Outlook 2016 how do i reply to all and keep attachments

Question

Outlook 2016 how do i reply to all and keep attachments

Ken Keller 31

I receive an email to 5 recipients that contain 2 attachments.

I would like to reply to all 5 recipients and keep the attachments without saving or copying them.

When I reply to all, the attachments aren't included in my reply.

thanks, ken

JeffYang-MSFT 6,261 Reputation points Moderator

2020-07-24T07:25:42.263+00:00

As AD-7937 said, it is by design that attachments will not be included when you use reply or reply all feature. Please check the suggestions Diane mentioned and see if it could help solve your issue.
JeffYang-MSFT 6,261 Reputation points Moderator

2020-08-10T12:28:19.597+00:00

It has been a while, how is everything going?
Just checking in to see if above information was helpful. If you have any further updates on this issue, please feel free to post back.
Traci Davis 36 Reputation points

2021-03-16T16:27:52.727+00:00

Workaround -
In the original message, right click the attachment and click Copy. Click Reply or Reply all, then Paste the attachment to the reply. This is much more efficient than typing all the recipients back in to a Forward.

If there are multiple attachments and you want them all, right click and choose Select All, then right click again and select Copy. Reply or Reply All then paste them in.

I do this all the time and it's by far the fastest way to make sure everyone in the conversation has all the documents the conversation is about.

"Reply with Attachments" would be a nice feature to have!
Elsa Avendano 1 Reputation point

2021-05-27T17:06:54.12+00:00

You can have a look on various examples of statistics (including such problems) here https://www.bestcustomwriting.com/statistics-project
Cynthia 46 Reputation points

2021-06-10T15:19:23.237+00:00

Just FYI...there is a need to reply or reply all and include the attachments....this is done in Contracting all the time. Every email is to include the attachments once agreement has been made (final doc) and before FEC doc. So, Outlook should have an option to reply with attachments. Lotus Notes/Verse has it. I'm sure there could be other reasons for this need.
Jennifer Walker 0 Reputation points

2023-03-01T19:40:23.1566667+00:00

There is a huge need for a reply/reply all with attachments options for contract work and office work. These work arounds just make more work to do when it should be as simple as clicking reply.
Stefania 30 Reputation points

2024-08-30T01:51:03.75+00:00

how disappointing that Microsoft haven't had this solved. Couldn't it be part of the preference to include attachment whenever replying to messages?

9 answers

Your answer

JeffYang-MSFT 6,261 Reputation points Moderator

2020-07-24T07:25:42.263+00:00

As AD-7937 said, it is by design that attachments will not be included when you use reply or reply all feature. Please check the suggestions Diane mentioned and see if it could help solve your issue.
JeffYang-MSFT 6,261 Reputation points Moderator

2020-08-10T12:28:19.597+00:00

It has been a while, how is everything going?
Just checking in to see if above information was helpful. If you have any further updates on this issue, please feel free to post back.
Traci Davis 36 Reputation points

2021-03-16T16:27:52.727+00:00

Workaround -
In the original message, right click the attachment and click Copy. Click Reply or Reply all, then Paste the attachment to the reply. This is much more efficient than typing all the recipients back in to a Forward.

If there are multiple attachments and you want them all, right click and choose Select All, then right click again and select Copy. Reply or Reply All then paste them in.

I do this all the time and it's by far the fastest way to make sure everyone in the conversation has all the documents the conversation is about.

"Reply with Attachments" would be a nice feature to have!
Elsa Avendano 1 Reputation point

2021-05-27T17:06:54.12+00:00

You can have a look on various examples of statistics (including such problems) here https://www.bestcustomwriting.com/statistics-project
Cynthia 46 Reputation points

2021-06-10T15:19:23.237+00:00

Just FYI...there is a need to reply or reply all and include the attachments....this is done in Contracting all the time. Every email is to include the attachments once agreement has been made (final doc) and before FEC doc. So, Outlook should have an option to reply with attachments. Lotus Notes/Verse has it. I'm sure there could be other reasons for this need.
Jennifer Walker 0 Reputation points

2023-03-01T19:40:23.1566667+00:00

There is a huge need for a reply/reply all with attachments options for contract work and office work. These work arounds just make more work to do when it should be as simple as clicking reply.
Stefania 30 Reputation points

2024-08-30T01:51:03.75+00:00

how disappointing that Microsoft haven't had this solved. Couldn't it be part of the preference to include attachment whenever replying to messages?

