How to bcc an email

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Last updated: April 4, 2026

Quick Answer: To BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) an email, you typically need to expand the 'BCC' field in your email client's compose window. This field is often hidden by default. Once visible, you can enter email addresses into the BCC field, and these recipients will not see each other's addresses when the email is sent.

Key Facts

BCC stands for Blind Carbon Copy.
Recipients in the BCC field are hidden from all other recipients, including To, CC, and other BCC recipients.
Using BCC is crucial for protecting recipient privacy when sending to multiple people who don't know each other.
The BCC field is usually found near the To and CC fields in most email clients.
Some email clients may require you to click an option like 'Show BCC' or 'Add BCC' to reveal the field.

What is BCC in Email?

BCC, which stands for Blind Carbon Copy, is a feature in email clients that allows you to send a copy of an email to recipients whose email addresses will not be visible to other recipients of the email. This is distinct from the 'To' and 'CC' (Carbon Copy) fields, where all recipient addresses are generally visible to everyone on the email.

When you send an email with addresses in the BCC field, each BCC recipient receives the email, but they cannot see the email addresses of any other recipients, including those in the 'To', 'CC', or other 'BCC' fields. Their own address will be visible to themselves, but no one else.

Why Use BCC?

The primary reason for using BCC is to protect the privacy of your recipients. Imagine you are sending an announcement or a newsletter to a large group of people who do not necessarily know each other. If you put all their email addresses in the 'To' or 'CC' field, everyone would be able to see every other person's email address. This can lead to:

Privacy Concerns: People may not want their personal email addresses shared widely.
Spam Issues: If one recipient's email is compromised or they misuse the list, all other addresses could be targeted by spammers.
Cluttered Inboxes: Seeing a long list of recipients in the 'To' or 'CC' field can be overwhelming and unprofessional.

By using BCC, you ensure that each recipient's email address remains private and is not exposed to the wider group. This is considered good email etiquette, especially when sending to mailing lists or groups of people who are not already acquainted.

How to BCC an Email

The exact steps to BCC an email can vary slightly depending on the email client or webmail service you are using (e.g., Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, Yahoo Mail), but the general process is consistent:

1. Start Composing a New Email:

Open your email client and begin composing a new message, just as you normally would.

2. Locate the BCC Field:

In most modern email interfaces, the BCC field is not visible by default to keep the compose window cleaner. You will typically need to reveal it. Look for options such as:

A button or link labeled 'BCC', 'Show BCC', or 'Add BCC' near the 'To' and 'CC' fields.
Sometimes, clicking on the 'To' or 'CC' field itself might reveal a dropdown or an option to add BCC.

For example, in Gmail: When you start composing an email, you'll see 'To' and 'Cc' fields. Click on the 'Cc' label, and a 'Bcc' field will appear to its right.

In Microsoft Outlook: In the message window, go to the 'Options' tab and click the 'Bcc' button in the 'Show Fields' group.

3. Enter Recipient Addresses:

Once the BCC field is visible, click into it and start typing the email addresses of the people you want to blind copy. You can enter multiple addresses, separating them with commas or semicolons as your email client dictates.

4. Fill in Other Fields:

Enter a subject line for your email. You should also typically include at least one recipient in the 'To' field. While not strictly mandatory in all clients, it's good practice. If you leave the 'To' field empty and only use BCC, some email systems might flag your message as suspicious or spam, as it lacks a primary addressee.

5. Add Your Message and Send:

Write the body of your email. When you are ready, click the 'Send' button.

Important Considerations When Using BCC:

Privacy is Key: Always use BCC when sending to a group of people who don't know each other or who haven't explicitly consented to have their email addresses shared.
Accidental Exposure: Double-check that you are placing addresses in the correct field. Accidentally putting a list of email addresses in the 'To' or 'CC' field instead of BCC can lead to significant privacy breaches.
Reply All: If a recipient replies 'All' to an email where they were BCC'd, their reply will typically only go to the sender (the person who originally sent the email) and not to the other recipients. This is because their address was hidden from the original distribution.
Internal vs. External: Some organizations might have policies regarding the use of BCC, especially for internal communications.

Mastering the use of BCC is a simple yet powerful way to enhance email communication, ensuring privacy and professionalism.