Delete attachments from email messages in outlook 365

In new Outlook for Windows (including Outlook 365 new Outlook), attachments on sent or received messages cannot be removed while keeping the email. To free space from attachments in new Outlook, the only supported method is to delete the entire message that contains the attachment.

To remove attachments in new Outlook:

1. For received attachments: locate the email in Inbox or another folder and delete the message.
2. For sent attachments: go to Sent Items, locate the email, and delete the message.
3. Empty Deleted Items so the attachment space is actually freed: open the Deleted Items folder, select the message(s), and choose Delete.

If the email content is important, save the attachment(s) first, then keep a copy of the email without the attachment:

1. Open the original email and save attachments to the computer or OneDrive.
2. Forward the email to self, remove the attachments before sending (in the compose window, use the drop-down next to each attachment and select Remove attachment).
3. Send the new copy to self and then delete the original email (and remove it from Deleted Items).

In classic Outlook for Windows, it is still possible to remove attachments from sent or received messages while keeping the email:

1. Open the message.
2. In the header: use the drop-down next to the attachment and select Remove attachment (repeat or Shift-select multiple attachments, then Remove attachment), then close and save.
3. If the attachment is in the message body: open the message, select Move > More Move Actions > Edit message, click the attachment in the body, press Delete, then close and save.

So the feature is not available in new Outlook the same way it was in classic Outlook. To keep using full attachment-removal capabilities, classic Outlook must be used instead of new Outlook.

References:

• Overview
• Remove or delete attachments in Outlook