Want BuddyPress private messages to work a little more like email? BuddyPress Message Attachment is a new plugin that gives your community members the ability to attach files to private messages. The plugin’s settings page lets site administrators customize the allowed file types for the attachments as well as the maximum size.

Here’s what your messaging compose screen will look like with attachments allowed:

Attachments are then shown on the recipient’s message screen:

I tested the message attachments and they work as advertised. However, you will need to make sure to add the allowed file types in the settings page before users will be allowed to attach files. The BuddyPress Message Attachment plugin is available for free from the WordPress plugin repository. Add it to your community to give your members an expanded way to communicate with one another through private messages.