How To Copy An Email As An Attachment In Outlook

Duplicating an email draft in Outlook is done by right-clicking the draft and selecting “Copy” before pasting it into a new message. But if you need to send an email as an actual attachment, the process is a bit different. This guide shows you exactly how to copy an email as an attachment in outlook using the built-in “Forward as Attachment” feature and a few manual tricks.

You might need to attach an email to share its full content without forwarding the thread. Or maybe you want to keep a record of a specific message inside another email. Whatever your reason, Outlook makes it easy once you know the right steps.

In this article, we cover both the simple method and some advanced options. We also include troubleshooting tips for common issues. Let’s get started.

The most direct way to attach an email in Outlook is using the “Forward as Attachment” command. This method works in Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, and Outlook on the web.

Method 1: Using The Forward As Attachment Option

This is the fastest and most reliable method. You don’t need to copy anything manually. Outlook handles the attachment for you.

Open Outlook and go to your Inbox or the folder containing the email you want to attach.
Select the email by clicking on it once. You can also hold Ctrl and click multiple emails to attach them all at once.
Look for the “Forward” button in the Ribbon menu. It usually has a small dropdown arrow next to it.
Click the dropdown arrow and choose “Forward as Attachment” from the list.
A new email window opens. The selected email appears as an .msg file attached to the message.
Address the email, add a subject and body text, then click Send.

Thats it. The attached email includes all its original content, attachments, and formatting. The recipient can open it by double-clicking the attachment in their own Outlook.

Method 2: Drag And Drop The Email

If you prefer using your mouse, dragging an email into a new message window works just as well. This method is handy when you already have a new email open.

Start a new email by clicking “New Email” in the Ribbon.
Minimize or resize the new email window so you can see your Inbox behind it.
Find the email you want to attach in your Inbox or folder.
Click and hold the email, then drag it into the body of the new email window.
Release the mouse button. The email appears as an attachment.

One thing to note: dragging an email from your Inbox into an open message automatically creates an attachment. It does not forward the email as text. This method also works for multiple emails if you select them first.

Method 3: Copy And Paste As Attachment

Some users try to copy an email and paste it into a new message. By default, pasting an email inserts its content as text, not as an attachment. But there is a workaround.

Open the email you want to attach in its own window by double-clicking it.
Press Ctrl+A to select all content in the email body.
Press Ctrl+C to copy the content.
Open a new email message.
Click inside the body of the new message.
Press Ctrl+V to paste. The email content appears as formatted text.

This method does not create an attachment. It pastes the text and images from the original email. If you need the email as an actual .msg file, use Method 1 or 2 instead.

Attaching Multiple Emails At Once

You can attach several emails to a single message. This is useful when you need to share a conversation thread or multiple related messages.

Selecting Multiple Emails

Outlook lets you select multiple emails using standard Windows selection methods.

To select a continuous range: Click the first email, hold Shift, then click the last email.
To select non-adjacent emails: Hold Ctrl and click each email you want.
To select all emails in a folder: Press Ctrl+A.

Attaching The Selected Emails

Once you have your emails selected, follow these steps:

Click the “Forward” dropdown in the Ribbon.
Choose “Forward as Attachment.”
A new email opens with all selected emails attached as separate .msg files.
Each attachment retains its original subject line and content.

You can also drag the selected group into a new email window. Outlook attaches each email individually.

Attaching Emails In Outlook On The Web

Outlook on the web (OWA) has a similar feature. The process is slightly different but equally simple.

Steps For Outlook On The Web

Log in to your Outlook account in a web browser.
Go to your Inbox and find the email you want to attach.
Right-click the email or click the three dots (More actions) next to it.
Select “Forward as attachment” from the menu.
A new message window opens with the email attached.
Fill in the recipient, subject, and body, then send.

Note: In OWA, you cannot drag and drop emails from the folder into a new message. The right-click method is the only way to attach an email directly.

What Happens To Attachments Inside The Original Email

When you attach an email, any attachments that were in the original email are included automatically. The recipient can open the attached email and then open its attachments just like you would.

This is a key difference from forwarding. When you forward an email, attachments are included as part of the forwarded message. When you attach an email, the attachments are nested inside the .msg file.

Some recipients may not be able to open nested attachments if their email client restricts this. But in most cases, it works fine.

Common Issues And Fixes

Sometimes the “Forward as Attachment” option is grayed out or missing. Here are a few reasons why and how to fix them.

Option Grayed Out

If the option is grayed out, you might have selected a read-only email or an email from a shared mailbox. Try selecting a different email or refreshing your folder view.

