Remove or delete attachments in Outlook
Applies ToOutlook for Microsoft 365 Outlook 2024 Outlook 2021 Outlook 2019 Outlook 2016 Outlook.com New Outlook for Windows Outlook Web App

You can remove or delete attachments and keep the email the files arrived in, depending on which version of Outlook you're using.

When you're using desktop versions of Outlook, you can remove file attachments from messages you're composing as well as from messages you've received. In web-based versions of Outlook, you can delete the email the attachment came with, and you can download or save the attachment elsewhere.

If your email is stored on an email server such as Exchange, when your mailbox reaches its upper limit your administrator might start limiting functionality. As attachments accumulate over time, they can take up a lot of space.

Select a tab option below for the version of Outlook you're using. What version of Outlook do I have?

In new Outlook, you can:​​​​​​​

Remove attachments from sent or received emails  |  Remove attachments from an email you're composing

Remove attachments from sent or received emails in new Outlook

You can remove files and photo attachments by deleting the email they arrived in. 

  • For a file or photo you received, find the corresponding email in your Inbox or subfolder and delete it.

  • For a file or photo you sent, go to your Sent Items folder, find the corresponding email and delete it.

After deleting the email, you also need to delete it from your Deleted Items. Go to your Deleted Items folder, select the item to remove, and select Delete.

Note: If the email is important, save the images to your computer or OneDrive, forward the email to yourself without the images, then delete the original email.

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Remove attachments from an email message you're composing in new Outlook

  1. Open the draft email message that contains the attachment you want to delete.

  2. Select the drop-down arrow  next to the attachment name, then select Remove attachment.Select the down arrow next to the attachment and then select Remove Attachment 

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See also

Manage my mailbox size in Outlook

​​​​​​​Clean up your inbox

Archive in Outlook for Windows

Add pictures or attach files to emails in Outlook

Reduce attachment size to send large files with Outlook

Open, save, and edit attachments in Outlook

Troubleshoot attachment problems in Outlook for Windows

Blocked attachments in Outlook

Find all messages with attachments in Outlook

Print attachments received in email messages

Send attachments and images in Outlook mobile

Attach a vCard (business card) to an email in classic Outlook​​​​​​​

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