How To Delete Outlook Attachments : Delete Outlook Attachments Efficiently

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Freeing up space in Outlook often means removing those large file attachments from sent and received emails. Learning how to delete outlook attachments is a simple way to reclaim storage without losing the actual email messages. This guide walks you through every method, from manual removal to automated rules.

Why Delete Outlook Attachments?

Attachments take up a lot of space. A single 10MB file might not seem like much, but hundreds of them add up fast. When your Outlook mailbox gets full, you can’t send or receive new emails. Deleting attachments helps you avoid that problem. It also makes Outlook run faster and sync quicker across devices.

You don’t need to delete the whole email. You can keep the message text and just remove the attached file. This is perfect for old invoices, project files, or photos you already saved somewhere else.

How To Delete Outlook Attachments

There are several ways to remove attachments, depending on your Outlook version and whether you want to do it manually or automatically. Below are the most effective methods.

Method 1: Manual Removal From An Open Email

This is the quickest way for a single email.

  1. Open the email that contains the attachment.
  2. Right-click the attachment name at the top of the message.
  3. Select “Remove Attachment” from the menu.
  4. Click “Save” or “Send” if the email is in your Drafts folder.

That’s it. The attachment disappears, but the email body stays. You can repeat this for each file attached to that message.

Method 2: Remove Attachments From Sent Items

Emails you sent also take up space. You can remove attachments from them too.

  1. Go to your “Sent Items” folder.
  2. Double-click the sent email to open it.
  3. Right-click the attachment and choose “Remove Attachment”.
  4. Press Ctrl+S to save the change.

Outlook will ask if you want to save changes to a sent message. Click “Yes”. The attachment is gone from your copy, but the recipient still has it.

Method 3: Using Outlook’s Clean Up Tool

Outlook has a built-in tool that removes redundant messages and attachments. This is great for cleaning up email threads.

  1. Go to the “Folder” tab in the ribbon.
  2. Click “Clean Up” and choose “Clean Up Folder”.
  3. Select “Clean Up Folder & Subfolders” if needed.
  4. Click “Clean Up Folder”.

This tool deletes duplicate messages and removes attachments from messages that are part of a conversation. It’s not perfect for every situation, but it helps a lot.

Method 4: Save Attachments Then Delete

If you want to keep the file but remove it from Outlook, save it first.

  1. Open the email with the attachment.
  2. Right-click the attachment and choose “Save As”.
  3. Pick a folder on your computer and click “Save”.
  4. Now right-click the attachment again and select “Remove Attachment”.
  5. Save the email.

Your file is safe on your hard drive, and Outlook no longer stores it. This is the safest way to free up space.

Method 5: Delete Attachments From Multiple Emails At Once

Manual removal works for a few emails, but what if you have hundreds? You can use Outlook’s search to find all emails with attachments, then delete them in bulk.

  1. Click the search bar at the top of Outlook.
  2. Type “hasattachments:yes” and press Enter.
  3. Select all the emails you want to clean (hold Ctrl and click each one, or press Ctrl+A to select all).
  4. Right-click one of the selected emails and choose “Delete”.

Warning: This deletes the entire email, not just the attachment. Only use this if you don’t need the email text either. For keeping the email but removing the file, you need a different approach.

Method 6: Use A Macro To Remove Attachments

For advanced users, a VBA macro can automate the process. This is the fastest way to clean a large mailbox.

  1. Press Alt+F11 to open the VBA editor.
  2. Go to Insert > Module.
  3. Paste the following code:
Sub RemoveAttachmentsFromSelected()
    Dim objMail As MailItem
    Dim i As Integer
    For Each objMail In Application.ActiveExplorer.Selection
        For i = objMail.Attachments.Count To 1 Step -1
            objMail.Attachments(i).Delete
        Next i
        objMail.Save
    Next
    Set objMail = Nothing
End Sub
  1. Close the editor and save the macro.
  2. Select the emails you want to clean.
  3. Press Alt+F8, choose the macro, and click “Run”.

This removes all attachments from the selected emails. Test it on a few emails first to make sure it works.

Method 7: Delete Attachments In Outlook.com (Web Version)

The web version of Outlook works differently. You can’t remove attachments from sent emails easily.

  1. Open the email in Outlook.com.
  2. Click the three dots (…) next to the attachment.
  3. Choose “Remove” or “Delete”.
  4. Save the email.

For received emails, you can download the attachment first, then delete the email entirely. There is no way to remove just the attachment from a received email in the web version.

