How to Add a BCC in Outlook (Automatic & Manual)

If you’ve searched “how to add a BCC in Outlook,” you’re not alone. Outlook hides the BCC field by default, and the steps differ slightly between classic Outlook, new Outlook, and Outlook on the web.

The short answer: open a new email, click the Options tab, then click BCC. Below we walk through the full steps, then show how to automatically add a BCC — including only on certain messages — in every Outlook you actually use.

What Is a BCC in Outlook?

BCC stands for blind carbon copy. When you add someone to the BCC field:

Recipients in To and CC cannot see that the BCC recipient received the email.
The BCC recipient still gets the message, but their name and address stay hidden from everyone else.

One caution: a BCC recipient who hits Reply All can accidentally reveal themselves to the entire thread. Remind BCC recipients to reply only to the sender. If you need a safety net, Safeguard Send for Microsoft 365 can warn users before a reply-all goes out.

For group messages, first decide whether recipients should see one another’s addresses. Our guide to group email privacy in Outlook explains when BCC or separate messages may be the better fit.

How to Add a BCC in Outlook (Step by Step)

To add a BCC to an Outlook email, first make the BCC line visible:

Compose a new email in Outlook.
Click the Options tab.
Click BCC in the “Show Fields” area of the ribbon.

The BCC field now appears under CC. Enter the address you want to blind-copy, then send as normal.

Adding a BCC in new Outlook or Outlook on the web

In new Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web, the BCC field is still hidden until you turn it on. Open a new message, then look for Bcc next to the To/CC line, or under Options / Show fields. If you still don’t see it, check More options on the compose menu.

This is also why “where is the BCC in Outlook” has become a common search: people moving to new Outlook expect the classic ribbon and don’t find it.

How to Automatically BCC Outgoing Email in Outlook

Outlook’s built-in rules can auto-add a CC, but not a BCC. If you need a copy of every outgoing email — or only certain ones — for compliance, CRM, or a supervisor, you have two practical options.

Option 1: Use an Outlook template (no add-in)

Create a blank email with the BCC field already filled in.
Save it (or use Save As to put it on your Desktop).
Start from that template each time you compose.

This works for occasional use, but it is easy to forget, and it will not follow you between classic Outlook, new Outlook, and Outlook on the web.

Option 2: Automatically BCC with Safeguard Send for Microsoft 365

Safeguard Send for Microsoft 365 (SS365) is the better automatic option because it is not tied to classic Outlook. It runs in:

Classic Outlook for Windows
New Outlook on Windows
Outlook on the web
Outlook for Mac

You set this up once in the Safeguard Send dashboard. Each rule has conditions (when it should fire) and actions (what should happen). One of those actions is Add a CC/BCC. Step-by-step: How to Automatically Add a BCC with Safeguard Send.

Typical BCC rules:

Add a BCC whenever the email is going outside the company
Add a BCC when the subject or body contains certain keywords
Add a BCC when sending to specific domains or recipients
Add a BCC on every send, if you truly want a default BCC

You are not limited to “BCC everything.” Create separate rules for different situations — for example, BCC a compliance mailbox on external mail, but skip routine internal messages. Team-specific rules can also be assigned with Groups.

This is an SS365 capability, not Safeguard Send Core. If you are comparing versions, see the SS365 vs Core feature list.

Start a 30-day trial of Safeguard Send for Microsoft 365, then follow How to Automatically Add a BCC with Safeguard Send.

Classic Outlook only?

Older desktop add-ins can still auto-BCC in classic Windows Outlook, but they will not run in new Outlook or Outlook on the web. If your organization is moving off classic Outlook, put the BCC rule in SS365 so it follows the mailbox rather than the old desktop install.

BCC Not Showing in Outlook?

The BCC field is hidden until you turn it on. If the button is missing:

In classic Outlook, confirm you are on the Options tab of the compose window, not the Message tab.
In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, look for Bcc, Show fields, or More options rather than the classic ribbon.
Restart Outlook if the compose window was open before a recent update.

If the real goal is “I don’t want to hunt for BCC on every message,” skip the field entirely and let SS365 add it when the rule matches.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I add a BCC in Outlook?

Open a new email, click the Options tab, then click BCC. The BCC line appears under CC, where you can enter the address.

How do I automatically BCC every outgoing email in Outlook?

Outlook cannot auto-BCC with a built-in rule. Use a saved template, or Safeguard Send for Microsoft 365 to add a BCC automatically on every send — or only when a condition is met.

Where is the BCC field in Outlook?

It is hidden by default. In classic Outlook, enable it from Options > BCC. In new Outlook and Outlook on the web, enable Bcc from the compose options next to To/CC.

Can I set a default BCC in Outlook?

Not with Outlook’s own rules. Create an SS365 rule whose condition is every send (or “external email”) and whose action is to add your BCC address. That rule then applies in classic Outlook, new Outlook, and Outlook on the web.

Does automatic BCC work in new Outlook?

Yes. SS365 is a Microsoft 365 add-in, so the same dashboard rule runs in classic Outlook, new Outlook, and Outlook on the web. Classic-only desktop add-ins do not.