I read through this: How can I send a Windows executable via Gmail? (and similar questions here and on SO), but all of the answers I came across rely on the email recipient doing something special such aschanging filename extensions, oraccessing cloud storage services.First, linking to another cloud service is not sending via Gmail.  There are reasons you may not want to use an outside service.Second...What about sending e-mails to people who are not tech-savvy?There are many kinds of files that Google does not want attached directly (described here https://support.google.com/mail/answer/6590?hl=en), but you should still be able to send them in some way thatleaves them accessible to casual computer users (who may have file extensions hidden, for example), anddoes not require the use of other cloud services.
Send .exe (etc.) file via Gmail *without* needing special actions by the recipient
gmail;attachment
Here is what worked for me:Add your .exe file to a (new) encrypted .zip file (the inner file.)Change the file extension from .zip to .zipx.  (Of course, other extensions probably work.  You could even make the extension .thepasswordisHuckleberry!)Add the .zipx file to a (new) unencrypted .zip file (the outer file.)E-mail the outer (.zip) file along with the password for the inner file.That's it.When you open the outer (.zip) file in Windows File Explorer, which is what a non-technical user is likely to use, it automatically detects the inner (.zipx) file as a valid .zip file.  That means it can be opened just by double-clicking on it and entering the password when prompted.You can change the extension if you want, but it is not required!Here is what it looks like for the receiver after opening the .zip file and then double-clicking on the .zipx file