Method 8: Use Third-Party Tools

Several add-ins and tools can help you delete attachments faster. Tools like “Kutools for Outlook” or “Attachment Cleaner” offer batch removal features. These are paid options, but they save time if you manage a large mailbox.

  • Kutools: Removes attachments from selected emails with one click.
  • Attachment Cleaner: Scans your mailbox and lists all attachments for bulk removal.
  • Mail Cleaner: Automatically deletes attachments older than a set date.

Always download these tools from official sources to avoid malware.

What Happens When You Delete An Attachment?

When you remove an attachment from an email, the email stays in your folder. The attachment goes to your Deleted Items folder. From there, it still takes up space until you empty the Deleted Items folder. To fully free up space, you must empty the Deleted Items folder after removing attachments.

To empty Deleted Items:

  1. Right-click “Deleted Items” in the folder pane.
  2. Choose “Empty Folder”.
  3. Click “Yes” to confirm.

Now the space is truly free. Your mailbox size will decrease immediately.

How To Prevent Attachments From Taking Up Space

Prevention is easier than cleaning up later. Here are some tips to keep your mailbox lean.

Use Cloud Links Instead Of Attachments

Instead of attaching a file, upload it to OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox. Then paste a link in the email. The recipient can download it from the cloud, and your mailbox stays small.

Set A Maximum Attachment Size

Outlook allows you to block large attachments. Go to File > Options > Mail. Under “Send messages”, set a maximum attachment size. Emails with larger files will be blocked or warned.

Use Outlook Rules To Auto-Delete Attachments

You can create a rule that automatically removes attachments from certain emails. For example, delete attachments from newsletters or automated reports.

  1. Go to File > Manage Rules & Alerts.
  2. Click “New Rule”.
  3. Choose “Apply rule on messages I receive”.
  4. Set conditions (like from a specific sender).
  5. Choose “delete attachment” as the action.
  6. Finish the rule.

This runs automatically for new emails. It won’t clean old ones, but it prevents future clutter.

Common Mistakes When Deleting Attachments

People often make these errors. Avoid them to keep your data safe.

  • Deleting the entire email instead of just the attachment.
  • Forgetting to empty the Deleted Items folder.
  • Removing attachments from emails you need to forward later.
  • Not saving attachments to your computer before deleting.
  • Using macros without testing them first.

Always double-check before you delete. Once an attachment is removed from Outlook and the Deleted Items folder is emptied, it’s gone for good.

How To Recover A Deleted Attachment

If you accidentally remove an attachment, you might be able to get it back.

  1. Go to your “Deleted Items” folder.
  2. Find the email you removed the attachment from.
  3. Open the email and check if the attachment is still there.
  4. If not, look in the “Recoverable Items” folder (available in Exchange accounts).

To access Recoverable Items:

  1. Go to the “Folder” tab.
  2. Click “Recover Deleted Items”.
  3. Select the attachment or email and click “Recover”.

This only works if you haven’t permanently deleted the items. After 30 days (or your organization’s policy), they are gone forever.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete attachments without deleting the email?

Yes. You can remove attachments from an email while keeping the message body. Use the “Remove Attachment” option in the right-click menu.

How do I delete all attachments in Outlook at once?

There is no built-in “delete all attachments” button. You can use a macro or a third-party tool to remove attachments from multiple emails at once. Alternatively, search for “hasattachments:yes” and delete those emails entirely.

Does deleting an attachment free up space immediately?

No. The attachment goes to your Deleted Items folder first. You must empty the Deleted Items folder to free up the space.

Can I remove attachments from sent emails in Outlook?

Yes, but only from your copy. Open the sent email, right-click the attachment, and choose “Remove Attachment”. The recipient’s copy is not affected.

What happens if I delete an attachment from a received email?

The attachment is removed from your copy of the email. The sender’s original email still has the attachment. You cannot delete attachments from the sender’s mailbox.

Final Tips For Managing Outlook Attachments

Make attachment management a habit. Every month, spend five minutes cleaning out old files. Use cloud links for new emails. Set up rules to auto-delete attachments from newsletters. These small steps keep your mailbox fast and your storage under control.

If you use Outlook for work, check with your IT department before using macros or third-party tools. Some companies restrict these for security reasons. For personal use, you have full control.

Remember that deleting attachments does not affect the email’s metadata like the date, sender, or subject. You can still search for the email later. The only thing lost is the file itself. If you need the file later, save it to your computer or cloud storage first.

Now you know exactly how to delete outlook attachments. Start with the manual method for a few emails, then try the macro or tool for larger cleanups. Your mailbox will thank you.