The BCC field is hidden by default in Outlook, but you can show it in seconds
To add BCC (blind carbon copy) to an Outlook email, you need to reveal the BCC field first — it does not appear on the compose screen unless you turn it on. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Outlook on the web, Outlook desktop, or Outlook mobile.
BCC lets you send a copy of an email to someone without the other recipients knowing they received it. Unlike CC, which shows all recipients the names of everyone copied, BCC keeps those addresses hidden from everyone except the person sending the message and the person receiving the blind copy.
Key Takeaways
- In Outlook desktop, click Options on the Message tab, then check Bcc to show the field in your compose window.
- In Outlook on the web, click Cc in the compose area and select Bcc from the dropdown menu.
- On Outlook mobile (iPhone and Android), swipe down in the compose window to reveal the BCC field.
- Once you show BCC, the field stays visible for future emails in that same compose session, though you may need to re-enable it for new messages.
How to show BCC in Outlook desktop
Open Outlook and start a new email by clicking New Email or pressing Ctrl+N. In the compose window that opens, look at the top ribbon for the Message tab — it should already be selected.
On the right side of the ribbon, find and click Options. A small menu appears. Look for the checkbox next to Bcc and click it to enable the field. The BCC line now appears in your compose window below the CC field, and you can type email addresses directly into it.
The BCC field remains visible while you are composing that particular email. If you close the message and start a new one later, you will need to repeat these steps — Outlook does not keep BCC permanently visible by default.
How to show BCC in Outlook on the web
Log into Outlook.com or your organization's web version of Outlook. Click New message to open the compose area. You will see fields for To and Cc at the top.
Click the Cc text (not the field itself, but the label). A dropdown menu appears with the option to show Bcc. Click Bcc and the field appears below the CC field. Type the email addresses of people you want to blind copy into this field.
Unlike the desktop version, the BCC field stays visible in Outlook on the web for all future emails in that browser session, so you will not need to re-enable it each time.
How to show BCC on Outlook mobile
Open Outlook on your iPhone or Android phone and tap the compose button (usually a pencil icon) to start a new email. The compose screen shows the To field and a message body area.
Swipe down from the top of the compose area. Additional fields appear, including Cc and Bcc. Tap into the BCC field and type the email addresses you want to blind copy. The field collapses when you are done, but the addresses remain saved in that message.
What happens when you send an email with BCC
When you send an email with addresses in the BCC field, those recipients receive the message exactly as written. They see the To and Cc fields in the email header, but they do not see the BCC field or any other BCC addresses — not even their own.
The person in the BCC field also cannot see that other people were blind copied. If you BCC three people, each of them receives the email thinking they are the only one who received a copy. This is the core difference between CC and BCC: CC is transparent to all recipients, while BCC is hidden.
Common reasons to use BCC
BCC is useful when you want to keep someone informed without making it obvious to the main recipients. For example, you might BCC your manager on a client email so they can follow the conversation without being part of the thread. You might also use BCC to send the same message to a large group of people without exposing everyone's email address to everyone else — this protects privacy and prevents accidental reply-all situations.
BCC is also common in professional settings where you need a record of communication but do not want the other party to know you are documenting it. Always check your organization's email policy before using BCC, as some workplaces have rules about when it is appropriate.
Troubleshooting BCC issues
If the BCC field does not appear after you click Options in Outlook desktop, make sure you are on the Message tab at the top of the compose window. If you are on a different tab, the Options button may not show the BCC checkbox. Close the compose window and try again.
In Outlook on the web, if clicking Cc does not show a dropdown menu, try clicking the word Cc itself rather than the text field next to it. If you are using an older version of Outlook on the web, the interface may look slightly different — look for a link or button that says Show Bcc instead.
On mobile, if swiping down does not reveal the BCC field, make sure you are swiping from the very top of the compose area, not from the middle of the screen. Some phones require a more deliberate downward swipe to trigger the hidden fields.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the BCC recipient see who else was BCC'd?
No. Each person in the BCC field sees only their own copy of the email. They cannot see the BCC field itself or the addresses of any other blind-copied recipients. From their perspective, they are the only person who received the message outside of the To and Cc fields.
Does BCC work the same way in Outlook and Gmail?
The concept is identical — BCC hides recipients from everyone else — but the steps to show the field are different. In Gmail, you click Bcc directly in the compose area. In Outlook, you must enable it through the Options menu (desktop) or by clicking Cc (web). Mobile apps vary by platform.
What if I accidentally put someone in BCC instead of CC?
If you have not sent the email yet, you can move the address from the BCC field to the CC field before sending. Once the email is sent, you cannot undo it — the recipient will not know they were blind copied, and the other recipients will not see them in the header.
Does my organization monitor BCC usage?
Some organizations have email policies that log or restrict BCC use, particularly in regulated industries. Check your company's email policy or ask your IT department if you are unsure. Personal email accounts (like Outlook.com) do not restrict BCC.
Why does Outlook hide BCC by default?
Outlook hides BCC to prevent accidental misuse. Because blind copying someone without their knowledge can damage trust, hiding the field makes it a deliberate choice rather than something you do by habit. This reduces the chance of accidentally blind copying someone when you meant to CC them.