Activate Bcc in Outlook

Blind Carbon Copy (Bcc) is a function offered by Outlook that enables you to send a ‘hidden’ copy of your message to select recipients. This is useful, for instance, if you want to send the same email to multiple business partners, without disclosing lots of email addresses.

Unlike addresses in the “To” or “Cc” line, addresses in the “Bcc” field are not displayed to the recipients of your message. Not only does this allow you to prevent your business relationships from being visible to all recipients, it also protects your business partners’ contact details.

Read our step-by-step guide to learn how to add the Bcc field in Outlook and send blind carbon copies.

Create a Business Email Address
Build your brand with professional email
  • 2 GB+ storage
  • Sync across all your devices
  • Spam filter and ad-free

How to Use the Bcc Field in Your Outlook Desktop Application

The Bcc field is available in all versions of the Outlook desktop application. However, in the standard settings the Bcc field is hidden in Outlook versions 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019.

Take the following steps to activate the Bcc field for new messages, email replies or forwarding.

New Email with Bcc

  1. Click on “New Email” to open a new email window.
  2. Switch to the “Options” tab.
  3. Click on the “Bcc” button in the “Show Fields” section.
Outlook 2016: The “Bcc” button in the “Options” tab
The Bcc field is only displayed in the Outlook desktop application when needed.

Once it’s activated, the Bcc field will appear as a new address line under “To” and “Cc”.

Outlook 2016: Email window with Bcc
The email window with the activated Bcc field
Note

When you activate the Bcc field in your Outlook desktop application, it will be shown as standard when composing new messages. The “Bcc” button is highlighted. To deactivate the Bcc field again, simply click once more on the highlighted button.

Replying or Forwarding with Bcc

  1. Click on “Reply” or “Forward” to compose a reply or forward message in reading area.
  2. Click on the “Bcc” button in the “Show Fields” section.
Outlook 2016: The “Bcc” button in the “Message” tab
: You compose replies and forward messages as standard in the reading area of the Outlook window. You can also write these messages in a new window by pressing the “Pop Out” button.

Using the Bcc Field in Office 356

Office 365 users can also use the blind carbon copy function online. Here too, the Bcc field is hidden as standard in the user interface of Outlook on the web.

Take the steps below to display the Bcc field in Outlook on the web:

  1. Sign in to Outlook on the web.
  2. Click on “New Email”, “Reply” or “Forward”.
  3. Activate the Bcc field by clicking on the button with the same name, located in the top right next to the “To” line.
Outlook on the web: User interface
The user interface of Outlook on the web – without the Bcc line as standard

The Bcc field is displayed as a new address line below “To” and “Cc”.

Outlook on the web: User interface with the activated Bcc field
The Outlook web app with the activated Bcc field

Displaying Bcc Recipients in Sent Messages

Email addresses contained in the Bcc field remain hidden to message recipients – no matter whether they are entered in the “To”, “Cc” or “Bcc” field. Only the sender of the message can view the Bcc recipients after the email has been sent.

To do so, open the “Sent Items” folder. You’ll find the Bcc recipients in the email header.

Was this article helpful?
We use cookies on our website to provide you with the best possible user experience. By continuing to use our website or services, you agree to their use. More Information.