The blind copy field hides a recipient from everyone else on the email

A blind copy (BCC) is a way to send an email to someone without letting the other recipients know they received it. When you put an address in the BCC field, that person gets the email, but their name does not appear anywhere the other recipients can see — not in the To line, not in the CC line, nowhere. The person you blind copied also cannot see who else is blind copied.

In Outlook, the BCC field is hidden by default. You have to turn it on before you can use it. Once you do, it stays visible for that email, and you can add as many blind copy recipients as you need.

Key Takeaways

  • The BCC field is hidden in Outlook until you click "Bcc" in the ribbon or press Ctrl+Shift+B to show it.
  • Anyone in the BCC field receives the email but does not appear on the recipient list that others see.
  • BCC recipients cannot see each other or know who else is blind copied on the message.
  • Once you add the BCC field to one email, you may need to turn it on again for your next email.

Show the BCC field in Outlook on Windows

Open a new email or reply. Look at the ribbon at the top of the compose window. In the ribbon, find and click the button labeled Bcc. It is usually in the "Show Fields" group on the left side of the ribbon. A new field will appear below the CC line where you can type or paste addresses.

If you cannot find the Bcc button in the ribbon, try the keyboard shortcut instead: press Ctrl+Shift+B while the compose window is open. This toggles the BCC field on and off. Once the field appears, type the address or addresses you want to blind copy, separated by semicolons if there are multiple recipients.

The BCC field will stay visible while you finish composing and sending this email. When you create your next new email, you will need to show the BCC field again — Outlook does not keep it visible between messages by default.

Show the BCC field in Outlook on Mac

Open a new email or reply. At the top of the compose window, look for the button labeled Cc/Bcc. Click it, and a dropdown menu will appear with options. Select Bcc from the menu. A BCC field will appear below the CC line.

Type or paste the address or addresses you want to blind copy into this field. If you are adding multiple recipients, separate them with semicolons. Once you send the email, the BCC field will disappear from your next compose window, and you will need to click Cc/Bcc again to show it.

Add multiple blind copy recipients

You can add more than one address to the BCC field. Type the first address, then type a semicolon (;), then type the next address. Continue this way for as many recipients as you need. Each person will receive the email independently, and none of them will see the others' names or know they were blind copied together.

Make sure you do not accidentally put someone in the To or CC field when you meant to put them in BCC. Double-check your recipient lines before you send. Once the email is sent, you cannot change who received it or who saw what.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most common mistake is forgetting to show the BCC field at all. If you do not see it in the compose window, the button is hidden. Look in the ribbon or use the keyboard shortcut — do not assume the field does not exist.

Another mistake is putting someone in CC when you meant BCC. CC recipients can see each other's names, so if you want to keep someone's involvement private, use BCC instead. Also, be careful not to type an address in the wrong field by accident. Take a moment to verify which field each recipient is in before you hit Send.

Some people worry that BCC is dishonest. It is not — it is a standard feature for legitimate reasons like protecting privacy, managing mailing lists, or keeping sensitive conversations confidential. Use it when you have a real reason to, and be transparent about it if the situation calls for it.

When to use blind copy

Use BCC when you want to include someone on an email without the main recipients knowing. Common situations include sending a copy to your manager or a colleague for their information without making it obvious to the other people on the thread, or protecting someone's email address from being seen by a large group.

BCC is also useful when you are sending the same message to many people who do not know each other and should not see each other's addresses. Instead of putting everyone in the To field (which exposes all their email addresses), you can put them all in BCC so each person receives the email privately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can BCC recipients see who else is blind copied?

No. BCC recipients cannot see the BCC field at all. They see the To and CC lines, but the BCC field does not appear in the email they receive. They have no way of knowing who else was blind copied.

What happens if I accidentally put someone in BCC instead of CC?

They will still receive the email, but the other recipients will not see their name. If you realize the mistake before sending, you can move their address to the CC field. After you send, you cannot change it — the email is already gone.

Do I have to turn on BCC every time I write a new email?

Yes, in most versions of Outlook. The BCC field is hidden by default and stays visible only for the current email. When you create a new message, you will need to show it again using the Bcc button or the keyboard shortcut.

Can I use BCC in Outlook on my phone?

It depends on which Outlook app you are using. The Outlook mobile app for iPhone and Android does support BCC, but the button location varies. Look for a "Cc/Bcc" option in the compose window, usually near the To field. If you cannot find it, check your app's settings or help section.

Is it legal to blind copy someone on an email?

Yes, blind copying is a standard email feature and is legal. However, use it responsibly. In a workplace, blind copying your manager to monitor an employee's communication may violate privacy policies. Always consider whether the person being blind copied would reasonably expect it.