Bcc puts recipients on a hidden copy line that other recipients cannot see

Bcc stands for "blind carbon copy." When you put someone's address in the Bcc field instead of To or Cc, that person receives the email, but their address stays hidden from everyone else on the message — including the main recipient and anyone on the Cc line. This is different from Cc (carbon copy), where everyone can see who else received the email.

Bcc is useful 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 email addresses. It is also the right choice when you want to send yourself a copy without making it obvious to the recipient that you kept a record.

In Outlook, the Bcc field is hidden by default. You have to turn it on before you can use it. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Outlook on the web, Outlook on your desktop computer, or Outlook on your phone.

Key Takeaways

  • Bcc hides a recipient's address from all other recipients on the email, while Cc shows the address to everyone.
  • In Outlook on the web and desktop, you must click "Bcc" or toggle it on before the field appears — it is not visible by default.
  • Once you turn on Bcc, you can add as many addresses as you need to that field, and they will all remain hidden from each other.
  • Bcc is the right choice when sending the same message to people who should not see each other's contact information.

How to show the Bcc field in Outlook on the web

Outlook on the web is the version you access through your browser at outlook.com or through your workplace email portal. When you start a new email, you see the To and Cc fields by default, but Bcc is hidden.

To reveal the Bcc field, open a new email message and look for the "Bcc" link or button. In most versions, this appears to the right of the Cc field or just below it. Click it once, and the Bcc field will appear on your screen. You can now type or paste email addresses directly into that field.

Once you have turned on Bcc for one email, it may stay visible for your next email in that same session. If you close your browser or log out, you may need to turn it on again the next time you compose a message.

How to show the Bcc field in Outlook on your desktop

Outlook on your desktop computer (the version you read and install) also hides Bcc by default. The steps to reveal it depend on which version of Outlook you have.

In Outlook 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365 versions, start a new email and look at the ribbon menu at the top. Click the "Options" tab. In the "Show Fields" group, you will see a "Bcc" button. Click it, and the Bcc field will appear in your message. It will stay visible for all future emails you compose in that session.

In older versions of Outlook, you may find Bcc under the "View" menu instead. Open a new email, click View, and look for an option like "Show Bcc Field" or "Bcc." Once you turn it on, the field stays visible for that email and usually for future emails as well.

How to use Bcc once the field is visible

After you have revealed the Bcc field, using it works the same way as the To and Cc fields. Click inside the Bcc box and type or paste the email addresses you want to add. If you are adding multiple addresses, separate them with semicolons or commas, depending on your Outlook version.

You can add addresses to To, Cc, and Bcc all in the same email. The people in the To field will see the addresses in the To and Cc fields but not the Bcc field. The people in the Cc field will see the To and Cc fields but not the Bcc field. The people in the Bcc field will see only their own address and the To field — they will not see the Cc or Bcc fields at all.

After you have filled in all the fields and written your message, click Send. The email will be delivered to everyone, but the Bcc recipients will have no way of knowing who else received it.

Bcc on Outlook mobile apps

The Outlook app on your phone (iPhone or Android) also hides Bcc by default, but the process to reveal it is simpler than on desktop. Start a new email by tapping the compose button. Tap the "To" field or the area where recipients are listed. You should see options to add To, Cc, and Bcc. Tap "Bcc" to add that field to your message.

Once you tap Bcc, a text box will appear where you can type or paste addresses. Add the addresses you want to keep hidden, then finish composing your message and send it as normal. The Bcc field may or may not stay visible the next time you compose an email on your phone, depending on your app version.

When to use Bcc instead of Cc

Use Cc when the recipients know each other or when it makes sense for them to see who else received the message. For example, if you are sending a project update to your team, Cc is appropriate because your team members expect to see each other's addresses.

Use Bcc when you are sending the same message to people who do not know each other and have no reason to see each other's contact information. Common situations include sending a newsletter to subscribers, inviting multiple people to an event when they are not all connected, or sending a message to a group of job candidates. Bcc is also the right choice if you want to keep a copy for your own records without making that obvious to the recipient.

Never use Bcc to hide the fact that you are sending a message to someone's manager or to a lawyer without their knowledge. That crosses into deception. Bcc is a tool for privacy and organization, not for secretly copying people into conversations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Bcc recipients see each other's addresses?

No. Each person in the Bcc field sees only their own address. They cannot see the addresses of other Bcc recipients, the Cc field, or anything except the To field and the message itself.

If I use Bcc, can the recipient tell that I sent it to other people?

Not from the email itself. The recipient will see only the To and Cc fields. However, if someone forwards the email or replies to all, the Bcc addresses will not be included in that forward or reply, which might make it obvious that hidden recipients existed.

Do I have to turn on Bcc every time I send an email?

In Outlook on the web, you usually have to turn it on for each email. On desktop Outlook, turning it on once often keeps it visible for the rest of your session. On mobile, it depends on your app version.

What happens if I put the same address in To and Bcc?

The person will receive two copies of the email — one as the main recipient and one as a hidden copy. This is usually a mistake. Avoid putting the same address in multiple fields.

Is there a limit to how many addresses I can put in Bcc?

Outlook does not set a hard limit, but your email provider may. Most providers allow hundreds of Bcc recipients per message. If you are sending to a very large group regularly, consider using a mailing list or distribution group instead, which is designed for that purpose.