To show the Bcc field in Outlook 2013, open a new email, click the Options tab, and click Bcc in the Show Fields group. A Bcc line appears under Cc, and Outlook keeps showing it on every new message until you turn it off the same way. The same steps work in Outlook 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365 on Windows.
Can’t find the Options tab at all? You may need to show the ribbon in Outlook first.
Bcc stands for blind carbon copy. People in the Bcc field get the email, but nobody else can see their addresses. Here’s how to turn it on in each version of Outlook, plus when to use it.
How to show Bcc in Outlook 2013
- Click New Email on the Home tab.
- In the new message window, click the Options tab.
- In the Show Fields group, click Bcc.
- Type addresses in the new Bcc line, or click Bcc… to pick people from your address book.
Outlook remembers this choice. To hide the field again, click Options > Bcc once more.
Show Bcc when replying or forwarding
If you read and reply in the Reading Pane, click Pop Out at the top of the reply first. Then click Options > Bcc. In recent versions, the Options tab is also available while replying in the Reading Pane.
How to show Bcc in other versions of Outlook
| Version | How to show Bcc |
|---|---|
| Outlook 2010 | New message > Options > Bcc |
| Outlook 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Microsoft 365 (classic) | New message > Options > Bcc |
| New Outlook for Windows | Click Bcc on the right side of the To line, or Options > Show Bcc |
| Outlook on the web and Outlook.com | Click Bcc on the right side of the To line |
| Outlook for Mac | Click Bcc next to the To field, or Options > Bcc |
| Outlook for iPhone and Android | Tap the arrow or Cc/Bcc next to the To field |
When to use Bcc
- Emailing a group of people who don’t know each other, like customers, event guests, or parents. It keeps their addresses private.
- Preventing reply-all chains. Bcc recipients can’t reply to everyone, because they can’t see who else got the email.
- Sending yourself a copy without the recipient knowing.
A common approach is to put your own address in To and everyone else in Bcc.
Things to know about Bcc
- Bcc recipients can see the To and Cc addresses. They just can’t see other Bcc recipients.
- Replies can reveal Bcc recipients. If a Bcc recipient clicks Reply All, everyone in To and Cc sees their reply, which reveals they were copied.
- You can see who you Bcc’d. Open the email in Sent Items. The sender’s copy shows the Bcc line.
- Sending limits still apply. Microsoft 365 and Outlook.com limit how many recipients one email can have. For large mailings, use a mailing list or an email marketing service instead.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t I see Bcc on emails I received?
Bcc addresses are hidden from recipients by design. Only the sender can see who was on the Bcc line.
Can I make Bcc show up by default?
Yes. After you turn it on once with Options > Bcc, it stays on for new messages.
How do I automatically Bcc myself in Outlook?
Outlook doesn’t have a built-in setting for this on Windows. Your sent emails are already saved in Sent Items. If you need a copy in your inbox, you can create a rule that sends a copy of each outgoing message to yourself. It adds you as a Cc, not a Bcc.
Is Bcc the same in Outlook 2013 and newer versions?
Yes. In classic Outlook for Windows, the Bcc button has been in the same place, Options > Show Fields, since Outlook 2010.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He is an IT specialist with over 20 years of experience, from a university help desk to small-business IT, IT management and his own consulting practice, and has written tech guides full time since 2020. Steps are checked against the current software on a real device or the maker’s official documentation. More about Kermit.