Automate BCCing Yourself in Outlook- A Step-by-Step Guide for Efficient Email Management

Can I automatically bcc myself in Outlook?

In today’s fast-paced work environment, staying organized and maintaining a record of important communications is crucial. Microsoft Outlook, being one of the most popular email clients, offers a variety of features to help users manage their emails efficiently. One common question that often arises among Outlook users is whether it is possible to automatically bcc (blind carbon copy) themselves in an email. In this article, we will explore the various methods to achieve this functionality in Outlook.

Using Rules in Outlook

One of the simplest ways to automatically bcc yourself in Outlook is by utilizing the built-in rules feature. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open Outlook and navigate to the “Home” tab.
2. Click on “Rules” and then select “Create Rule” from the dropdown menu.
3. In the “Create Rule” window, choose “Start from a blank rule” and click “Next.”
4. Select “Apply this rule after the message arrives” and click “Next.”
5. Check the box for “Bcc me on all outgoing messages” and click “Next.”
6. Choose the exceptions and conditions for the rule, if any, and click “Next.”
7. Give your rule a name and click “Finish.”

Now, whenever you send an email, Outlook will automatically bcc yourself as per the rule you’ve created.

Using VBA to Automate Bcc

If you’re looking for a more advanced solution, you can use Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to automate the bcc process in Outlook. This method requires some knowledge of VBA and coding skills. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Open Outlook and press “Alt + F11” to open the VBA editor.
2. In the VBA editor, right-click on “ThisOutlookSession” and select “Insert” > “Module.”
3. Copy and paste the following VBA code into the module:

“`vba
Private Sub Application_ItemSend(ByVal Item As Object, Cancel As Boolean)
If Item.Class = olMail Then
Item.Bcc = Item.To
End If
End Sub
“`

4. Close the VBA editor and return to Outlook.
5. Now, whenever you send an email, Outlook will automatically bcc yourself.

Using Third-Party Add-ins

Another option is to use third-party add-ins designed specifically for Outlook. These add-ins can offer more advanced features and customization options. Some popular add-ins for automatically bcc yourself in Outlook include:

1. BccMe: This add-in allows you to automatically bcc yourself in all outgoing emails. It also offers additional features like logging sent emails and managing bcc recipients.
2. Auto BCC: This add-in provides a simple solution to automatically bcc yourself in Outlook. It allows you to customize the bcc field and includes options for excluding certain emails from the bcc process.

In conclusion, there are several methods to automatically bcc yourself in Outlook, including using rules, VBA, and third-party add-ins. Depending on your requirements and technical expertise, you can choose the method that best suits your needs.