The BCC field hides recipient names from each other
BCC stands for "blind carbon copy." When you put someone's email address in the BCC field, that person receives the message, but their name does not appear to the other recipients — and the other recipients do not know a BCC was sent at all. The person in BCC also cannot see who else is in BCC.
This is different from CC (carbon copy), where everyone can see everyone else's name. BCC is useful when you are sending the same message to a group of people who do not know each other, or when you want to keep someone's involvement private. It is also a way to protect people's email addresses from being exposed to strangers.
Outlook does not show the BCC field by default. You have to turn it on first, then add the addresses you want.
Key Takeaways
- The BCC field is hidden in Outlook by default and must be enabled before you can use it.
- In Outlook on the web, click "Bcc" in the compose window to reveal the field.
- In Outlook desktop, go to the Options tab and click "Bcc" to show the field.
- Anyone in BCC receives the email but their name stays hidden from all other recipients.
- Use BCC when sending to groups of people who should not see each other's addresses.
How to show the BCC field in Outlook on the web
Open your inbox and click the "New message" button. In the compose window that opens, you will see fields for "To" and "Cc" at the top. Look for the word "Bcc" written in small text just below or to the right of the "Cc" field. Click on "Bcc" and the field will appear.
Once the BCC field is visible, you can type or paste email addresses into it the same way you would for the "To" field. You can add one address or multiple addresses separated by semicolons or commas, depending on your settings.
How to show the BCC field in Outlook desktop
Open a new message by clicking "New Email" or pressing Ctrl+N. At the top of the compose window, you will see tabs: "Home," "Insert," "Format Text," and "Options." Click the "Options" tab.
In the Options tab, look for a button labeled "Bcc" in the ribbon. Click it, and the BCC field will appear in your message header, usually below the "Cc" field. Type the addresses you want into the BCC field.
Why the BCC field matters for privacy and safety
When you send an email to multiple people using the "To" field, every recipient can see every other recipient's email address. This exposes addresses to people who may not need them, and it can create a chain of forwarding that spreads addresses further than you intended.
BCC solves this by keeping addresses private. If you are sending a message to ten people who do not know each other — for example, inviting friends to an event, or notifying a group of vendors — using BCC means no one in the group learns the others' email addresses. This is especially important if you are sending to people outside your organization or to people who have not consented to have their address shared.
BCC also prevents "reply all" accidents. If someone clicks "Reply All" on a message where they were in BCC, their reply goes only to the sender, not to the whole group.
The difference between To, Cc, and BCC
| Field | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| To | Primary recipient. Everyone can see this address. | The person or people who need to act on or respond to the message. |
| Cc | Carbon copy. Everyone can see this address. | People who should see the message but are not the main recipient. Everyone knows they are included. |
| BCC | Blind carbon copy. Only the sender and the BCC recipient can see this address. | People who should receive the message but whose involvement should stay hidden from others, or when you want to protect addresses from being exposed. |
Common situations where BCC is the right choice
Use BCC when you are sending the same message to a group of people who do not know each other and should not see each other's addresses. Examples include inviting multiple friends to a party, notifying several job candidates about interview times, or sending a newsletter to subscribers.
Use BCC when you want to keep someone's involvement quiet. For instance, if you are forwarding a complaint to a manager and also sending it to HR, you might BCC the HR contact so the original sender does not know HR is involved.
Use BCC to protect your own address when you are sending to a large list. If you put your own address in BCC and send to a group in the "To" field, you will receive a copy of the message but your address will not appear in the recipients' view.
What happens after you send a BCC message
Once you send the message, the BCC field disappears from the sent copy in your Sent folder. You will see the "To" and "Cc" fields, but not the BCC field. This is by design — Outlook does not store the BCC information in your sent mail so that if someone forwards the message later, they cannot see who was in BCC.
The person in BCC receives the message in their inbox like any other email. They see the "To" and "Cc" fields, but they do not see that they were in BCC. If they click "Reply All," the reply goes only to the sender and the people in the "To" and "Cc" fields, not to other BCC recipients.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I BCC myself on an email?
Yes. Some people BCC themselves when sending to a group so they receive a copy of the message they sent. This is useful if you want a record of the message in your inbox separate from your Sent folder, or if you are using an email system that does not keep sent messages.
Will the BCC recipient know they are in BCC?
No. The BCC recipient sees the message in their inbox just like any other email. They see the "To" and "Cc" fields but have no way of knowing they were in BCC instead of one of those fields. The only way they would know is if you tell them.
Can I BCC someone on a reply to an existing message?
Yes. When you click "Reply" or "Reply All," the BCC field works the same way. Click "Bcc" (on the web) or go to the Options tab (on desktop) to show the field, then add addresses. The BCC recipient will receive your reply but will not appear in the recipient list.
What if I accidentally put someone in BCC instead of To?
If you have not sent the message yet, you can move their address from BCC to the correct field. Click in the BCC field, select the address, cut it, and paste it into the "To" or "Cc" field. If you have already sent it, you cannot undo it — the message has been delivered.
Does BCC work the same way in Outlook mobile apps?
The steps vary slightly depending on which mobile app you use. In the Outlook mobile app, open a new message and look for a "Cc/Bcc" button or link, usually near the "To" field. Tap it to reveal the BCC field. On some older versions, you may need to swipe or scroll to find it.