Attachment Issues

How to Delete Attachments in New Outlook Without Deleting Emails

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users want to remove large or duplicate file attachments from their messages in the New Outlook interface while keeping the original email text intact.

Product: New Outlook
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to manage inbox storage space by removing large or unnecessary attachments without losing the accompanying email correspondence.
Observed behavior: The New Outlook currently lacks a built-in function or menu option to delete an attachment while retaining the original email.

Before you start

Before attempting any workarounds to remove attachments, ensure you have downloaded and saved any important files to your local drive or cloud storage so they are not permanently lost.

Solution 1Recommended

Submit Feature Request Feedback to Microsoft

Since New Outlook does not currently offer a direct way to delete attachments without deleting the email, submitting feedback helps prioritize this feature for future updates.

At present, the New Outlook application is built on a web-based architecture that does not yet support removing an attachment from a received email while keeping the email body. This is a known limitation compared to the Classic Outlook desktop client. To encourage the development team to add this capability, users are advised to submit direct feedback.

Open New Outlook

Launch the New Outlook application on your computer and ensure you are logged into your account.

Access the Help Menu

Click on the 'Help' tab located in the top ribbon menu of the application window.

Open the Feedback Panel

Select the 'Feedback' button from the Help ribbon to open the feedback pane on the right side of the screen.

Submit Your Suggestion

Choose 'Make a suggestion' or 'Report a problem'. Explain that you need the ability to delete attachments without deleting the original email, and submit your request to the Microsoft Feedback Portal.

Temporary Workaround: As a temporary solution, you can forward the email to yourself, remove the attachment from the forwarded draft before sending, and then delete the original email that contains the large attachment.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Document Management

While you manage your Outlook inbox storage, you can handle your downloaded attachments with ease using WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, free, and lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office that makes viewing and editing email attachments a breeze.

1. Download WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office Free on your computer.
2. Save Attachments: Download the required attachments from New Outlook and save them to your local storage.
3. Open and Edit: Open the saved files using WPS Office to view, edit, or convert your documents seamlessly.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint attachment formats.Lightweight design that uses minimal system resources.Built-in PDF editor for viewing, annotating, and modifying PDF email attachments.Familiar user interface allowing for a seamless transition from Microsoft Office.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I delete attachments in Classic Outlook?

Yes. In the Classic Outlook desktop client, you can double-click an email to open it in a new window, right-click the attachment, select 'Remove Attachment', and then save the changes to the email.

Why is the remove attachment feature missing in New Outlook?

The New Outlook is based on the Outlook on the web architecture, which is still in active development. It currently lacks some of the advanced message management features found in the legacy COM-based Classic Outlook client.

Will Microsoft add the ability to delete attachments in the future?

Microsoft regularly updates the New Outlook based on user feedback submitted through the Microsoft Feedback Portal. If enough users request the feature, it may be included in a future rollout.

Outlook & Email Problems