that Microsoft doesn’t make renaming file extensions very easy for the lay-user – especially since Windows XP and now, Vista. You can’t simply change a file extension by right-clicking and selecting “Rename,” or pressing F2. Not immediately, at least. Here’s how you can make this possible though…
Open up the Control Panel. Then select “Folder Options.” In Vista, you’ll have to switch to “Classic View” first. After opening Folder Options, select the “View” tab. Look down that list until you see where it says, “Hide extensions for known file types.” Make sure this box is NOT checked. Click apply, and you’re ready to go. Now you can rename files and change their extensions by just pressing F2 or right-clicking and selecting “Rename.”
In order for your recipient to use the file you’ve sent, they must rename the file back to “program.exe.” You can explain them the entire process, or simply refer them back to this entry.
Read a book.
hi,
thank u very much …guys it really works
thnaks for the dea,….
saved me sooooo much work with ftp clients and such
This technique should work OK, although you could also place the .exe file in a ZIP package, or use a file sharing site, eg RapidShare.
Ian,
As far as I know, even placing an EXE file in a ZIP format still results in not being able to send the file. The email client will detect that there is an EXE inside the ZIP, and the file will not be sent.
If you have evidence otherwise, I’d love to see it. This is the only way I’ve been able to send EXE files.
Which email client were you able to send an EXE file with?
This is an area where it is hard to give general advice, as there are so many different e-mail clients, and many e-mail servers automatically filter out and do not deliver .exe, .scr, .bat and .paf attachments. Also, I tried renaming a program to .exe1 as suggested, but it was not delivered, possibly because somewhere along the way it was filtered as an unrecognized file type. Windows also warns that changing a file extension may make the file unusable.
Rather than risking more controversial advice, here is something that definitely did work for me today. Use WinRAR and encrypt the file, selecting “Encrypt file names”. Windows Vista Mail said “***UNCHECKED*** WARNING: MESSAGE ENCRYPTED”, but did let me open the file and the program worked OK.
Since programs are often several MB or more they do not make ideal e-mail attachments, and the main disappointment is that it is no longer possible to send self-extracting archives with the .exe file extension. File sharing websites like RapidShare make no fuss about .exe files, so they are probably the most hassle free way of sending executable files.
zip doesnt work
but if you use winrar and make a rar file
it works perfect
–jk
Keep working ,great job!
I usually do not comment on blog posts but I found this quite interesting, so here goes. Thanks! Regards, P.
Great information…!!!!
Keep it up….
It sounds like you’re creating problems yourself by trying to solve this issue instead of looking at why their is a problem in the first place.
Yong,
I’m not in the business of programming email clients, regulating internet security standards, etc. So, “looking at why there is a problem in the first place” is a little above my pay grade.
All I can do is solve the problem, right? I don’t see how I’ve created any problems here. The issue is resolved, and I didn’t have to learn how to program an email client or regulate any international internet security standards. Much easier.
Yong,
The reason email services are not allowing .exe files to be email is because they are potentially dangerous to the receiving user and therefore filtered out. The problem was created by “bad” people sending malicious programs and not by the person asking the question.
thanks! am learning to program in C and wanted to show my friend. this helps! Shame on email providers trying to regulate email traffic.
So are there any mail services that allow you to email exe?
Cause I’d love to send some bad programming to these damn spammers.
Unfortunately, no. Apparently it was set up as a standard that executable files are not allowed to be sent via email. I totally agree with that sentiment.
It doesn’t work. I’ve tried it. “Hide extensions for known file types” is already unchecked and it just isn’t working.
What isn’t working? After un-checking “Hide extensions for known file types,” do you see the extension of the file you’re trying to send?
actually, last time I checked yahoo allowed .exe files through. but fewer people have yahoo these days.
with gmail it works to compress the file in winrar and split it in parts. but some filters will still see those.
a good one is using Word, and embedding the file in a doc file. seems to work for most.
Yeah, I never use Yahoo. Gmail seems to be the only relatively spam-free email service these days. And Hotmail… forget it. I’m lucky if I get less than 200 spam messages in my inbox per day.
I’ve tried compressing files, but not splitting them up. I’ll have to try that.
As far as embedding an EXE in a DOC file, how does that work?
Yahoo mail definitely allows you to send executable files.
They have anti virus software that the checks the “executable file” for viruses. They have never let me down!!!!