The instructions below are for the web version of Office 365.
Attach a file to an Outlook Web message
There are two ways to have an attachment in a message, an in-line attachment, and regular attachments. Inline attachments show in the body of the email, but this only works for common image file types (jpg, png, gif). Instructions for both methods are below:
Attaching inline images
- Start composing an email (via the new mail button, or via starting a reply or forward of an existing message).
- Make sure your cursor is in the place you want your image to appear.
- Go to the Insert tab then click the Pictures button, as highlighted in the screenshot below.
- Finally, navigate to the file location on your computer and select the file.
Attaching files
- Start composing an email (via the new mail button, or via starting a reply or forward of an existing message).
- Go to the Insert tab, then click the Attach file button.
- You will then be able to choose from the following options:
- Browse this computer: This is the typical method of uploading a file from your computer.
- OneDrive: You can choose from files that are in your OneDrive.
- Note: By default if you do this, - you are not attaching a file but attaching a link to a file, not actually attaching the file. This can be useful if you want people to be able to collaboratively edit the file you are sending, but by default recipients can edit the files you are sharing, not just read them.
If you want to send a file from OneDrive as an attachment - NOT a link - you need to click the arrow next to "Share Link" and choose Attach, as per the screenshot below.
- Upload and share: this is a combination of the two previous options. It takes a file from your computer, but uploads it into OneDrive and shares it as a link.
Caution regarding sharing links
Note: if you do use the "Share Link" options - they are read/write access (not read-only). If you want to make them read-only you can do the following:
- Follow the steps above to include the link.
- Click on the link in the message composition window and other options will come up. Click on "Recipients can edit".
- You can then change Can edit to Can review (where they can't make changes, but can add comments to the document) or Can view which doesn't allow any changes.
- Click Apply when done.