Solved Gmail and Attachments ... where did it go?

PowerSpec G355 Gaming Desktop PC
Windows 11 Pro, Ver. 25H2 (OS Build 26200.7623) ◄ 02/26/26

Gmail and Attachments ... where did it go?

Howdy Folks!
Yesterday I sent a Gmail email with an important attachment (.pdf) to a business associate; usually I fetch the email from my "Sent" folder and "file" it with an appropriate label and/or move it to my "Inbox" to keep track of it and replies.
I couldn't find it in my "Sent" folder nor my "All Mail" folder.
After a phone call I learned it was received and asked for a copy to be forwarded to me. It never arrived.
Today I sent a Gmail to my roommate downstairs with an attachment. It was received yet I have no record of it anywhere.

A quick look in Google Search and Reddit told me I wasn't the only one, but some others were having issues different than mine with attachments different than mine.

TIA to all who read this post and those who share comments and/or suggestions!

Cheers!

Just to throw out the obvious... your storage isn't full, is it?

Email client? - standalone program (like MS Outlook. Thunderbird, eMClient .. or the like), or web based access?

If web based, try logging in to your account on another computer - even another browser on your device (just to check it's your device not refreshing the folders quickly enough)?

EDIT
I'm assuming you still have/can see the Sent folder, it's just that the subject email(s) are not in there?

"Yesterday" .. "today" ... so it's only been happening for 2 days? Temp glitch in Gmail mail servers perhaps ...?

Is this a personal Gmail account @ gmail.com or a business email hosted through Google Workspace?

Non-exhaustive list of potential issues (personal account)

• Mailbox full (people sending to you would get a bounce-back saying so)
• Email filtering rules in place
• Anti-phish anti-spam (either built-in to Gmail or a 3rd party integration)
• If there's a third party email client (Outlook, thunderbird etc) some type of archive action taking place
• Attachment send limits

If it's a business account there are a lot more configurations that can impact this

• Routing rules
• Improper DMARC setup
• Email quarantine kicking in
• S/MIME
• Confidential mode
• Further 3rd party integration options
• More still

@pseymour
Just 60% used
Thanks for the reply
/jdU

@idgat
I'm using Firefox; I just checked the email account in Chrome with same results.
Yes, I have a Sent folder that's normal in all other ways.
Temp glitch in Gmail mail servers: I was hoping it would be that and fix itself in time. Not yet.
Thanks
/jdU


@neemobeer
Not full; only using 60%
No filters for any related email accounts.
None of your other 3 personal apply.
Not a business account.
Thanks for all your suggestions
/jdU

JD, perhaps those email are hiding from you. Try this is in Gmail's Search box at the top:

from:me has:attachment

If that doesn't help then try this one which also searches Trash and spam:

in:anywhere from:me

Could it be that Conversation view is hiding them?
Gmail groups emails into threads. If:
You previously emailed the same person
Or the subject line is identical
Then your sent message may be inside an older thread, not appearing as a separate item.

To turn off Conversation View
Click the gear icon (top right)
Click “See all settings”
In the General tab, scroll down to “Conversation view”
Select “Conversation view off”
Scroll to the bottom and click “Save Changes”

@Secret Squirrel:
This worked! Eureka! > "in:anywhere from:me"
It went straight to "TRASH"!! as did the forwarded copy sent back to me.
That leaves me with what I was looking for
AND wondering why this happened ... though I will mark this post "Solved".
Thanks to all!
Cheers!

FWIW: Eureka comes from Ancient Greek εὕρηκα (heúrēka) 'I have found (it)'
Actually, to give credit where credit is due: "Secret Squirrel found it!" ...


@kelper: :try turning off conversation view"
Thanks to Secret Squirrel I didn't have to try this, but ...
I've often wished Gmail would offer an "up front" Toggle for this.
Thanks for your suggestions :)
/jdU

jdUnionngarden said:

It went straight to "TRASH"!! as did the forwarded copy sent back to me.

Click to expand...

A good tip for anyone to have that folder (in any/every email client) set to manual empty rather than an auto empty (e.g. on close) setting. It's obviously benefited the OP

@idgat and all
Mine is set to empty Trash every 30 days, I believe is Gmail's default ... good for me.
-
BTW & FWIW: (even though this is marked Solved) I'd be pleased to hear from anyone who has an idea *WHY* these emails went to Trash. One with an attachment I sent today to someone else worked normally.

jdUnionngarden said:

BTW & FWIW: (even though this is marked Solved) I'd be pleased to hear from anyone who has an idea *WHY* these emails went to Trash. One with an attachment I sent today to someone else worked normally.

Click to expand...

Yeh, that sort of thing used to keep me awake at nights. Now, Meh!, I just know to look out for such things

PITA, but that's just Microsoft/Windows/Google/computers/the internet/etc etc