How To See Who You Forwarded An Email To In Outlook

Outlook keeps a record of forwarded emails, and you can check the sent items folder to see who received them. If you are wondering how to see who you forwarded an email to in Outlook, the answer is simpler than you might think. This guide walks you through every method, from the desktop app to web and mobile versions, so you never lose track of your forwarded messages.

Forwarding emails is a daily task for many, but it is easy to forget who you sent something to. Maybe you need to confirm a recipient, or you want to double-check before following up. Whatever the reason, Outlook provides clear trails for forwarded emails. Let us start with the most common approach.

The quickest way is to look in your Sent Items folder. Every forwarded email is saved there automatically. But there are a few extra steps to make sure you find the right one. Below, I break it down for different versions of Outlook.

Check The Sent Items Folder In Outlook Desktop

Open Outlook on your computer. Click on the “Sent Items” folder in the left navigation pane. This folder stores all emails you send, including forwards.

Locate the “Sent Items” folder in the folder list. It is usually under your mailbox name.
Scroll through the list or use the search bar at the top. Type part of the subject or the recipient’s name.
Look for emails with a forward icon (a curved arrow). This icon indicates the message was forwarded, not replied to or sent fresh.
Double-click the email to open it. In the “To” field, you will see the recipient’s email address or name.

If you forwarded the email to multiple people, the “To” field will list all of them. You can also check the “Cc” field if you copied anyone. This method works for Outlook 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365.

Use The Search Feature To Find Forwards Quickly

Searching is faster when you have many emails. In the Sent Items folder, click the search bar. Type “forward” or “FW:” to filter results. Outlook will show only forwarded messages.

Type “FW:” in the search box to find emails with that prefix in the subject line.
Alternatively, search for the original sender’s name or subject. This works if you remember the original email.
Use the “Search Tools” tab to refine by date or folder.

Once you see the list, open each forwarded email to view the recipients. This method is reliable but requires you to know what you are looking for.

View Forwarded Emails In Outlook On The Web

Outlook on the web (OWA) works similarly. Log in to your account at outlook.com or your work portal. Click on “Sent Items” in the left sidebar.

Click the “Sent Items” folder. It might be under “Folders” if you have a custom setup.
Use the search bar at the top. Type “forward” or “FW:” to narrow down.
Look for the forward icon next to the email. It is a small arrow pointing right.
Open the email. The “To” field shows who you forwarded it to.

One tip: In OWA, you can also click on the email without opening it. The preview pane shows the “To” field if it is enabled. This saves a click.

Check Forwarded Emails In Outlook Mobile App

The Outlook mobile app for iOS and Android also stores forwarded emails in Sent Items. Open the app and tap the folder icon at the bottom.

Tap “Sent Items” from the list of folders.
Scroll or use the search icon (magnifying glass) at the top. Type the subject or recipient name.
Look for the forward icon. It is a small arrow in a circle.
Tap the email to open it. The “To” field shows the recipients.

The mobile app does not show the forward icon as clearly as the desktop version. You might need to open several emails to confirm. But the sent folder is your best bet.

Use The “Track” Feature In Outlook (If Enabled)

Some Outlook versions have a tracking feature for sent emails. This is not available by default. Your admin must enable it. If it is on, you can see when recipients opened your forwarded email.

Go to “Sent Items” and open the forwarded email.
Look for the “Tracking” button in the message tab. It might be under “Show” or “Options”.
Click it to see delivery and read receipts.

This method does not show who you forwarded it to directly. It shows if they received or read it. But it confirms the forward was sent to the right person.

Check The Original Email For Forward History

Sometimes, you forward an email and later want to see the chain. Open the original email in your inbox or sent folder. Look for a “Forwarded” flag or note in the message header.

In Outlook desktop, the original email might show “Forwarded” in the preview pane.
In OWA, the original email may have a small note saying “You forwarded this message on [date]”.
Click on the “Forwarded” link to see the forwarded version.

This is handy if you cannot find the forward in Sent Items. But it only works if Outlook tracks this history. Not all versions do.

Use The “Message Options” Dialog For Details

In Outlook desktop, you can open the message options to see all recipients. This includes hidden fields like Bcc.

Open the forwarded email from Sent Items.
Click “File” in the top-left corner.
Select “Properties” from the menu.
In the “Internet headers” section, look for “To:” and “Cc:” lines. These show all recipients.

This method is more technical but gives you the full list. It is useful if you used Bcc and want to confirm who got it.

Search For “FW:” In The Subject Line

Outlook automatically adds “FW:” to the subject of forwarded emails. Use this to your advantage. In any folder, search for “FW:” to see all forwards.

In the search bar, type “FW:” (including the colon).
Outlook will show all emails with that prefix in the subject.
Open each to see the recipient.

This works in desktop, web, and mobile versions. It is one of the fastest ways to find forwarded emails.

Check The “Conversation View” For Context

If you use conversation view in Outlook, forwarded emails are grouped with the original thread. This can help you see the chain.

Enable conversation view by clicking “View” and selecting “Show as Conversations”.
Find the original email in your inbox or sent folder.
Expand the conversation to see all related messages, including forwards.
Click on the forward to see the recipient.

This method is less direct but useful if you remember the original email. It also shows the full history.

Use Advanced Find For Specific Forwards

Outlook has an “Advanced Find” tool. It lets you search by multiple criteria, like date, sender, or subject.

