Outlook Blocks My Attachments, What Can I Do?

When you receive an email in Microsoft Outlook that contains an attachment, you might receive the following message, spoken by your screen reader or visible at the top of the message or the Reading Pane:

Outlook blocked access to the following potentially unsafe attachments: []

All versions of Outlook since Outlook 2000 Service Release 1 (SR1) include a security feature that blocks attachments that might put your computer at risk for viruses or other threats. Although Outlook blocks access to the attachment, the attachment still exists in the email message.

If Outlook blocks an attachment, you cannot save, delete, open, print, or otherwise work with the attachment in Outlook. However, you can use one of these methods to access the attachment more safely.

Method 1

Use a file share to access the attachment: You might want to ask the sender to save the attachment to a server or an FTP site that you can access. Ask the sender to send you a link to the attachment on the server or FTP site. You can click the link to access the attachment and save it on your computer. If you need help using the server or FTP site, you can ask the sender for help, or you can contact the server administrator for more information.

Method 2

Use a file compression utility to change the file name extension: If no server or FTP site is available to you, you can ask the sender to use a file compression utility, such as WinZip, to compress the file. This creates a compressed archive file that has a different filename extension. Outlook does not recognize these filename extensions as potential threats. Therefore, it does not block the new attachment. When the sender resends the new attachment to you, you can save it on your computer, and then you can use the third-party file compression software to extract the attachment. If you need help using the third-party file compression software, see your product documentation.

Method 3

Rename the file to have a different filename extension: If third-party file compression software is not available to you, you might want to request that the sender rename the attachment to use a filename extension that Outlook does not recognize as a threat. For example, an executable file that has the filename extension .exe could be renamed as a Word 97 file that has a .doc filename extension. Ask the sender to resend the renamed attachment to you. After you receive the renamed attachment, you can save it to your computer and rename the file again to use the original filename extension. Follow these steps to save the attachment and rename it to use the original filename extension:

1. Locate the attachment in the email.
   
2. Right-click the attachment, and then click Copy. If using a screen reader, place the focus on the file and hit control+C.
   
3. Right-click the desktop, and then click Paste. Screen reader users hit Windows Key+M to go to the Desktop and hit Control+V to paste the file.
   
4. Right-click the pasted file, and then click Rename. You can also highlight the file and hit F2.
   
5. Rename the file to use the original filename extension, such as .exe. If you used the F2 method, press enter to submit your changes.

Method 4

Ask the Exchange server administrator to change the security settings: If you use Outlook with a Microsoft Exchange server and the administrator has configured the Outlook security settings, the administrator might be able to help you. Ask the administrator to adjust the security settings on your mailbox to accept attachments such as the one that Outlook blocked.