How To Forward With Attachments In Outlook

Attachments travel along with your forwarded message when you use the standard forwarding option in Outlook. But many users struggle with how to forward with attachments in Outlook correctly, especially when dealing with multiple files or large attachments. This guide walks you through every method, from basic forwarding to advanced tricks, so you never lose a file again.

Forwarding emails with attachments seems simple, but Outlook has a few quirks. You might accidentally strip attachments, send huge files, or confuse inline images. Don’t worry—we cover all of that here.

By the end of this article, you’ll know exactly how to keep attachments intact, resize them, and even forward without the original attachment if needed. Let’s get started.

The standard way to forward an email with attachments in Outlook is straightforward. But there are nuances depending on your Outlook version (Desktop, Web, or Mobile). Below, we break it down step by step.

Forwarding With Attachments In Outlook Desktop (Windows & Mac)

Outlook Desktop is the most common version. Here’s how to forward an email and keep all attachments.

Open Outlook and go to your Inbox or the folder containing the email.
Select the email you want to forward. You can click it once to highlight it.
Click the “Forward” button in the ribbon at the top. It looks like an envelope with an arrow.
A new message window opens. The original email appears as an attachment or inline content, depending on your settings.
Add the recipient’s email address in the “To” field.
Type any additional message in the body.
Click “Send.”

That’s it. The attachments from the original email are automatically included. Outlook does not strip them during forwarding.

But there’s a catch: If the original email has inline images (like a company logo), those might not show up in the forwarded version. We cover that later.

Forwarding With Attachments In Outlook On The Web (OWA)

Outlook Web App (OWA) works slightly differently. The forwarding process is similar, but the interface is cleaner.

Log in to Outlook on the web (outlook.com or your work portal).
Find the email with attachments in your inbox.
Click the “Forward” icon (right arrow) at the top of the reading pane.
A new compose window opens. The original email is included as an attachment or as quoted text.
Enter the recipient’s email address.
Add your message.
Click “Send.”

On the web, attachments are usually preserved. However, if the original email has very large attachments (over 20 MB), Outlook might compress them or block the forward. We discuss file size limits later.

Forwarding With Attachments In Outlook Mobile (IOS & Android)

The Outlook mobile app is popular for on-the-go emailing. Here’s how to forward with attachments.

Open the Outlook app on your phone.
Tap the email you want to forward.
Tap the three dots (more options) in the top-right corner.
Select “Forward” from the menu.
A new message opens. The original email and its attachments are included.
Enter the recipient’s email address.
Add your message if needed.
Tap the send icon (paper plane).

On mobile, attachments forward automatically. But if you’re using an older version of the app, you might see a “Forward as attachment” option instead. That’s fine—it still includes the files.

Common Issues When Forwarding With Attachments

Even though forwarding is simple, problems happen. Here are the most common issues and how to fix them.

Attachments Missing After Forwarding

Sometimes you forward an email and the attachments don’t show up. This usually happens because:

The original email had inline attachments (like images in the body). Outlook treats these differently.
You used “Forward as Attachment” instead of the regular forward button. This creates a new email with the original as an attachment, but inline files might be lost.
The attachments were too large and Outlook blocked them.

To fix this, always use the standard forward button. If attachments still vanish, try copying the email content manually and re-attaching the files.

Large Attachments Not Sending

Outlook has file size limits. For Outlook.com, the limit is 20-25 MB per email. For Exchange or Office 365 accounts, it’s usually 25-35 MB. If your forwarded attachments exceed this, Outlook will either block the send or prompt you to use OneDrive.

Solution: Use OneDrive or a file-sharing service. In Outlook Desktop, you can click “Attach File” and select “Upload to OneDrive” to share large files via a link instead.

Inline Images Not Appearing

Inline images (like a signature logo or a photo in the email body) often disappear when forwarding. This is because Outlook treats them as part of the email’s formatting, not as separate attachments.