Press Ctrl+Shift+F on your keyboard (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+F (Mac).
In the search window, set the folder to “Sent Items”.
In the “Subject” field, type “FW:” or the original subject.
Click “Find Now” to see results.

This is great for finding old forwards. You can also filter by date range if you remember when you sent it.

What If You Deleted The Forwarded Email?

If you deleted the forwarded email from Sent Items, it goes to the “Deleted Items” folder. You can recover it from there.

Go to “Deleted Items” folder.
Search for “FW:” or the subject.
Open the email to see the recipient.
If you emptied the folder, check “Recoverable Items” (available in some versions).

This works for up to 30 days in most cases. After that, the email is permanently deleted.

Use The “Mailbox Cleanup” Tool For Bulk Checks

If you need to find multiple forwards, the Mailbox Cleanup tool can help. It shows the size of folders and lets you search.

Go to “File” > “Tools” > “Mailbox Cleanup”.
Click “Find items larger than” and set a small size to see all emails.
Sort by subject to find “FW:” entries.

This is a roundabout way, but it works for large mailboxes.

Check The “Sent Items” Folder In Archive Or PST Files

If you archive old emails, forwarded emails might be in an archive PST file. Open the archive file in Outlook.

Go to “File” > “Open & Export” > “Open Outlook Data File”.
Browse to the PST file and open it.
Look for “Sent Items” within that archive.
Search for “FW:” or the subject.

This is common for users who archive yearly. The steps are the same as the main mailbox.

Use Third-Party Tools For Advanced Tracking

Some third-party add-ins track email forwards. Tools like “Email Tracker” or “SalesHandy” show who opened your email. But they do not show the forward list directly. They only show opens and clicks.

For most users, the built-in methods above are enough. Third-party tools are optional and often require a subscription.

Common Mistakes When Looking For Forwards

People often confuse forwards with replies. A reply has “RE:” in the subject, while a forward has “FW:”. Make sure you are looking at the right one.

Check the icon: a curved arrow for forward, a left arrow for reply.
Open the email to confirm. The “To” field shows who you sent it to.
If you forwarded to multiple people, they all appear in the “To” field.

Another mistake is searching in the wrong folder. Always start with “Sent Items”. The inbox only shows emails you received, not sent.

How To Prevent Losing Track Of Forwards

To avoid this issue in the future, use a few simple habits:

Always check the “To” field before sending a forward.
Use Bcc carefully, as it hides recipients from each other.
Create a folder for important forwards and move them there after sending.
Use the “Follow Up” flag to remind yourself to check later.

These habits save time and reduce errors.

What If You Cannot Find The Forward At All?

If the email is not in Sent Items or Deleted Items, it might not have been sent. Check your “Drafts” folder. Sometimes, a forward is saved as a draft and never sent.

Go to “Drafts” folder.
Look for emails with “FW:” in the subject.
Open to see if it was completed.

If it is not there either, you may have accidentally deleted it permanently. In that case, check with your IT admin for server backups.

Using The “Resend” Feature To Verify

If you find a forwarded email but are unsure of the recipient, you can resend it. This shows the original recipient list.

Open the forwarded email from Sent Items.
Click “Actions” in the message tab.
Select “Resend This Message”.
A new window opens with the original “To” field filled in.

Do not actually send it unless you need to. Just view the recipients and close the window.

Check The “Sent Items” Folder In Shared Mailboxes

If you use a shared mailbox, forwarded emails go to the shared mailbox’s Sent Items. You need permission to access it.

Open the shared mailbox in Outlook.
Go to its “Sent Items” folder.
Search for “FW:” or the subject.

This is common in team environments. Make sure you have the right permissions.

Using The “Search Folders” Feature

Outlook allows you to create custom search folders. You can make one for all forwarded emails.

Go to “Folder” > “New Search Folder”.
Choose “Mail from specific people” or “Mail with specific words”.
In the criteria, set subject to “FW:”.
Name the folder and click OK.

This creates a virtual folder that shows all forwards. It updates automatically.

Final Tips For Tracking Forwards

Knowing how to see who you forwarded an email to in Outlook is a basic but valuable skill. Always check Sent Items first. Use the search bar for speed. If you use Bcc, remember that those recipients are hidden in the normal view.

For business users, consider enabling read receipts for important forwards. This adds a layer of confirmation. But it does not replace checking the sent folder.

Now you have all the methods. Pick the one that works for your version of Outlook. Practice it a few times, and it will become second nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I See Who I Forwarded An Email To If I Used Bcc?

Yes, but only in the sent email. Open the forwarded email from Sent Items and check the Bcc field. In some versions, you need to open the message properties to see Bcc recipients.

Why Can’t I Find A Forwarded Email In Sent Items?

It might have been deleted, saved as a draft, or not sent. Check Deleted Items and Drafts folders. Also, ensure you are looking in the correct mailbox if you use multiple accounts.

Does Outlook Show The Forward Icon In The Mobile App?

Yes, but it is small. Look for a curved arrow icon next to the email in Sent Items. It is less prominent than on desktop.

Can I See Who I Forwarded An Email To If I Deleted It Permanently?

No, once permanently deleted, the record is gone. Check with your IT admin for server backups or use the “Recoverable Items” folder if available.

Is There A Way To See All Forwarded Emails At Once?

Yes, search for “FW:” in the Sent Items folder. Or create a custom search folder for forwards. Both methods show all forwarded emails in one list.