Answer 1

Sean Bryant 56

The problem with Microsoft's response (or their delegates) is that the MS engineers or decision makers cannot conceive of anyone doing anything differently than how they create the software. It is so tiresome to read Microsofties' responses that "There is no option.", "It's not set up that way.", "Why would you want to do that?" or "Here is a workaround that is a whole lot more effort, difficult, and user unfriendly." These responses are the more tiresome when Microsoft has eliminated something and the Microsofties respond as though that thing never existed (keyboard shortcuts anyone?).

Why is there no option (even if you have to activate it in Outlook Options) to Reply All with attachment?

Reply All and copy file risks forgetting to include the file.
Forward includes the file but risks forgetting recipients
Using a link to a shared file addresses the first two items, but not everyone can (or wants to) share access with people outside their organization.

Why would you want to Replay All With Attachments? So you get ALL the parties included, are sure to get the file, and don't provide a pathway to your own file storage.

Anthony Rizzato 16 Reputation points

2021-05-12T13:19:52.523+00:00

Yes, please create a Reply All with Attachments button. Otherwise you either need to reply to the first person and then forward to the second person with attachments separately or you need to hit Forward and then add all the recipients.

Either way, Reply All with Attachments or Forward with Previous Recipients would be way more efficient.
Biju Jacob 11 Reputation points

2022-09-15T07:27:06.913+00:00

Yes. Reply With Attachment and Reply All with Attachment is very important as when we need to reply to the same folks and also need to add more audience to the original email with attachment. This is surprising as Microsoft Outlook team could did not identify this as an issue. As I do a lots of Testing for the requirements I am positive that Microsoft is not dumb and could have been in discussed this in their testing period. But there could have been some major glitch identified while trying to do a Reply with Attachment. Lotus Notes is very effective in this feature as it give users all the 4 options ( Reply ,Reply with Attachment, Reply All, Reply All with Attachment.) This is left with users searching for all types of macros to support this feature. Some work ,some dont work. Microsoft should add in this feature hopefully in the next release. BJ
marie mfarina.com 10 Reputation points

2023-03-30T14:44:31.77+00:00

Microsoft fix the shit!!! Work in the real world. Who the hell doesn't need attachments in respond emails. Unf in believable!
Victor L Threatt 5 Reputation points

2023-04-11T17:58:31.1466667+00:00

Just because it is a reply all or a reply does not mean that I am not adding another recipient which often I am. It needs to be my option whether there are attachments or not. Yes, I can forward it, but that means that I have to take time to copy the recipient list and paste it into the forwarded email. It should be much more simple than that. Computers are supposed to work for us, not require extraneous manual operations.
Jemtrulyoutrageous-0240 0 Reputation points

2023-11-21T18:27:18.25+00:00

to add onto Victor's comment, there could an attachment reminder (turned off/on in the Options-Mail area, of course) saying something to the effect of 'are you sure you want to include the attachment to new recipients?'

Answer 2

Diane Poremsky MVP 506 MVP Volunteer Moderator

You have four choices - but the 3rd may break the threading. The 4th that solves it without filling up everyone's mailbox with different versions of the file.

Use a macro. (https://www.slipstick.com/outlook/email/reply-replyall-attachments/)
Drag the attachment from the incoming message to the reply
Forward
Put the files on share and send links.

Mason Li 1 Reputation point

2022-09-21T01:09:09.763+00:00

The macro work very well. Thanks Diane!

