Sending emails as attachments is another way of forwarding emails. However, forwarding emails and sending emails as attachments are not the same and have different use cases.
In this article, we will discuss how you can send emails as attachments in Outlook and Gmail. Moreover, we'll explain when and why you should use it over the conventional way of forwarding emails.
How to Send Emails as an Attachment to Another Email Using Outlook
If you use the Outlook desktop app on Mac and Windows, you can select multiple emails and then forward them as attachments to other emails.
However, Outlook.com and the Outlook web app do not allow you to select multiple emails at once for you to forward them as attachments. On the bright side, the Outlook web client does allow you to send an individual email item as an attachment.
In the Outlook desktop app on Windows, finding the "Forward as Attachment" option in the Simplified Ribbon layout is easier. After selecting the emails you want to send as attachments, you will need to click the three-dot view button on the Simplified Ribbon layout option. Now, select the Forward as Attachment option. Your PC screen will now display an Outlook compose window containing email attachments. Apart from the email attachments, you can write a summary of all the emails you have attached and send them to the recipients.
If you are on a Mac, open the Outlook app and select the emails. Now, click Message in the macOS menu bar to find the Forward as Attachment option.
Now, click that option, and it will open a new app window where you will find the selected emails as attachments, ready to be sent to the recipients. However, you can check out our beginner's guide to the macOS menu bar if you are new to the operating system.
If you are using Outlook on the Web, open the email you want to send as an attachment, and then click the three-dot view (More options) button on the right corner of the Outlook Reading pane. Now, hover your mouse over Other reply actions and select Forward as Attachment. You can check out how to choose the right client between Outlook on the Web and Outlook Desktop if you are not sure.
How to Send Emails as an Attachment to Another Email on Gmail
Google does not have a desktop app for Gmail, unlike Microsoft Outlook. Gmail is available only on the web, meaning it has the same layout no matter what operating system you use, and there are fewer steps for you to remember. Follow the below steps to send emails as attachments on Gmail:
- Step 1: Open the Gmail website on your web browser and log in to your account (here are the steps to create a Gmail account).
- Step 2: Select the emails you want to send as attachments
- Step 3: Click the overflow (three-dot) menu and select Forward as attachment.
You can also drag and drop emails you want to attach into the email draft window and then send them to the recipients.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Sending Emails as Attachment
At the time of writing this article, Gmail did not have a keyboard shortcut for attaching emails to other emails. On the other hand, Microsoft Outlook has a large set of keyboard shortcuts to let you perform several actions, including sending emails as attachments.
If you are using the Microsoft Outlook Desktop client on Windows, press Ctrl+Alt+F on your keyboard after selecting emails that you want to use as attachments to other emails. However, the keyboard shortcut above will not work if you use Outlook on the Web or the Outlook app on Windows. But this limitation may not be there in the future.
When and Why Should You Attach Emails to Other Emails?
One of the biggest reasons you would want to send emails as attachments is the ability to select multiple ones and forward them all at once. It also allows you to attach emails to other emails without downloading them first. Another major use case for attaching emails to other emails is that you can write a summary email message to your recipients and attach multiple emails to support what you have written. After going through the summary, recipients will be able to open those attachments in their email clients directly.
You Are Now Familiar With the Steps, But Be Cautious
You are aware of everything you need to know about sending emails as attachments to other emails. But before you try the steps, a word of caution: while selecting the emails you want to send as attachments, do not forget to double-check if you have selected the right ones. It could be a major embarrassment if you attach the wrong email, so make sure you do not make that mistake.