To keep inline images, you can:

Take a screenshot of the email and attach it as an image.
Copy the entire email content (including images) and paste it into a new message. Then forward that.
Use “Forward as Attachment” (this preserves the original email as a .msg file, which includes images).

Advanced Methods For Forwarding With Attachments

Sometimes you need more control. Here are advanced techniques for specific scenarios.

Forwarding Multiple Emails With Attachments

You might need to forward several emails, each with attachments, in one go. Outlook doesn’t have a “forward multiple” button, but you can do this:

Select multiple emails by holding Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and clicking each one.
Click “Forward” or press Ctrl+F (Windows) / Cmd+F (Mac).
Outlook creates a new email with all selected messages attached as separate .msg files.
Add the recipient and send.

Each original email’s attachments are preserved inside the .msg file. The recipient can open each .msg to see the files.

Forwarding Without Attachments (Stripping Files)

What if you want to forward the email but not the attachments? Outlook doesn’t have a built-in “strip attachments” option. But you can do this manually:

Forward the email normally.
Before sending, delete the attachments from the forwarded message. Right-click each attachment and select “Remove.”
Send the email without files.

Alternatively, copy the email text and paste it into a new message. That way, no attachments are included.

Forwarding As An Attachment (.Msg File)

Sometimes you want to send the entire email as a single file. This is useful for archiving or legal purposes.

Select the email in your inbox.
Click “More” (three dots) in the ribbon, then select “Forward as Attachment.”
A new email opens with the original email attached as a .msg file.
Add the recipient and send.

This method preserves all attachments, inline images, and formatting inside the .msg file.

Tips For Smooth Forwarding With Attachments

Here are practical tips to avoid headaches.

Check attachment sizes before forwarding. If they’re large, compress them or use a cloud link.
Always preview the forwarded email before sending. Look for missing attachments or broken images.
Use “Forward as Attachment” for complex emails with multiple inline elements.
If you’re forwarding to multiple people, consider using BCC to protect privacy.
For sensitive attachments, encrypt the email or use password protection.

Outlook Versions And Attachment Behavior

Different Outlook versions handle attachments slightly differently. Here’s a quick comparison.

Version	Attachment Behavior
Outlook Desktop (Windows)	Preserves all attachments, including inline images if forwarded as attachment.
Outlook for Mac	Same as Windows, but inline images may be lost in standard forward.
Outlook Web (OWA)	Preserves attachments, but large files may be blocked.
Outlook Mobile	Preserves attachments, but inline images often disappear.

Note: Inline images are tricky across all versions. If they’re critical, use “Forward as Attachment.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why are attachments not showing when I forward an email in Outlook?

This usually happens if the attachments are inline images or if you used “Forward as Attachment” incorrectly. Try using the standard forward button, or copy the email content manually.

Can I forward an email with attachments to multiple people?

Yes. Just add multiple email addresses in the “To” field, separated by semicolons. Or use BCC for privacy.

How do I forward an email without the attachments in Outlook?

Forward the email normally, then manually remove the attachments before sending. Or copy the email text into a new message.

What is the maximum attachment size for forwarding in Outlook?

For Outlook.com, it’s 20-25 MB. For Office 365, it’s usually 25-35 MB. Larger files require OneDrive or a file-sharing service.

Does forwarding an email in Outlook keep the original attachments?

Yes, in most cases. Standard forwarding preserves all file attachments. Inline images may be lost, but you can use “Forward as Attachment” to keep everything.

Final Thoughts

Now you know how to forward with attachments in Outlook across all platforms. The process is simple, but watch out for inline images and file size limits. Use “Forward as Attachment” for complex emails, and always preview before sending.

If you run into issues, check your Outlook version and attachment size. Most problems are easy to fix with the steps above. Practice a few times, and it’ll become second nature.

Remember: Attachments travel along with your forwarded message when you use the standard forwarding option in Outlook. So just click forward, add your recipient, and send. No extra steps needed.

Happy emailing—and may your attachments always arrive intact.