Apr 27, 2026

How to CC in Outlook (Every Version, 2026)

CC (carbon copy) sends a copy of an email to additional recipients while keeping their addresses visible to everyone on the thread. It’s the default way to keep colleagues, managers, or stakeholders in the loop. Outlook shows the CC field by default in most modern versions, but it’s still hidden in a few places. Here’s how to use CC in every version of Outlook, plus how to set up auto-CC rules.

1. Outlook on the Web (Microsoft 365 / Outlook.com)

Go to outlook.office.com and sign in.
Click New mail.
To the right of the To line, click Cc. The CC field expands below the To line.
Type email addresses into the Cc field, separating multiple addresses with semicolons or commas.
Compose your email and click Send.

CC recipients see the email and can see every other recipient’s address. They appear in the thread for everyone — unlike BCC, where their address is hidden.

2. New Outlook Desktop App (Windows & Mac)

The new Outlook desktop app shares its codebase with Outlook on the web, so the layout is similar.

Open the new Outlook desktop app and click New mail.
The Cc field is visible by default below the To line.
Type recipient addresses into the Cc field.
Compose and click Send.

If the CC field is hidden: Click the Options tab in the ribbon and select Show Cc under Show Fields. The field stays visible for future messages.

3. Classic Outlook for Windows

Open classic Outlook and click New Email (or press Ctrl+N).
The Cc field appears below To by default.
Type email addresses into the Cc field.
Compose and click Send.

If CC is hidden: Click the Options tab in the message ribbon and click Cc. The field appears below the To line and stays visible on all new messages going forward.

4. Outlook for Mac

Open Outlook for Mac and click New Email.
The Cc field is visible by default in the compose window.
Type recipient addresses.
Compose and click Send.

If you don’t see the field, click the Options tab in the ribbon and select Cc.

5. Outlook Mobile (iOS & Android)

Open the Outlook mobile app.
Tap the compose button.
Tap the down arrow (or the Cc/Bcc label) next to the To field to expand both fields.
Type addresses into the Cc field.
Compose and tap Send.

The field collapses again on the next compose — there’s no setting to keep it expanded by default on mobile.

CC vs. BCC: The Difference

Field	Recipients see this field?	Use case
To	Yes	Primary recipient(s) — the people the email is for
CC	Yes	People who should be aware of the message but aren’t the primary audience
BCC	No (hidden)	Recipients you want to receive the email without others knowing

If you put someone in CC, every other recipient sees their email address. If you put them in BCC, no one else knows they received the message. Use CC for visible cc’ing — like looping in a manager — and BCC for privacy (mass emails, removing someone from a thread, keeping a personal copy).

For more on BCC, see our guide on how to BCC in Outlook.

How to Auto-CC Someone on Every Email (Classic Outlook)

Classic Outlook for Windows can automatically CC a fixed address on every outgoing email through a server-side rule. This is useful for shared assistants, CRMs, or compliance archives.

In classic Outlook, go to File → Manage Rules & Alerts.
Click New Rule.
Under “Start from a blank rule,” select Apply rule on messages I send and click Next.
Skip the conditions screen by clicking Next (Outlook will warn that the rule applies to every message — click Yes).
On the actions screen, check CC the message to people or public group.
In the rule description at the bottom, click the underlined people or public group link.
Select the email address from your address book or type it into the To field, then click OK.
Click Next, name the rule (e.g., “Auto-CC assistant”), and click Finish.
Click Apply and OK.

Every outgoing email from this account will now automatically include that address in CC.

Limitation: This rule-based auto-CC only works in classic Outlook for Windows. The new Outlook and Outlook on the web don’t currently support auto-CC rules. For those versions, third-party add-ins like Sperry Software’s Always CC or Ablebits Auto BCC can fill the gap.

When to Use CC

Looping in a manager or stakeholder. They need to know about the message but aren’t being asked to act.
Cross-team visibility. Sharing project updates with adjacent teams who should be aware.
Documenting a decision. Putting a paper trail in someone’s inbox without making them the primary recipient.
Introductions. When introducing two people, the new contact goes in To and the person making the intro goes in CC (or moves to BCC after the first reply).

A common mistake: CC’ing too many people. If everyone is in CC, no one feels responsible for replying. Keep the To line clear about who’s expected to act, and reserve CC for awareness only.

Common CC Issues in Outlook

Reply All sends to CC recipients too. Yes — Reply All goes to everyone on To and CC (but not BCC). If you only want to reply to the sender, use Reply.

CC field disappeared after an update. In the new Outlook and Outlook on the web, the CC field collapses to a small Cc link to the right of To when not in use. Click Cc to expand it again.

Can’t add more than X recipients. Microsoft 365 limits a single email to 500 recipients across To, CC, and BCC combined. Consumer Outlook.com accounts have lower limits (around 100 per message, 500 per day). For larger sends, use a mail merge tool or an email platform like Mailchimp or Brevo.

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More on Outlook: How to BCC in Outlook · How to send an email to a group in Outlook · How to schedule an email in Outlook · How to create a distribution list in Outlook · How to use @mentions in Outlook · How to recall an email in Outlook