How to Add a BCC in Outlook (Desktop, Web, and Mobile)
BCC — blind carbon copy — lets you include recipients on an email without other recipients knowing. It's one of those features that sounds simple but hides a few quirks depending on which version of Outlook you're using and how your account is configured. Here's how it works across the main platforms, plus what to keep in mind before you rely on it.
What BCC Actually Does
When you add someone to the BCC field, they receive a full copy of the email — but their address is invisible to everyone in the To and CC fields. BCC recipients also can't see each other if you've added multiple addresses to BCC.
One important behavior to understand: if a BCC recipient hits "Reply All," their reply goes only to the original sender — not to the full thread. This is intentional, but it surprises people the first time it happens.
BCC is commonly used for:
- Mass emails where you don't want to expose a list of contacts to each other
- Privacy-conscious notifications sent to groups
- Keeping a record copy — some users BCC a filing address or their own inbox
- Forwarding without disclosure — keeping a third party informed without signaling that to the main recipients
How to Add BCC in Outlook Desktop (Windows and Mac) 🖥️
In the classic Outlook desktop app, the BCC field is hidden by default in the compose window. You have to enable it manually — but only once per session or permanently depending on your version.
To show the BCC field:
- Open a New Email window
- Click the Options tab in the ribbon
- Select BCC from the "Show Fields" group
Once enabled, the BCC field appears below the CC field and stays visible for new messages during that session. In some versions, once you've used it once, it remains visible in all future compose windows automatically.
On Outlook for Mac, the path is slightly different:
- Open a New Email
- Go to Options in the toolbar
- Click BCC
The field behavior is the same — addresses entered there are invisible to To/CC recipients.
How to Add BCC in Outlook on the Web (OWA)
Outlook Web Access (OWA) — accessed through Outlook.com or your organization's Microsoft 365 portal — handles BCC a bit differently.
- Click New Message to open the compose pane
- In the To field area, look for a small BCC link (usually appears to the right of the To field or below it depending on your view)
- Click it to expand the BCC field
- Type your BCC addresses normally
If you don't see the BCC link immediately, click the three-dot menu or More options button within the compose window — it's often tucked there in the simplified compose view.
How to Add BCC in the Outlook Mobile App 📱
On iOS and Android, the Outlook app keeps the compose interface minimal by default.
- Start a new email
- Tap in the To field
- Look for a BCC (and CC) option — it typically appears as a small label or expandable row directly below or beside the To field
- Tap BCC to expand it and enter addresses
The mobile app syncs with your account settings, so BCC works the same way regardless of whether your account is personal, Exchange, or Microsoft 365.
Key Variables That Affect How BCC Behaves
Not all Outlook setups work identically. A few factors shape your experience:
| Variable | How It Affects BCC |
|---|---|
| Outlook version | Older desktop versions may not auto-persist the BCC field |
| Account type | Exchange/Microsoft 365 accounts may log BCC activity in sent items differently than personal accounts |
| Admin policy | In corporate environments, IT policies may affect BCC visibility in message tracking |
| Compose view | Full vs. simplified compose in OWA changes where the BCC option appears |
| Email client at recipient's end | BCC behavior is universal across email clients — it's an email protocol standard, not Outlook-specific |
A Few Practical Considerations
BCC is not encryption. It hides addresses from other recipients, but your email server, your organization's IT team, and mail logs may still record who received what. Don't treat BCC as a privacy tool for sensitive communications.
Sent item copies. When you send an email with BCC recipients, your Sent Items folder typically shows the full BCC list — so you have a record, but the recipients don't see each other's addresses.
Reply behavior matters. Because BCC recipients are "silent," they can create awkward situations if they accidentally reply or forward content that exposes their involvement. It's worth briefing people you BCC regularly on this behavior.
Distribution lists and BCC. If you're sending to a large group and privacy matters, BCC is usually preferable to CC — but for very large sends, purpose-built email marketing tools handle deliverability and compliance in ways that a standard Outlook BCC chain doesn't.
Which Setup You're Working With Changes Everything
The steps above cover the most common Outlook environments, but the exact UI you encounter depends on your specific version, whether your account is managed by an organization, and how your compose window is configured. 🔍
A personal Outlook.com account, a corporate Microsoft 365 deployment, and a legacy on-premise Exchange setup can all look and behave differently — even when the underlying BCC functionality is identical. Your starting point determines which path applies to you.