Send & Receive Issues

How to Restore Send to Mail Recipient in Microsoft Word

Tauseeq Magsi Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to restore the 'Send to Mail Recipient' command in Microsoft Word to send documents directly as email body content rather than as an attachment.

How to Restore Send to Mail Recipient in Microsoft Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Sending a Word document's text directly within the email body instead of attaching the file.
Observed behavior: The 'Send to Mail Recipient' command is missing from the Quick Access Toolbar or cannot be found due to default settings or corporate IT policies.

Before you start

Ensure that Classic Microsoft Outlook is installed on your computer and set as your default email application in Windows, as this feature relies on it to function properly.

Solution 1Recommended

Add the Command to the Quick Access Toolbar

Manually add the missing 'Send to Mail Recipient' command to your Quick Access Toolbar via Word's options menu.

In newer versions of Microsoft Word, the Send to Mail Recipient command is often hidden by default. You can easily restore it by customizing the Quick Access Toolbar.

Open Word Options

Launch Microsoft Word, click on 'File' in the top left corner, and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Navigate to Quick Access Toolbar

In the Word Options dialog box, select 'Quick Access Toolbar' from the left-hand navigation pane.

Select All Commands

Click the drop-down menu under 'Choose commands from:' and select 'All Commands' to reveal the full list of available Word features.

Add Mail Recipient

Scroll through the alphabetical list until you find 'Mail Recipient [Send to Mail Recipient]'. Select it, click the 'Add >>' button in the middle, and click 'OK' to save your changes.

Send Your Document

Click the newly added Mail Recipient icon located in your Quick Access Toolbar (usually at the top left of the Word window) and select 'Send a Copy' to email your document as body text.

Add the Command to the Quick Access Toolbar

Default Mail Client Required: This feature requires Classic Microsoft Outlook to be set as the default email program in your Windows operating system settings.

Solution 2

Use HTML Formatting as an Alternative

Use standard copy-and-paste with HTML formatting if your corporate IT policy restricts modifying the Quick Access Toolbar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Send to Mail Recipient command missing in Word?

The command is hidden by default in newer versions of Microsoft Word to simplify the interface. It may also be missing if your corporate IT department has applied policies that restrict modifications to the Quick Access Toolbar.

Does the Send to Mail Recipient feature work with the New Outlook or webmail?

No, this specific command relies on older MAPI (Messaging Application Programming Interface) protocols. It requires the Classic desktop version of Microsoft Outlook to be installed and configured as your computer's default mail application.

What should I do if my IT department blocks changes to the Quick Access Toolbar?

If you cannot modify the Quick Access Toolbar due to IT restrictions, the best alternative is to manually copy your document's contents and paste them directly into a new HTML-formatted email in your approved email application.

Outlook & Email Problems