How To Add Bcc In Outlook Permanently : Enabling BCC For All Outgoing Emails

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Setting BCC permanently in Outlook saves time by avoiding manual entry for each message. If you’ve ever wondered how to add bcc in outlook permanently, you’re not alone—it’s one of the most common requests from Outlook users who send regular emails. By default, the BCC field is hidden, but you can make it appear every time you compose a new email. This guide walks you through the process step by step, covering Outlook for Windows, Mac, web, and mobile. You’ll also learn tips to keep BCC enabled across updates and avoid common pitfalls. Let’s get started.

BCC stands for Blind Carbon Copy. When you add recipients to the BCC field, they receive the email without other recipients seeing their addresses. This is useful for privacy, mailing lists, or sending to multiple people without cluttering the To field. Permanently showing BCC means you don’t have to toggle it on for every email—it stays visible and ready.

Outlook versions differ slightly, but the core steps are similar. We’ll cover the most popular versions: Outlook 365, Outlook 2019, 2016, and the web app. If you use Outlook on a Mac or mobile device, we’ve got you covered too. The goal is to set it once and forget it.

How To Add Bcc In Outlook Permanently

Before we dive into the steps, understand that “permanently” means the BCC field will show by default for all new emails you compose. It won’t reset after you close Outlook or restart your computer. However, some updates or settings changes might hide it again—we’ll address that later.

For Outlook On Windows (Desktop App)

This is the most common version. Follow these steps to enable BCC permanently.

  1. Open Outlook on your Windows computer.
  2. Click the “New Email” button in the Home tab to open a new message window.
  3. In the new message window, go to the “Options” tab in the ribbon.
  4. Look for the “Show Fields” group. Click “BCC” (it’s a toggle). The BCC field will appear below the Cc field.
  5. Close the new message window. You don’t need to save it.
  6. Now, every time you create a new email, the BCC field will be visible.

That’s it. This setting is saved in your Outlook profile. It works for Outlook 365, 2021, 2019, and 2016. If you use multiple email accounts in Outlook, this setting applies to all of them.

Troubleshooting: BCC Field Disappears

Sometimes the BCC field might hide again after an Outlook update or if you reset the view. To fix it, repeat the steps above. Another reason could be a corrupted Outlook profile—try creating a new profile if the issue persists.

For Outlook On Mac

Outlook for Mac has a different interface, but the process is straightforward.

  1. Open Outlook on your Mac.
  2. Click “New Email” to open a compose window.
  3. In the compose window, look at the top right. You’ll see a “Bcc” button next to the “Cc” button. Click it.
  4. The BCC field will appear below the Cc field. It stays visible for future emails.
  5. Close the compose window. The setting is saved.

Note: In some older versions of Outlook for Mac, you might need to go to the “Options” tab and check “Bcc” from the “Show Fields” group. The steps above work for Outlook 365 for Mac and Outlook 2019.

For Outlook On The Web (Outlook.com Or Office 365 Web)

Using Outlook in a browser? Here’s how to make BCC permanent.

  1. Log in to Outlook on the web (outlook.com or your Office 365 portal).
  2. Click “New message” to open a compose pane.
  3. In the compose pane, click the “Bcc” button located above the To field (it’s a link or toggle).
  4. The BCC field will appear. It stays visible for all new messages in that browser session.
  5. To make it permanent, you need to save it as a default. Click the three dots (More options) in the compose pane, then select “Show Bcc.” This setting is stored in your browser cookies.

Important: For Outlook on the web, the BCC setting might reset if you clear your browser cookies or use a different device. To keep it permanent, avoid clearing cookies for the Outlook site. Alternatively, use the desktop app for a more stable setting.

For Outlook Mobile App (IOS And Android)

The mobile app doesn’t have a permanent BCC setting per se, but you can enable it for each email easily.

  1. Open the Outlook app on your phone or tablet.
  2. Tap the compose button (pencil icon or “New message”).
  3. In the compose screen, tap the “Cc/Bcc” field or the arrow next to the To field.
  4. Toggle “Bcc” on. The BCC field will appear for that message.
  5. Unfortunately, the mobile app doesn’t remember this setting for the next email. You’ll need to repeat these steps each time.

Workaround: If you send many emails with BCC from mobile, consider using a rule or template. But for most users, tapping the toggle each time is quick enough.

Why You Might Want BCC Permanent

There are several reasons to keep BCC always visible. First, it saves time—you don’t have to hunt for the option in the ribbon. Second, it reduces the risk of forgetting to add BCC recipients, which can lead to privacy breaches. Third, it’s handy for business users who send newsletters or updates to groups without exposing email addresses.

Another benefit is consistency. If you work in a team, having BCC visible by default ensures everyone uses it correctly. It also helps when you need to blind copy a manager or client without others knowing.

