Add BCC to Outlook: Quick Steps
- Open Outlook >> Start a New Email
- Enable BCC Field >> Enter Recipients >> Type your Message
- Compose Your Email >> Send the Mail
Adding BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) in Outlook allows you to send emails to multiple recipients without revealing their email addresses. This feature is useful for privacy, bulk emails, and professional communication. Whether you're using Outlook for Windows, Mac, Web (Outlook.com, Office 365), or Mobile (iPhone & Android), enabling BCC in Outlook emails is quick and simple. In this guide, you'll learn how to add BCC in Outlook step by step across all devices.
How to Add BCC in Outlook
Adding BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) in Outlook ensures recipient privacy by hiding email addresses from others. Below are the steps for both Outlook Desktop App (Windows & Mac) and Outlook Web (Outlook.com & Office 365).
Method 1: Add BCC in Outlook Desktop App (Windows & Mac)
To add BCC in Outlook on desktop, follow the steps given below:
Step 1: Open a New Email
Launch Microsoft Outlook on your computer and click New Email to open the email composer.
Step 2: Enable the BCC Field
Click on the Options tab at the top menu, then select BCC to make the BCC field visible.
Step 3: Add Recipients in the BCC Field
Enter the email addresses of recipients in the BCC field. They will receive the email but won’t see other BCC recipients.
Step 4: Add Other Recipients (Optional)
You can still add To and CC recipients if necessary.
Step 5: Compose and Send the Email
Write your email, attach files if needed, and click Send.
Method 2: Add BCC in Outlook Web (Outlook.com & Office 365)
To add BCC on Outlook Web, follow the steps given below:
Step 1: Open Outlook Web and Start a New Email
Go to Outlook.com or Office 365 Webmail, sign in, and click New Mail to compose a new email.
Step 2: Enable the BCC Field
Click the More options (three dots) in the email composer, then select Show BCC to make the BCC field visible.
Step 3: Add Recipients in the BCC Field
Type the email addresses into the BCC field to keep them hidden from other recipients.
Step 4: Add Other Recipients (Optional)
If needed, enter To and CC recipients as well.
Step 5: Compose and Send the Email
Write your email, add attachments if necessary, and click Send.
How to Auto Bcc in Outlook
If you want to Auto BCC in Outlook, you can set up rules to automatically send a blind carbon copy (BCC) of every sent email to yourself or another recipient. Follow the steps below to automatically BCC yourself in Outlook and manage your sent emails efficiently
Step 1: Open Outlook and Access Rules
Launch Microsoft Outlook, go to the File tab, and select Manage Rules & Alerts.
Step 2: Create a New Rule
Click New Rule, select Apply rule on messages I send, and click Next.
Step 3: Set Conditions (Optional)
If you want to BCC yourself on all emails, skip this step. Otherwise, choose conditions (e.g., BCC only for specific recipients or subjects).
Step 4: Add BCC Recipient
Select CC the message to people or public group, then enter your own email address (to BCC yourself) or another email for auto BCC.
Step 5: Save and Apply Rule
Click Next, name the rule, and click Finish. All sent emails will now automatically BCC yourself or the specified recipient.
How to Add BCC in Outlook on Mobile (iPhone & Android)
Adding BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) in Outlook Mobile allows you to send emails while keeping recipients' addresses hidden. Follow these steps for Outlook on iPhone and Android.
Step 1: Open the Outlook App
Launch the Outlook app on your iPhone or Android and tap the Compose button (✉️) to start a new email.
Step 2: Tap on the "CC/BCC" Option
Below the "To" field, tap CC/BCC to expand the BCC field.
Step 3: Add Recipients in the BCC Field
Enter the email addresses in the BCC field. These recipients will receive the email, but their addresses will remain hidden from others.
Step 4: Add Other Recipients (Optional)
If needed, enter email addresses in the To or CC fields for visible recipients.
Step 5: Compose and Send the Email
Write your email, attach any files if necessary, and tap Send (📤).
Difference Between BCC and CC in Outlook
When sending emails in Outlook, both BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) and CC (Carbon Copy) allow you to send copies of an email to multiple recipients. However, they have different functions. Below is a table comparing BCC vs. CC in Outlook for better understanding.
| Feature | CC (Carbon Copy) | BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) |
|---|---|---|
| Visibility | Recipients can see each other's email addresses. | Recipients cannot see other BCC recipients. |
| Privacy | No privacy—email addresses are visible to all. | Ensures privacy—recipients do not know who else received the email. |
| Reply Options | Recipients can use "Reply All", leading to long email threads. | Recipients cannot reply to all BCC recipients, preventing unnecessary replies. |
| Best Use Case | When you want to keep others informed without needing a response. | When sending bulk emails, newsletters, or confidential messages. |
| Email Etiquette | Useful for team updates, shared reports, or group discussions. | Ideal for mass emails, event invitations, or protecting recipient identities. |
When to Use CC vs. BCC in Outlook
- Use CC when recipients should be aware of each other (e.g., office updates, project reports).
- Use BCC for privacy and bulk emailing (e.g., marketing emails, announcements).
Conclusion
Adding BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) in Outlook is an essential feature for protecting recipient privacy, sending bulk emails, and improving email etiquette. Whether you’re using Outlook for Windows, Mac, Web (Outlook.com, Office 365), or Mobile (iPhone & Android), enabling the BCC field is quick and easy.
By using BCC instead of CC, you can prevent recipients from seeing each other’s email addresses, avoid unnecessary "Reply All" messages, and maintain professional email communication. Now that you know how to add BCC in Outlook step by step, you can send emails more efficiently and securely.