You cannot control how attachments open from your website. This is because the way they open depends upon their file type and is controlled by your browser and device.
The following table explains some of the ways that attachments may open:
| File type | Way a browser will handle the file type |
| PDF and image files (for example, GIF, JPG and PNG) |
Most modern browsers open these files directly. PDFs and images usually open in a new tab, allowing you to view the content before downloading if needed. PDF files may open in Adobe Acrobat Viewer depending on how your device is configured. |
| Proprietary formats (for example, DOCX, XLSX and PPTX) | These file types do not have built-in browser support. When they are selected, rather than open in a browser proprietary format files are downloaded automatically. This is because they need specific software, for example, Microsoft 365 to open. |
Save your file attachments as PDFs where possible. Attaching proprietary format files such as Word documents (DOCX format) may cause accessibility issues, particularly when viewers use a mobile device to read content.
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