Common Scenarios For Using BCC

  • Emailing a list of clients without sharing their addresses.
  • Sending a company announcement to employees.
  • Including a supervisor in a conversation without the primary recipient knowing.
  • Testing email delivery by BCCing yourself.

In all these cases, having BCC permanently visible makes the process smoother.

How To Add Bcc In Outlook Permanently Using A Rule

Some users prefer to automate BCC using a rule. This is useful if you want to always BCC a specific address (like your manager) on every outgoing email. Note that this is different from showing the BCC field—it automatically adds a recipient.

  1. Open Outlook and go to the “File” tab.
  2. Click “Manage Rules & Alerts.”
  3. In the Rules and Alerts dialog, click “New Rule.”
  4. Select “Apply rule on messages I send” and click Next.
  5. Choose conditions (e.g., “sent to people or public group”) or leave it blank to apply to all emails.
  6. Click Next, then select “BCC the message to people or public group.”
  7. Click the underlined link “people or public group” and choose the recipient(s).
  8. Finish the rule and enable it.

Now, every email you send will automatically BCC the specified address. This is a permanent solution for automatic BCC, but it doesn’t show the field in the compose window. Use it if you need consistent BCC without manual input.

Limitations Of The Rule Method

The rule works only on the desktop app, not on the web or mobile. Also, it applies to all outgoing emails, which might not be ideal if you only want BCC for specific messages. You can add conditions to limit it, but that requires more setup.

How To Keep BCC Permanent After Updates

Outlook updates sometimes reset custom settings, including the BCC field visibility. To prevent this, note the following:

  • Always update Outlook through official channels. Beta versions might reset settings more often.
  • After a major update, check your compose window. If BCC is missing, re-enable it using the steps above.
  • For Outlook on the web, clear browser cookies only when necessary, as this removes the BCC setting.

If you use multiple devices, you’ll need to enable BCC on each one separately. There’s no sync for this setting across platforms.

Alternative: Using Keyboard Shortcuts

If you prefer not to show BCC permanently, you can use a keyboard shortcut to toggle it quickly. In Outlook for Windows, press Ctrl + Shift + B in a new message window to show or hide the BCC field. This is faster than clicking through menus, but it’s not permanent—you still need to press the shortcut each time.

For Mac users, the shortcut is Command + Shift + B. On the web, there’s no keyboard shortcut, but you can click the BCC toggle quickly.

How To Add Bcc In Outlook Permanently For Multiple Accounts

If you have multiple email accounts configured in Outlook (e.g., work and personal), the BCC setting applies to all of them. When you enable BCC in one new message, it stays for all accounts. This is because the setting is tied to your Outlook profile, not individual accounts.

However, if you use separate Outlook profiles for different accounts, you’ll need to enable BCC in each profile. To switch profiles, go to File > Account Settings > Manage Profiles.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I add BCC permanently in Outlook 365?

Open a new email, go to the Options tab, and click BCC. Close the window. It will stay visible for all future emails. This works for Outlook 365 desktop app.

2. Can I set BCC as default for all new messages in Outlook web?

Yes, but it relies on browser cookies. Click the BCC toggle in a new message, and it will remain visible for that session. To make it permanent, avoid clearing cookies for the Outlook site.

3. Why does my BCC field keep disappearing in Outlook?

This can happen after an update or if you reset the view. Re-enable it from the Options tab. If it persists, try repairing your Office installation or creating a new Outlook profile.

4. Is there a way to add BCC permanently on Outlook mobile?

No, the mobile app doesn’t save the BCC setting. You need to toggle it on for each new email. Consider using the desktop app for permanent BCC.

5. Does setting BCC permanently affect email delivery?

No, it only shows the field. It doesn’t change how emails are sent. BCC recipients receive the email normally, and other recipients don’t see them.

Final Tips For Managing BCC In Outlook

Now that you know how to add bcc in outlook permanently, here are some extra pointers. First, always double-check the BCC field before sending, especially if you’re using automatic rules. Second, remember that BCC is not encrypted—recipients can still forward the email. Use it for privacy, not security.

If you share your computer with others, the BCC setting will persist for all users of that Outlook profile. Log out or use separate profiles if needed. For organizations, IT admins can set BCC as default via Group Policy, but that’s beyond this guide.

Finally, test the setting by sending a test email to yourself. Verify that the BCC field is visible and works correctly. If you encounter any issues, refer back to the troubleshooting sections above.

With these steps, you’ll never have to hunt for the BCC field again. It’s a small change that makes a big difference in your daily email workflow. Whether you’re a business professional, a freelancer, or just someone who values privacy, setting BCC permanently is a smart move.

Remember, the exact keyword “how to add bcc in outlook permanently” is your starting point, but the real value is in the consistent habit of using BCC correctly. Happy emailing!