Outlook's confetti effect is a built-in animation you trigger while composing an email
Outlook lets you add confetti, fireworks, and other animations to emails you send in Outlook.com and the Outlook desktop app. The confetti appears when the person who receives your email opens the message — it is not something they have to read or enable. The feature works on Windows, Mac, and the web version of Outlook, though the animations display differently depending on what device and email client the recipient uses.
The confetti effect is one of several dynamic content options Outlook offers. Others include fireworks, balloons, and snow. These are purely visual — they do not change what the email says or how it functions. Some email clients (like Gmail or older versions of Outlook) do not support these animations, so recipients using those services will see the email normally without the effect.
Key Takeaways
- Confetti animations appear when the recipient opens your email, not when they receive it.
- The feature is built into Outlook.com and the Outlook desktop app and requires no add-ons or downloads.
- Recipients using Gmail, Apple Mail, or older email clients will not see the animation, but they will still receive and read your email normally.
- You add confetti through the Insert menu while composing your message, and you can preview how it will look before sending.
How to add confetti in Outlook.com (web version)
Open Outlook.com in your browser and start a new email. Click the Insert tab at the top of the compose window. Look for the button labeled Animations or Dynamic Content — the exact label depends on which version of Outlook.com you are using.
Click that button and a menu will appear showing your animation options: Confetti, Fireworks, Balloons, Snow, and sometimes others. Click Confetti. A preview of the animation will play in your compose window so you can see what it looks like. The animation is now attached to your email. Finish writing your message and click Send.
If you do not see an Animations button, your version of Outlook.com may not have the feature yet, or you may be using an older browser. Try refreshing the page or switching to a newer browser like Chrome or Edge.
How to add confetti in Outlook desktop app (Windows and Mac)
Open Outlook and create a new email message. Click the Insert tab in the ribbon at the top. Look for a button that says Animations or Dynamic Content — on Windows, this is usually in the right section of the Insert tab.
Click the button and select Confetti from the dropdown menu. A preview will show in your message. You can choose different animation styles if more than one confetti option appears. Once you have selected the animation you want, finish composing your email and click Send.
On Mac, the steps are the same, but the button location may be slightly different depending on your Outlook version. If you cannot find the Animations button, check that you are using a recent version of Outlook — the feature is not available in very old versions.
What happens when the recipient opens the email
When someone opens your email in Outlook.com or the Outlook app, the confetti animation plays automatically. It typically lasts a few seconds and then stops. The recipient does not have to do anything to trigger it — it happens as soon as they open the message.
If the recipient uses Gmail, Apple Mail, Thunderbird, or another email client that does not support Outlook animations, they will straightforward see your email text and images normally. The animation will not display, but the email will be completely readable. There is no error message or broken content — the unsupported animation is straightforward skipped.
Other animation options besides confetti
Outlook offers several other animations you can use the same way you add confetti. Fireworks creates an explosion effect, Balloons float up from the bottom of the screen, and Snow falls gently across the message. Some versions of Outlook also include Sparkles or other seasonal animations.
You can only add one animation per email — you cannot layer multiple effects on top of each other. Choose the one that fits the tone of your message. Confetti works well for celebrations and good news; snow is common for holiday messages; fireworks suit announcements or milestones.
Troubleshooting: animation does not show up
If you added confetti but it does not appear when you open the email, check that you are using a version of Outlook that supports animations. Outlook.com (the web version) and recent versions of the Outlook desktop app both have this feature, but older versions do not. If you are using Outlook 2016 or earlier on Windows, the animation feature is not available.
If you are using a supported version and the animation still does not show, try refreshing your browser or restarting the Outlook app. Sometimes the preview does not load correctly the first time. You can also send a test email to yourself to confirm the animation works for other recipients.
Remember that the recipient's email client matters more than your version of Outlook. Even if your animation sends correctly, it will not display in Gmail or Apple Mail. This is not a problem — your email will still arrive and be readable.
When to use animations and when to skip them
Animations are fun for personal emails, celebrations, and informal messages. They work well for birthday wishes, congratulations, party invitations, or announcements of good news. They are less appropriate for professional or formal communication — a confetti animation on a work status report or a serious message can seem out of place.
Consider your audience. If you are emailing colleagues at a formal company, skip the animation. If you are emailing friends or family, or if the message is clearly celebratory, confetti can add a nice touch. You can always send the same message without animation if you are unsure whether it fits the situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the person who receives my email turn off the confetti animation?
No, they cannot disable it on their end. The animation plays automatically when they open the email in Outlook. However, if they use a different email client like Gmail, the animation will not display at all, so they will not see it.
Does adding confetti make my email larger or slower to send?
No. The animation is a small piece of code embedded in the email, not a large file. It does not noticeably increase the email size or affect how fast it sends or loads.
Can I add confetti to emails I forward or reply to?
You can add an animation to a reply or forwarded message the same way you add it to a new email — through the Insert menu. However, the animation will only appear in the new message you are sending, not in the original message thread that the recipient sees.
What if I send confetti to someone using an iPhone or Android phone?
If they use the Outlook app on their phone, the animation will likely play. If they use Apple Mail, Gmail, or another email app, the animation will not display, but the email will still be readable.
Can I remove confetti after I add it but before I send?
Yes. Click the Animations button again and select None or the option to remove the animation. This will delete the effect from your email.