How to Send an Email as an Attachment in Outlook

Forwarding a message as an attachment is still the best way to share the original email for troubleshooting, phishing review, or mail-flow analysis. Unlike copy/paste or a normal forward, attaching the original message helps preserve message details such as headers, sender information, and routing data that support teams and security tools may need.

When should you attach an email instead of forwarding it?

Use this method when you need the recipient to review the original message rather than just the visible text. Common examples include:

• Reporting a suspicious or phishing email to IT or a security team.
• Sending a message to Microsoft 365 support or your help desk for investigation.
• Sharing several related messages in one conversation.
• Preserving message headers for Exchange Online mail-flow or delivery troubleshooting.

If you only need to reply to a conversation, a normal forward is usually enough. If the message may be malicious, do not click links or open attachments inside it—send it to your security or support team using your company’s approved process.

Classic Outlook for Windows

Classic Outlook for Windows still provides the most complete options for sending one or more emails as attachments.

Option 1: Use Forward as Attachment

1. Open classic Outlook for Windows.
2. Select the email you want to send as an attachment.
3. On the ribbon, choose More or More Respond Actions, then select Forward as Attachment.
4. Add the recipient, write any notes in the body, and send the message.

Keyboard shortcut: In classic Outlook for Windows, you can usually select a message and press Ctrl+Alt+F to forward it as an attachment. Shortcuts can vary by Outlook version, language, and keyboard settings.

Option 2: Attach an Outlook item to a new message

1. Create a new email or open a reply.
2. Go to Attach File > Attach Item > Outlook Item.
3. Select the folder and choose one or more messages to attach.
4. Click OK, then send the message.

Classic Outlook for Windows typically attaches messages as .msg files.

New Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web

New Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web use a similar modern interface. The most reliable method is usually drag and drop.

1. Open new Outlook for Windows or Outlook on the web.
2. Start a new message, reply, or forward.
3. If needed, choose Pop out so the compose window is separate from the message list.
4. Find the email you want to attach in your mailbox.
5. Drag the message from the message list into the body area of the new email.
6. Confirm that it appears as an attachment, then send the message.

In some tenants or Outlook builds, you may also see a Forward as attachment option under More actions or a right-click menu. If that option is not available, use drag and drop.

Troubleshooting tips:

• If drag and drop does not work, pop out the compose window and try again.
• Make sure your browser allows drag-and-drop actions.
• Try another supported browser or the Outlook desktop app if the attachment does not appear.
• Depending on the Outlook experience, attached messages may appear as .eml files or as Outlook message items.

Outlook for Mac

In Outlook for Mac, the available commands can vary between classic and new Outlook for Mac. The most consistent method is:

1. Create a new message or reply.
2. Select the email you want to attach from the message list.
3. Drag it into the compose window.
4. Confirm that the message appears as an attachment, then send it.

If your Outlook for Mac build includes a Forward as Attachment command, you can use that instead.

Outlook mobile apps

Outlook for iOS and Android are excellent for reading and replying to email, but they may not support attaching another email message in the same way as Outlook desktop or Outlook on the web. For phishing reports, mail-flow troubleshooting, or support cases where headers matter, use classic Outlook for Windows, new Outlook for Windows, Outlook on the web, or Outlook for Mac whenever possible.

Security note: reporting suspicious email

If your organization uses Microsoft Defender for Office 365, your admin may provide a built-in phishing reporting option in Outlook, such as the Microsoft Report Message or Report Phishing experience. That is often better than manually forwarding suspicious mail because it can submit the message directly for security analysis and help improve protection policies.

For high-risk messages, follow your organization’s incident-reporting process and avoid interacting with the original email.

Key takeaways

• Forwarding an email as an attachment helps preserve the original message and headers for troubleshooting or phishing review.
• Classic Outlook for Windows supports Forward as Attachment and the Ctrl+Alt+F shortcut in most installations.
• New Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web usually support attaching messages by dragging them into a compose window.
• Outlook mobile apps may not provide full support for attaching another email, so desktop or web Outlook is recommended for support and security cases.

Need help standardizing Outlook reporting, Exchange Online mail flow, or phishing investigation workflows? IT Partner can help configure Microsoft 365, Exchange Online, and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 so your users know exactly how to report and share suspicious messages.