How to cc in outlook

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Last updated: April 4, 2026

Quick Answer: To CC (Carbon Copy) someone in an Outlook email, you'll find a 'CC' field next to the 'To' field when composing a new message. Simply click on 'CC', enter the email addresses of the recipients you wish to copy, and they will receive a copy of your email without it being the primary recipient.

Key Facts

The CC field is for recipients who should be informed but are not the primary addressee.
Recipients in the CC field can see all other recipients in the 'To' and 'CC' fields.
Outlook allows adding multiple email addresses to the CC field, separated by semicolons.
You can also CC yourself to keep a record of the sent email.
Using BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) hides recipient addresses from each other, unlike CC.

Understanding the CC Field in Outlook

In Microsoft Outlook, sending an email involves several fields to manage recipients effectively. The primary field is 'To', which is for the main recipients of the email. Alongside 'To', you'll commonly find 'CC' and 'BCC' fields. Understanding their purpose is crucial for professional and clear communication.

What Does CC Mean?

CC stands for Carbon Copy. Historically, this referred to the process of making duplicate copies of a document using carbon paper. In email, the CC field serves a similar purpose: to send a copy of the email to someone who is not the primary recipient but should be kept informed about the communication. Think of it as sending an informational copy.

How to Use the CC Field in Outlook

Using the CC field in Outlook is straightforward. When you compose a new email:

Locate the CC Field: In the new message window, you'll see the 'To' field prominently displayed. If you don't immediately see the 'CC' field, click on the 'CC' button or link, often located near the 'To' and 'BCC' fields. In some versions of Outlook, you might need to click 'Options' or the 'Fields' button to reveal the CC and BCC fields.
Enter Recipient Addresses: Click into the 'CC' field and start typing the email addresses of the individuals you wish to copy. Outlook's autocomplete feature will suggest addresses from your contacts as you type.
Add Multiple Recipients: To add more than one person to the CC field, separate their email addresses with a semicolon (;). For example: recipient1@example.com; recipient2@example.com.
Send the Email: Once you have populated the 'To', 'Subject', and the body of your email, along with the desired CC recipients, you can click the 'Send' button.

When to Use the CC Field

The CC field is ideal for situations where:

Informing Stakeholders: You want to keep managers, team leads, or other relevant parties updated on a conversation or project progress, even if they are not directly involved in the action required.
Transparency: You want to make it clear to the primary recipients ('To' field) that certain other individuals are aware of the communication.
Record Keeping: You might CC yourself to have a personal copy of an important email in your inbox.

CC vs. BCC: Key Differences

It's important to distinguish between CC and BCC (Blind Carbon Copy):

Visibility: When you send an email with recipients in the CC field, all recipients (in 'To', 'CC', and 'BCC' if the sender is visible) can see the email addresses listed in the 'To' and 'CC' fields. However, recipients in the 'BCC' field are hidden from everyone else.
Purpose of BCC: BCC is used when you want to send a copy of an email to someone without the other recipients knowing. This is useful for privacy, sending mass emails where you don't want to share recipient lists, or when you want to inform someone discreetly.

Troubleshooting Common CC Issues

Occasionally, users might encounter issues with the CC field:

CC Field Not Visible: As mentioned, in some Outlook configurations, the CC field might be hidden by default. Look for an 'Options' or 'Fields' button in the compose window to reveal it.
Incorrect Addresses: Ensure you have entered the email addresses correctly, including the domain name (e.g., .com, .org). Typos are common.
Sending Limits: While less common for standard CC usage, very large numbers of recipients across To, CC, and BCC can sometimes trigger spam filters or be subject to organizational sending limits.

By understanding and correctly utilizing the CC field in Outlook, you can enhance the clarity and efficiency of your email communications, ensuring that the right people are informed without cluttering their inboxes unnecessarily.