Quick Answer: To add Bcc in Outlook

  • In New Outlook: New Mail > Options > Show fields > Show Bcc
  • In Classic Outlook: New Email > Options > Bcc
  • In Outlook on the web: New Mail > Bcc beside the To field

Bcc (Blind Carbon Copy) allows you to send emails to other users without them knowing about each other. Many individuals and organizations need to send an email to multiple users without them knowing about each other. In these scenarios, Bcc plays a vital role.

For example, if you add ABC to the To field and XYZ to the Bcc field, ABC will not see XYZ's email address. Bcc is useful when you need to protect recipient addresses, send a message to multiple unrelated recipients, or keep a recipient copied privately.

A Bcc recipient can see the sender and the other visible recipients but cannot see other addresses added to the Bcc field.

What Is the Difference Between To, Cc, and Bcc in Outlook?

Field Who can see the recipient? Common Use
To All recipients can see the address Main recipients
Cc All recipients can see the address Keep someone informed
Bcc Other recipients cannot see the address Keep the recipient's address private

Important: Bcc does not make the entire email private. The Bcc recipient receives the message, but other recipients cannot see that person on the recipient list.

Why Should You Use Bcc in Outlook?

Check out all the possible scenarios where Bcc can be useful:

  • Protect recipient privacy: Hide recipients' email addresses from other recipients.
  • Send bulk emails: Keep recipient addresses hidden when sending a message to a large group.
  • Keep someone privately informed: Send a copy to another person without displaying their address to the main recipients.
  • Avoid exposing unrelated recipients: Useful when people on the recipient list do not need to know each other's email addresses.

For business emails, always check your organization's email and privacy policies before using automatic Bcc rules.

How to Add Bcc in Outlook?

You can insert Bcc in Outlook from the message window. The exact option depends on whether you use New Outlook, Classic Outlook, or Outlook on the web.

Method 1: Add Bcc in New Outlook for Windows

Microsoft currently provides the Bcc field through the message options in New Outlook. Let’s check out the step-by-step process to add Bcc in Outlook (New Outlook).

Step 1: Open New Outlook, select New > Mail.

select new mail

Step 2: Click on the Bcc option in the New Mail.

Click on the Bcc

Step 3: The Bcc field will appear in the message. Enter the email addresses of the recipients you want to add as Bcc. Click Send.

Enter email addresses of the recipients

Method 2: Add Bcc in Classic Outlook

If you use Classic Outlook for Windows, you can add Bcc from the message window.

Step 1: Open Outlook and select New Email.

Select New Email

Step 2: Open the Options tab.

Open the Options

Step 3: Select Bcc to add this option on your email.

Select Bcc

Step 4: The Bcc field will appear below the Cc field. Enter the email addresses in Bcc and click Send.

Note: Microsoft lists this option for Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2024, Outlook 2021, Outlook 2019, and earlier supported Classic Outlook versions.

Enter email addresses in Bcc

Method 3: Add Bcc in Outlook on the Web

If you use Outlook on the web or Outlook.com, you can add Bcc directly from the new message window.

Step 1: Sign-in to Outlook on the web.

Step 2: Select New > Mail.

Select New Mail

Step 3: Select Bcc on the right side of the To line.

Click Bcc on the right side

Step 4: Enter the required email addresses in the Bcc field. Compose the message and select Send.

Note: Microsoft confirms that the names on the Bcc line remain hidden from other recipients.

Enter the required email addresses in Bcc

How to Add a Bcc in Outlook Automatically?

If you want Outlook to add a specific address to every outgoing message, the available method depends on the Outlook version and where your mailbox is hosted.

New Outlook for Windows does not currently support the classic Apply rule on messages I send workflow. Its built-in Rules experience focuses on incoming messages.

Therefore, you should not follow old instructions that tell New Outlook users to create an outgoing rule from Rules > Manage Rules & Alerts.

Option 1: Use a Bcc Template

An Outlook template can save a message that already contains a Bcc address. It does not automatically add Bcc to every new email. Instead, you create a new message from the saved template whenever you need the same Bcc recipient.

It is very helpful if you regularly send a particular type of email to the same recipients.

Option 2: Use an Outlook Add-in

Some third-party Outlook add-ins can add Bcc recipients or provide automation features that Outlook does not offer natively. If you choose an add-in, check its current compatibility with your Outlook version and Microsoft 365 account before use.

It is a helpful approach when you want to know how to automatically add Bcc functionality in New Outlook and a standard template is not enough.

Option 3: Use an Exchange Online Mail Flow Rule

For Microsoft 365 organizations, an administrator can create a mail flow rule in the Exchange admin center that adds a recipient to the Bcc field when the rule conditions are met. Microsoft documents “Bcc the message to” as an available mail-flow action.

It is an Outlook client rule because the action occurs at the mail-flow level. It is more appropriate for organization-wide requirements, such as automatically sending a copy of certain outgoing messages to a compliance or monitoring mailbox.

An Exchange administrator should configure this rule because it can affect messages sent by users in the organization.

Sometimes, while configuring these options, some users might find that they can’t access their emails. There is a high possibility that they are facing corruption or an error while configuring these methods. In these scenarios, make sure to use the Kernel Outlook PST Repair tool to resolve PST corruption related issues and access your emails effortlessly.

Conclusion

Adding Bcc in Outlook is simple. Open a new message, show the Bcc field, and enter the recipient's email address. The steps vary slightly between New Outlook, Classic Outlook, and Outlook on the web.

If you need to add Bcc code in MS Outlook or automatically add a Bcc recipient to outgoing messages, the available options depend on your Outlook version. New Outlook does not support the older outgoing-rule method, while Microsoft 365 administrators can use Exchange Online mail-flow rules for specific automated Bcc requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do I add Bcc in Outlook?

Ans: Open a new email, select Options > Show fields > Show Bcc in New Outlook, and then enter the required addresses in the Bcc field. In Classic Outlook, open a new email, select Options > Bcc, and enter the recipients.

Q2. How do I add Bcc to Outlook on the web?

Ans: Create a new email and select Bcc on the right side of the To line. Enter the recipients in the Bcc field and send the message.

Q3. How do I add Bcc in Outlook automatically?

Ans: The method depends on your Outlook version. New Outlook does not currently support the classic outgoing-mail rule workflow. For Microsoft 365 organizations, an Exchange Online mail-flow rule can add a recipient to Bcc. Third-party add-ins may also provide Bcc automation.

Q4. Can Bcc recipients see each other?

Ans: No. Bcc recipients cannot see the email addresses of other Bcc recipients. Other recipients also cannot see who was added to Bcc.

Q5. Can I always show the Bcc field in Outlook?

Ans: Yes. New Outlook lets you show Bcc from Options > Show fields > Show Bcc. After you enable it, the Bcc field remains available for future messages until you turn it off.

Q6. What is the difference between Cc and Bcc?

Ans: Cc recipients are visible to the other recipients of the message. Bcc recipients are hidden from the other recipients. Use Bcc when you need to send a copy of an email without exposing that recipient's address.

Sarthak Poswal
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