How To Insert An Email Into Another Email In Outlook : Forwarding Emails As Attachments In Outlook

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Forwarding an email as an attachment within another email in Outlook preserves its original format and headers. This guide shows you exactly how to insert an email into another email in outlook using simple steps. Whether you use Outlook 365, Outlook 2019, or the web version, the process is straightforward.

You might need to share a full email thread with a colleague or keep the original message intact. Inserting an email as an attachment is the best way to do this. It keeps the original date, sender, and formatting.

Let’s get started with the most common methods. We’ll cover desktop, web, and mobile versions of Outlook.

How To Insert An Email Into Another Email In Outlook

This section covers the primary method for inserting an email as an attachment. You can use this technique in Outlook for Windows and Mac.

Method 1: Drag And Drop The Email

This is the fastest way to attach an email. It works in Outlook 365, Outlook 2019, and older versions.

  1. Open a new email message by clicking “New Email” in the Home tab.
  2. Go to your folder list (Inbox, Sent Items, etc.) and find the email you want to insert.
  3. Click and hold the email in the folder list.
  4. Drag it directly into the body of your new email message.
  5. Release the mouse button. The email appears as an attachment with the .msg file extension.

That’s it. The original email is now attached. You can send the new email, and the recipient will see the attached message as a separate file they can open.

Method 2: Use The Attach Item Button

If dragging feels imprecise, use the built-in “Attach Item” feature. This method gives you more control over which email you attach.

  1. Open a new email message.
  2. In the “Include” group of the ribbon, click “Attach Item.”
  3. A dropdown menu appears. Select “Outlook Item.”
  4. A dialog box opens showing your mailbox folders. Navigate to the email you want to attach.
  5. Select the email and click “OK.”
  6. The email appears as an attachment in your new message.

You can also attach multiple emails at once. Hold the Ctrl key while selecting emails in the dialog box.

Method 3: Forward As An Attachment

Outlook has a direct “Forward as Attachment” option. This is the most straightforward way to insert an email into another email.

  1. Select the email in your folder list.
  2. Go to the “Home” tab.
  3. In the “Respond” group, click “More” (the three dots icon).
  4. Choose “Forward as Attachment” from the menu.
  5. A new email opens with the selected email already attached.
  6. Add your recipient, subject, and message body.
  7. Click “Send.”

This method works perfectly for single emails. For multiple emails, you can select them first, then use this option.

How To Insert An Email Into Another Email In Outlook Web

Outlook on the web (OWA) works differently from the desktop app. The steps are simpler but slightly less flexible.

Using The Web Version

  1. Log into Outlook on the web (outlook.com or your work portal).
  2. Open a new message by clicking “New message.”
  3. Find the email you want to attach in your folder list.
  4. Click and drag the email from the list into the new message window.
  5. Drop it in the body area. The email attaches as an .eml file.

You can also use the paperclip icon to attach files, but that doesn’t directly insert emails. For inserting an email, dragging is the only built-in method in the web version.

Note: The “Forward as Attachment” option is not available in Outlook on the web. You must use drag and drop.

How To Insert An Email Into Another Email In Outlook For Mac

Outlook for Mac has a slightly different interface. The process is similar but uses different menu options.

Method For Mac Users

  1. Open Outlook for Mac.
  2. Click “New Email” to start a new message.
  3. Go to your Inbox or folder list.
  4. Select the email you want to attach.
  5. Drag it into the body of the new email.
  6. Release to attach it as an .msg file.

Alternatively, you can use the “Attach” button in the ribbon. Click “Attach” and then select “Outlook Item.” Choose the email from the list.

On Mac, the “Forward as Attachment” option is available. Right-click the email in your folder list and choose “Forward as Attachment.”

How To Insert Multiple Emails Into One Email

Sometimes you need to share several emails in a single message. Outlook makes this easy.

Attaching Multiple Emails

  1. Open a new email message.
  2. Go to your folder list.
  3. Hold the Ctrl key (Cmd on Mac) and click each email you want to attach.
  4. Drag the selected emails into the new message body.
  5. Each email appears as a separate attachment.

You can also use the “Attach Item” button. In the dialog box, hold Ctrl and select multiple emails, then click “OK.”

Note: Attaching too many emails might make the file size large. Outlook has a 20-25 MB limit for attachments. If you exceed this, compress the emails into a ZIP file first.

How To Insert An Email As Text Instead Of Attachment

Sometimes you want the email content to appear directly in the message body, not as an attachment. This is called “inserting as text.”

Copy And Paste Method

  1. Open the email you want to insert.
  2. Select all the content by pressing Ctrl+A (Cmd+A on Mac).
  3. Copy it with Ctrl+C (Cmd+C).
  4. Open a new email message.
  5. Paste the content with Ctrl+V (Cmd+V).

This method pastes the email content as plain text or formatted text, depending on your Outlook settings. It loses the original headers (sender, date, subject) unless you copy those separately.

