How to Include Attachments When Forwarding in Outlook: Step-by-Step Guide

Adding attachments in Outlook provides clarity and ensures nothing is missed. We all know that juggling multiple files and emails can be tricky. Sharing files through emails keeps things organized and streamlined. Outlook makes it simple to forward emails along with their attachments, making it a valuable tool for communication.

To keep attachments when forwarding an email, just find the email with the attachment, click “Forward” in the Respond group under the Home tab. This opens a new email that already includes the original attachment. Straightforward, right? No need to reattach files manually.

For those moments when we want to reply and include the original attachments, navigate to File, then Options, and click on Mail. Under Replies and forwards, select “Attach original message.” This makes sure our responses maintain the context and all necessary files are there, saving time and avoiding back-and-forth emails.

Introduction

Forwarding emails with attachments in Microsoft Outlook can seem tricky if you’re not familiar with the steps. Whether you’re using Outlook 2013, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2019, or Outlook 2021, the process remains somewhat consistent, with slight variations.

Imagine you’re getting ready to send an email but need to ensure all attachments are included. Maybe it’s a critical document, a funny picture, or an important presentation. Ensuring that everything gets forwarded is essential.

First things first, let’s identify areas where forwarding emails might differ between various Outlook versions.

When we forward an email with attachments, it’s important to check that all attachments are correctly included. This ensures clear and effective communication. Sometimes, these small details make a big difference in how our messages are received.

Let’s dive into the specific steps for forwarding emails with attachments in Outlook to streamline our email forwarding tasks. This section will guide us through the nuanced ways to make sure attachments are sent properly, every time.

Step-By-Step Guide

To forward an email with attachments in Outlook, follow these steps. Trust me, it’s easier than it sounds! Let’s get started.

1. Open the Email
   Locate the email you want to forward. Double-click to open it in a new window. This helps manage the attachments better 🚀.

2. Click “Forward”
   In the ribbon at the top of the email, click the Forward button. This opens a new message with the attachments included.

3. Add Recipients
   In the To: field, enter the email addresses of the people you’re sending the email to. Use Cc and Bcc fields if you need to include others without them seeing each other’s addresses.

4. Add a Subject Line
   Make sure the subject line clearly states the purpose, like “Fwd: Important Meeting Notes.” This keeps things clear for the recipient.

5. Compose Your Message
   Write your message in the body of the email. Explain why you’re forwarding the email and what action, if any, you’re expecting from the recipients.

6. Review
   Double-check everything:

   • Recipients
   • Attachments
   • Subject Line
   • Message Content

7. Send
   Hit the Send button and off it goes! 🎉

And there you have it—forwarding an email with attachments in Outlook made simple! 😊

Common Issues And Troubleshooting

When forwarding emails with attachments in Outlook, users often face challenges. This section explores attachment visibility and related file size constraints.

Attachment Not Included Automatically

Sometimes, when we forward an email, the attachment might vanish. This can be frustrating, especially with Excel files or large documents. It’s not just a random glitch; it happens due to how Outlook handles attachments.

To solve this, we can:

1. Check the original email. Ensure the attachment is present.
2. Use the “Forward As Attachment” option from the drop-down menu in the Home tab.
3. Adjust Outlook settings by navigating to File > Options > Mail. Then, set the forwarding option to attach the original message.

These steps help secure the attachment, ensuring it travels along with your forwarded email.

File Size Limitations

Attachments do have size limits, causing them to sometimes be absent in the forwarded email. Most email services, including Outlook, impose these restrictions to avoid server overload. If we exceed these limits, the email won’t go through.

Strategies to handle this include:

• Compress files into a ZIP folder before attaching.
• Use cloud services like OneDrive or Google Drive and share the link instead.
• Check and manage the size of email attachments frequently by right-clicking and viewing properties.

Simple adjustments like these solutions can steer us clear of file size hitches, ensuring our important attachments always reach their destinations.

Advanced Tips

We all know Outlook has a bunch of nifty tricks up its sleeve. Let’s dive into some advanced tips for including attachments when forwarding emails.

Using the Ctrl Key for Multiple Attachments

One quick trick: hold down the Ctrl key to select multiple files from your computer. Then, drag and drop them into your email. Simple and efficient!

Customizing Attachment Settings

In the Outlook Settings, go to File > Options > Mail. Here, we can tweak how attachments are handled. This comes in handy if you’re always forwarding attachments and want to set up defaults.

VBA Macros for Automating Tasks

For those who like to get fancy, VBA macros can automate forwarding tasks. Write a macro that attaches files based on specific criteria. It’s a bit advanced, but a real time-saver once set up.

Using Add-Ins

Add-ins can enhance functionality. For instance, the OneDrive or SharePoint add-in lets us quickly attach files stored there. Look for suitable add-ins in the Microsoft 365 store to streamline your workflow.

Leveraging the Respond Group

The Respond group in the Ribbon includes quick actions like ‘Forward as Attachment.’ This lets us send an email as an attachment without much fuss.

Optimizing with the Reading Pane

The Reading Pane helps preview attachments without opening them. Make sure it’s enabled in View > Reading Pane. This helps quickly decide which attachments to include when forwarding.

These tips can make our Outlook game stronger. Let’s try them out and see how they boost our productivity.

Conclusion

Forwarding emails with attachments in Outlook isn’t intimidating.

Productivity tips:

Training courses are helpful! They can answer questions and help improve our Outlook skills. A good course can boost productivity and make us feel confident.

Our communities can be a treasure trove. Fellow users share tips, and we all learn something new.

In summary, mastering the steps isn’t daunting. By honing email management skills, we can boost productivity. And let’s not forget—Outlook makes our emailing routine as smooth as a hot knife through butter!

Feel free to explore and enjoy the benefits of a well-managed inbox. 🌟