Attachment Issues

How to Fix Excel and Access Not Sending Attachments Through Outlook

Tauseeq Magsi Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to send files directly as attachments from Excel and Access using Outlook, but the programs are incorrectly opening a web portal instead of the desktop email client.

How to Fix Excel and Access Not Sending Attachments Through Outlook

Product: Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Attempting to send an Excel or Access file directly as an email attachment using the in-app Share menu to streamline an invoicing system.
Observed behavior: Instead of opening a new Outlook email draft with the file attached, the application launches an Internet Explorer window and redirects to a company online portal.

Before you start

Verify that the Microsoft Outlook desktop application is fully installed on your computer and properly configured with an active email profile before proceeding.

Solution 1Recommended

Set Outlook as the Default Desktop Email Client in Windows

Windows relies on system-wide default app settings to determine which program should handle email attachment requests triggered from other software.

Even if you use Outlook regularly, Windows may not recognize it as the designated handler for the 'Send as Attachment' command if it is not explicitly set as the default email client.

Open Windows Settings

Click the Start menu and select the gear icon to open the Windows Settings application.

Navigate to Default Apps

Click on 'Apps' from the main settings menu, then select 'Default apps' from the left-hand navigation pane.

Select the Email Category

Locate the 'Email' section at the top of the Default apps list and click on the current default application.

Choose Outlook

Select 'Outlook' from the list of available applications to designate it as your default email client.

Restart Excel or Access

Close and reopen your Excel or Access files, then navigate to File > Share > Send as Attachment to test the functionality.

Set Outlook as the Default Desktop Email Client in Windows

Applies to All Office Programs: Setting Outlook as the default email client in Windows will also resolve similar attachment sharing issues in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.

Solution 2

Check Microsoft 365 Organizational Policies

If Outlook is already your default client, your company's IT policies might be forcefully redirecting email integrations to a web portal.

Send Spreadsheets as Attachments Seamlessly with WPS Office

WPS Office provides a streamlined built-in email sharing feature that directly opens your default local email client without complex web portal redirects. Here is how you can easily send your spreadsheets as attachments using WPS Spreadsheet.

1. Open Your Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open the file you wish to send as an attachment.
2. Access the Menu: Click on the 'Menu' button located at the top-left corner of the application window.
3. Select the Share Option: Hover over the 'Share' option in the dropdown list to reveal sharing methods.
4. Click Email: Select 'Email' to automatically launch your default desktop email client with the spreadsheet already attached as a file.

One-click email sharing directly from the spreadsheet interface.Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xls, .xlsx) files and data formatting.Bypasses complex Microsoft 365 organizational web redirects.Lightweight application with a familiar, easy-to-use interface.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel 'Send as Attachment' open Internet Explorer instead of Outlook?

This usually happens if Outlook is not set as your default email app in Windows settings, or if your organization's Microsoft 365 policies are configured to redirect desktop email actions to a corporate online web portal.

Do I need the desktop version of Outlook to send attachments directly from Excel?

Yes. The direct 'Send as Attachment' feature in Microsoft Office applications requires a locally installed, MAPI-compliant desktop email client like Outlook to function properly. It will not work with purely web-based email clients without third-party bridging tools.

How can I fix the 'Send as Attachment' button being grayed out in Office?

A grayed-out attachment button typically indicates that Windows does not detect a valid default email client. Ensure that a desktop email client is installed and explicitly set as the default under Windows Settings > Apps > Default Apps.

Outlook & Email Problems