How to Remove Attachments From Messages in Outlook

How to keep your Outlook inbox clean from attachments

What to Know

  • In Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, and 2010, go to Attachments > Save All Attachments.
  • In Outlook 2007, go to File > Save Attachments > All Attachments.
  • To delete an attachment from a message, select Attachments > Remove Attachment.

This article shows how to remove attachments and save them to a folder to make your Outlook email experience cleaner and faster. Instructions apply to Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and 2007; and Outlook for Microsoft 365.

Save Attachments

Before you delete attachments to an email message, save important attached files to your computer, OneDrive, or other cloud storage service.

  1. Select the email that contains the attachments you want to save. The message displays in the Preview pane.

  2. In Outlook 2019, 2016, and 2013, select the attachment dropdown arrow and choose Save All Attachments.

    In Outlook 2010, go to the Attachments tab and select Save All Attachments.

    In Outlook 2007, go to the File menu and select Save Attachments > All Attachments.

  3. In the Save All Attachments dialog box, select OK.

    To remove a file from the list, press Ctrl and click the file. Only highlighted files are saved.

    Selecting all attachments to save in Outlook.
  4. In the Save Attachment dialog box, select the folder in which you want to save the files.

  5. Select Save.

Delete Attachments From Messages in Outlook

To delete attachments from messages in Outlook:

  1. Select the message that contains the attachments.

  2. Select the attachment dropdown arrow.

  3. Select Remove Attachment.

    Selecting to remove an attachment in Outlook.
  4. In the confirmation dialog box, select Remove Attachment.

    Confirming the removal of an attachment in Outlook.
  5. The attachment is removed from the message, and the rest of the message is left intact.

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