The BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) field in Outlook allows you to discreetly send copies of an email to additional recipients. This guide will show you how to display or hide the BCC field in both the Outlook desktop application and Outlook.com.
Showing the BCC Field in Outlook Desktop
Follow these steps to display the BCC field when composing a new email in the Outlook desktop application:
Step 1: Open Outlook and click “New Email” to start composing a message.
Step 2: In the new message window, click the “Options” tab in the ribbon menu.
Step 3: Look for the “Show Fields” group and click the “Bcc” button. This will make the BCC field appear below the CC field in your email.
Step 4: To hide the BCC field again, simply click the “Bcc” button once more in the Options tab.
For Outlook 2019 and 2016, the process is similar, but you may find the BCC option in a slightly different location within the Options tab.
Permanently Enabling the BCC Field in Outlook Desktop
If you want the BCC field to appear automatically for all new emails:
Step 1: Create a new email and enable the BCC field using the steps above.
Step 2: Close the email composition window without saving or sending the message.
Step 3: The BCC field should now appear by default in all new messages and replies.
Managing the BCC Field in Outlook.com
For the web-based Outlook.com service, the process is a bit different:
Step 1: When composing a new email, look for the “BCC” link near the top-right corner of the composition window. Click it to show the BCC field for that specific email.
Step 2: To hide the BCC field in Outlook.com, you’ll need to start a new email, as there’s no option to remove it once added to an existing draft.
Always Showing BCC in Outlook.com
To make the BCC field appear by default in Outlook.com:
Step 1: Click the Settings gear icon in the top-right corner of Outlook.com.
Step 2: Select “View all Outlook settings” at the bottom of the settings panel.
Step 3: Navigate to “Mail” > “Compose and reply” in the settings menu.
Step 4: Under the “Message format” section, check the box next to “Always show BCC”.
Step 5: Click “Save” to apply the changes and close the settings window.
Understanding BCC Functionality
When using BCC, keep these points in mind:
- BCC recipients can’t see other BCC recipients.
- BCC recipients can see addresses in the To and CC fields.
- If a BCC recipient replies using “Reply All”, their response goes to all recipients, potentially revealing their inclusion.
When to Use BCC
BCC is useful in several scenarios:
- Sending mass emails while protecting recipient privacy.
- Looping in a supervisor without the primary recipient’s knowledge.
- Sharing information with a third party discreetly.
Use BCC judiciously to maintain transparency and avoid potential misunderstandings in professional communications.
By mastering the BCC field in Outlook, you can better manage your email communications and protect recipient privacy when needed. Remember to use this feature responsibly in your personal and professional correspondence.