Add Bcc to an email before you send it

To send a blind carbon copy in Outlook, you need to reveal the Bcc field first — it is hidden by default. Open a new email or reply, then look for the Options tab at the top of the compose window. Click Bcc in the ribbon. The Bcc field will appear below the Cc field, and you can type or paste email addresses there. Anyone in the Bcc field receives the email but their address stays hidden from everyone else on the message.

The steps are the same whether you use Outlook on Windows, Mac, or the web version. The location of the Options tab may shift slightly depending on your screen size, but the Bcc button is always there once you look for it.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the Options tab in the compose window, then click Bcc to show the field.
  • Bcc recipients receive the email but their addresses are hidden from all other recipients, including those in the To and Cc fields.
  • You can add as many Bcc addresses as you need, and you can mix Bcc with regular To and Cc addresses on the same email.
  • Once you send the email, you cannot add or remove Bcc recipients — the field must be filled before you click Send.

Step-by-step: Outlook on Windows

Step 1: Open Outlook and click New Email, or open an existing email thread and click Reply or Reply All.

Step 2: In the compose window that opens, look at the top ribbon. You should see tabs labeled Message, Insert, Format Text, and Options. Click the Options tab.

Step 3: In the Options ribbon, find the Bcc button on the left side. Click it once. The Bcc field will appear in your compose window, positioned below the Cc field.

Step 4: Click in the Bcc field and type the email address or addresses you want to add. If you have multiple addresses, separate them with semicolons. You can also click the address book icon next to the field to search your contacts.

Step 5: Fill in the To, Cc, Subject, and message body as normal. When you are ready, click Send. The Bcc recipients will receive the email, but their addresses will not appear in the message that others see.

Step-by-step: Outlook on Mac

Step 1: Open Outlook and click New Email, or reply to an existing message.

Step 2: In the compose window, look at the top menu bar. Click Message (or Options depending on your Outlook version).

Step 3: A dropdown menu will appear. Look for Show Bcc or Bcc and click it. The Bcc field will now be visible in your compose window.

Step 4: Click in the Bcc field and type the addresses you want to add. Separate multiple addresses with semicolons. Click Send when you are done composing the email.

Step-by-step: Outlook on the web

Step 1: Log into Outlook.com or your organization's Outlook web version. Click New message.

Step 2: In the compose pane that opens on the right side of the screen, look for the To field. Below it, you should see Cc and a link that says Bcc. Click the Bcc link.

Step 3: The Bcc field will expand and appear below the Cc field. Click in it and type the email addresses you want to add. You can add multiple addresses separated by semicolons.

Step 4: Complete your email and click Send. The Bcc recipients will receive the message without their addresses being visible to others.

What happens when you use Bcc

When you send an email with Bcc recipients, those people receive a complete copy of the message just like anyone in the To or Cc field. The difference is that no one else on the email — not the main recipient, not the Cc recipients, not even the other Bcc recipients — can see that the Bcc addresses exist. The Bcc field does not appear in the email that gets delivered.

This is useful when you want to send the same message to someone without the main recipient knowing, or when you are sending to a large group and do not want everyone's email address exposed to each other. For example, you might Bcc your manager on a client email, or Bcc yourself on a message you send to a vendor so you have a copy in your sent folder.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most common mistake is forgetting to click the Options tab or the Bcc link before you start typing. If you cannot see the Bcc field, you have not revealed it yet — go back and follow the steps for your version of Outlook. Do not type "Bcc:" in the message body or subject line; that will not work.

Another mistake is adding Bcc addresses after you have already sent the email. Once you click Send, the message is gone and you cannot edit it. If you realize you forgot to add someone to Bcc, you will need to send a new email with that person included.

Do not assume that Bcc is completely anonymous. The Bcc recipient can still see the email address of everyone in the To and Cc fields — they just cannot see other Bcc addresses. If you need the recipient to not know who else received the message, you should send separate emails instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I see who was in the Bcc field after I send an email?

No. Once you send an email, the Bcc field is not stored or visible anywhere. You cannot look back at a sent email and see who was Bcc'd on it. If you need to remember who you Bcc'd, write it down or keep a note before you send.

Will Bcc recipients see my other Bcc recipients?

No. Each Bcc recipient sees the email, the To field, and the Cc field, but they do not see any other addresses in the Bcc field. Only you (the sender) can see the complete Bcc list while you are composing the email.

Can I use Bcc on a reply or reply all?

Yes. When you click Reply or Reply All, the compose window opens the same way as a new email. Follow the same steps to reveal and fill in the Bcc field. The Bcc recipients will receive your reply along with the original message thread.

What if the Bcc button does not appear in my Options tab?

Make sure you are looking at the Options tab and not another tab like Message or Insert. If you still do not see it, try scrolling right in the ribbon — the Bcc button may be hidden if your window is narrow. On the web version, look for the Bcc link below the Cc field instead of in a ribbon.

Can I set Bcc as a default so it always shows?

In the desktop version of Outlook, you can right-click the Bcc field header and select Remove to hide it again, but there is no setting to make it permanently visible. You will need to click Options and then Bcc each time you want to use it. The web version works the same way — click the Bcc link each time you compose a new email.