Option Not Showing

In some versions of Outlook, the “Forward as Attachment” option is hidden under the “More” menu. Click the three dots in the Ribbon to expand all options.

Attached Email Shows As Text Instead Of File

If you drag an email and it pastes as text instead of an attachment, you might have dropped it into the wrong area. Make sure you drop it into the body of the new email, not the subject line or header.

Recipient Cannot Open The Attachment

If the recipient uses a non-Outlook email client, they might not be able to open .msg files. In that case, consider forwarding the email or copying the content into the body of your message.

Alternative Method: Save Email As File And Attach Manually

If the built-in attachment methods are not working, you can save the email as a file and then attach it manually. This gives you more control over the file name and location.

Saving An Email As An .Msg File

Open the email you want to save in its own window.
Click “File” in the top-left corner.
Choose “Save As” from the menu.
In the Save As dialog, choose a location on your computer.
Make sure the “Save as type” is set to “Outlook Message Format – Unicode (*.msg)”.
Click Save.

Attaching The Saved File

Open a new email message.
Click “Attach File” in the Ribbon or drag the saved .msg file into the email body.
The file attaches as a standard attachment.
Send the email as usual.

This method is useful when you need to attach an email from a different folder or a shared mailbox. It also lets you rename the file before attaching.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts For Faster Attaching

If you prefer keyboard shortcuts, you can speed up the process. Here are a few that work in Outlook desktop.

Select an email and press Ctrl+Shift+F to forward it as an attachment (this shortcut may vary by version).
To open a new email, press Ctrl+Shift+M.
To attach a file, press Alt, then H, then A, then F (this opens the Attach File dialog).

These shortcuts save time when you are working with multiple emails.

Attaching Emails From Different Folders

You can attach emails from any folder in Outlook, not just your Inbox. For example, you might want to attach an email from your Sent Items or a custom folder.

Steps For Attaching From Another Folder

Navigate to the folder containing the email you want to attach.
Select the email.
Use the “Forward as Attachment” option or drag it into a new email.
The attachment works the same way regardless of the source folder.

Note: If you drag an email from a different folder, make sure the new email window is open and visible. Otherwise, Outlook might open the email instead of attaching it.

How To Copy An Email As An Attachment In Outlook For Mac

Outlook for Mac has a similar feature, but the steps are slightly different. Here is how to do it on a Mac.

Using The Forward As Attachment Option On Mac

Open Outlook for Mac and select the email you want to attach.
Go to the “Message” menu at the top of the screen.
Choose “Forward Special” and then “Forward as Attachment.”
A new email opens with the attached .msg file.

Dragging And Dropping On Mac

You can also drag an email from your Inbox into a new email window on Mac. The process is the same as on Windows. Just make sure the new email window is not maximized so you can see the folder behind it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Copy An Email As An Attachment Without Forwarding It?

Yes, you can save the email as an .msg file and then attach it to a new message. This does not forward the email; it creates a separate copy as an attachment.

How Do I Attach An Email In Outlook Mobile?

In the Outlook mobile app, open the email you want to attach, tap the three dots in the top-right corner, and select “Forward as attachment.” This works on both iOS and Android.

What File Format Is An Attached Email In Outlook?

Attached emails are saved as .msg files, which is the native Outlook message format. Recipients using Outlook can open them directly. Other email clients may require a plugin or conversion.

Can I Attach Multiple Emails To One Message?

Yes, you can select multiple emails by holding Ctrl (or Command on Mac) and then use the “Forward as Attachment” option. All selected emails are attached as separate .msg files.

Why Is My Attached Email Showing As A Winmail.dat File?

This happens when the recipient’s email client does not support .msg files. To avoid this, forward the email as text or copy the content into the email body instead of attaching it.

Final Tips For Attaching Emails In Outlook

Attaching an email is a simple task once you know the right method. Use the “Forward as Attachment” option for speed and reliability. Use drag and drop if you prefer a visual approach. Save the email as a file if you need more control.

Remember that attached emails include all original content, including attachments. This makes them ideal for sharing complete conversations or records. If the recipient cannot open .msg files, consider forwarding the email instead.

Practice these methods a few times, and you will be able to attach emails in seconds. Outlook gives you multiple ways to accomplish the same task, so choose the one that feels most natural to you.

Now you know exactly how to copy an email as an attachment in outlook. Try it out with a test email to make sure it works the way you expect. Once you get the hang of it, you will find it saves time and keeps your communications organized.