Mitesh V 0

Diana, Micros are worked but it is added with all the jpg or png signature file in reply attachment. could you pls help.

Sub ReplyWithAttachments()
    Dim oReply As Outlook.MailItem
    Dim oItem As Object
     
    Set oItem = GetCurrentItem()
    If Not oItem Is Nothing Then
        Set oReply = oItem.Reply
        CopyAttachments oItem, oReply
        oReply.Display
        oItem.UnRead = False
    End If
     
    Set oReply = Nothing
    Set oItem = Nothing
End Sub
 
Sub ReplyAllWithAttachments()
    Dim oReply As Outlook.MailItem
    Dim oItem As Object
     
    Set oItem = GetCurrentItem()
    If Not oItem Is Nothing Then
        Set oReply = oItem.ReplyAll
        CopyAttachments oItem, oReply
        oReply.Display
        oItem.UnRead = False
    End If
     
    Set oReply = Nothing
    Set oItem = Nothing
End Sub
Function GetCurrentItem() As Object
    Dim objApp As Outlook.Application
         
    Set objApp = Application
    On Error Resume Next
    Select Case TypeName(objApp.ActiveWindow)
        Case "Explorer"
            Set GetCurrentItem = objApp.ActiveExplorer.Selection.Item(1)
        Case "Inspector"
            Set GetCurrentItem = objApp.ActiveInspector.CurrentItem
    End Select
     
    Set objApp = Nothing
End Function
 
Sub CopyAttachments(objSourceItem, objTargetItem)
   Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
   Set fldTemp = fso.GetSpecialFolder(2) ' TemporaryFolder
   strPath = fldTemp.Path & "\"
   For Each objAtt In objSourceItem.Attachments
      strFile = strPath & objAtt.FileName
      objAtt.SaveAsFile strFile
      objTargetItem.Attachments.Add strFile, , , objAtt.DisplayName
      fso.DeleteFile strFile
   Next
 
   Set fldTemp = Nothing
   Set fso = Nothing
End Sub

Answer 3

Andy David - MVP 157.8K MVP Volunteer Moderator

By design:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/reply-to-or-forward-an-email-message-a843f8d3-01b0-48da-96f5-a71f70d0d7c8

Why aren't attachments included when I reply to a message?
When you reply to a message, attachments aren't included because you'd be sending the exact same attachment back to the person who sent it to you. There is no way to change this behavior. Once you click Reply or Reply All, you can attach a new version of the original file or any other file you'd like to include. If you need to send a message with its attachments to other individuals, use the Forward option.

Note: To request a reply with attachments feature, add your vote here. https://outlook.uservoice.com/forums/322590-outlook-2016-for-windows/suggestions/33675985-reply-all-with-attachments-included-in-outlook-201

Bill P 61 Reputation points

2021-01-22T17:22:54.06+00:00

If you need to send a message with its attachments to other individuals, use the Forward option.

The problem with the Forward option is you then have to take the time to add back every email address on the original message, which is not efficient. So you either hit Reply-all, and have to go back and grab the attachments from the first email, or you hit Forward and have to go back and grab all the email addresses from the first email. Neither is very efficient, and you risk forgetting to add people or attachments.

Replying with attachment would allow you to more easily add recipients to the email group and ensure they get all the originally sent files.

That is why I am voting for a Reply with attachment feature.

thank you
Hans Mikal á Fløtti 1 Reputation point

2022-02-11T12:00:55.947+00:00

this is the most stupid, I have ever heard. It is quite often that you need this function.

Answer 4

Victor Ivanidze 101

In addition - there is an add-in for Outlook named ReplyWithAtt.

Carlos Jose Chacon 6 Reputation points

2021-06-04T20:44:02.52+00:00

too bad is not free

Answer 5

Bill K 1

It's not free, but I use Kutools for Outlook for this purpose, it can do that plus many, many other features.

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Outlook 2016 how do i reply to all and keep attachments

9 answers

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