Forwarding The Email

You can also forward the email directly. This keeps the original headers and formatting in the message body.

  1. Select the email in your folder list.
  2. Click “Forward” in the Home tab.
  3. A new email opens with the original content in the body.
  4. Add your recipient and any additional text.
  5. Click “Send.”

Forwarding is not the same as inserting as an attachment. The recipient sees the email content inline, not as a separate file.

How To Insert An Email Into Another Email In Outlook Mobile

The Outlook mobile app (iOS and Android) has limited options for inserting emails. You cannot directly attach an email as a file.

Workaround For Mobile

  1. Open the Outlook app on your phone.
  2. Find the email you want to insert.
  3. Tap and hold the email to select it.
  4. Tap the three dots menu (More options).
  5. Choose “Forward.”
  6. Add the recipient and send.

This forwards the email content inline. For attaching as a file, you need to use the desktop or web version.

If you must attach an email from mobile, save the email as a file first. On iOS, you can print to PDF and attach that. On Android, use a third-party app to save the email as an .eml file.

Common Issues And Fixes

Sometimes inserting an email doesn’t work as expected. Here are common problems and solutions.

Attachment Not Showing

If the email doesn’t appear as an attachment after dragging, try these fixes:

  • Make sure you drop it in the message body, not the subject line or To field.
  • Restart Outlook and try again.
  • Check if your Outlook version supports drag and drop. Some older versions might not.

File Size Too Large

Large attachments can cause errors. If your email is too big:

  • Compress the attached emails into a ZIP file.
  • Use a cloud storage link instead of attaching directly.
  • Remove large images or attachments from the original email before inserting.

Recipient Cannot Open The Attachment

If the recipient can’t open the .msg or .eml file:

  • Ask them to use a compatible email client like Outlook.
  • Save the email as a PDF and attach that instead.
  • Copy the content and paste it into the message body.

Best Practices For Inserting Emails

Follow these tips to make your emails professional and easy to read.

  • Always add a brief explanation in the message body. Tell the recipient why you’re attaching the email.
  • Use descriptive subject lines. For example, “Project update with attached email from John.”
  • Check the attachment before sending. Open it to make sure it’s the correct email.
  • Remove sensitive information if needed. Edit the original email before attaching.
  • Consider using “Forward as Attachment” for single emails. It’s faster than drag and drop.

How To Insert An Email Into Another Email In Outlook Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts can speed up the process. Here are the most useful ones.

Windows Shortcuts

  • Ctrl+Shift+F: Forward as Attachment (select email first)
  • Ctrl+N: New email message
  • Ctrl+C: Copy selected email
  • Ctrl+V: Paste in new message (pastes as attachment in some versions)

Mac Shortcuts

  • Cmd+Shift+F: Forward as Attachment
  • Cmd+N: New email message
  • Cmd+C: Copy
  • Cmd+V: Paste

Note: The “Forward as Attachment” shortcut might not work in all versions. Test it in your Outlook first.

How To Insert An Email Into Another Email In Outlook With Different File Formats

Outlook can attach emails in different formats. The default is .msg for Outlook and .eml for web.

MSG Format

This is the native Outlook format. It preserves all email properties including attachments, formatting, and metadata. Recipients using Outlook can open it directly.

EML Format

This is a standard email format used by many email clients. It preserves the email content and headers. Most email programs can open .eml files.

PDF Format

If you want a universal format, save the email as a PDF first. Then attach the PDF to your new email. This works for any recipient.

  1. Open the email you want to save.
  2. Click File > Print.
  3. Choose “Microsoft Print to PDF” as the printer.
  4. Click Print and save the PDF.
  5. Attach the PDF to your new email.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Insert An Email Into Another Email In Outlook 365?

In Outlook 365, you can drag the email from your folder list into the new message body. Alternatively, use the “Attach Item” button in the ribbon. The “Forward as Attachment” option also works.

Can I Insert An Email Into Another Email In Outlook Without It Being An Attachment?

Yes, you can copy and paste the email content into the new message body. This inserts the text and formatting inline, not as a separate file. Use Ctrl+C to copy and Ctrl+V to paste.

Why Can’t I Drag An Email Into Another Email In Outlook?

This issue usually occurs in Outlook on the web or older versions. Make sure you’re using the desktop app. Also, check that you’re dropping the email in the message body, not the header area.

How Do I Insert Multiple Emails Into One Email In Outlook?

Hold the Ctrl key (Cmd on Mac) and select multiple emails in your folder list. Then drag them into the new message body. Each email appears as a separate attachment.

What Is The Difference Between Forwarding And Inserting An Email As An Attachment?

Forwarding puts the email content directly in the message body. Inserting as an attachment keeps the original email as a separate file. The attachment preserves the original format, headers, and any attachments within the email.

Now you know exactly how to insert an email into another email in Outlook. Use these methods to share emails efficiently. Practice each technique to find the one that works best for your workflow. Happy emailing.