• Outlook User
  • New Outlook app
  • Outlook.com
  • Outlook Mac
  • Outlook & iCloud
  • Developer
  • Microsoft 365 Admin
    • Common Problems
    • Microsoft 365
    • Outlook BCM
    • Utilities & Addins

Opening Outlook attachments in Windows 8

Slipstick Systems

› Outlook › Email › Opening Outlook attachments in Windows 8

Last reviewed on September 19, 2013     4 Comments

I've had quite a few questions recently with attachment problems on Windows 8. The users either couldn't figure out how to close attachments or wanted to stop the attachment from opening in full screen. This is the result of opening the attachment in a Windows 8 app, not a desktop application. The solution: change the default program for that file type.

How do I open an Outlook attachment and with one keystroke close the attachment and return to Outlook? When I press Alt & Tab, it closes the attachment and I return to outlook, but the attachment is still open but hidden on the left side of the screen.

You're opening the attachments in the Windows 8 apps, not a desktop application, and need to use Alt+F4 to close the app, not Alt+Tab.

Change the default application for an attachment

To change the application that opens the attachment, click on the notification message in the right corner of the screen that tells you other programs can open the file.

Other programs are available to open this file

Select a desktop application from the list.

Select a different default application

If the notification message doesn't come up, save the attachment to My Documents, then right click on it and choose Choose default program... then select a desktop application. Future attachments of that type will open in the desktop application you selected.

Choose Default program

Opening Outlook attachments in Windows 8 was last modified: September 19th, 2013 by Diane Poremsky

Related Posts:

  • Outlook's print dialog
    Turn Off the Print Picture Wizard when Printing Attachments
  • Opening .exe Attachments and Outlook E-mail Security
  • Opening XML files in Outlook
  • Open .eml Files in Outlook

About Diane Poremsky

A Microsoft Outlook Most Valuable Professional (MVP) since 1999, Diane is the author of several books, including Outlook 2013 Absolute Beginners Book. She also created video training CDs and online training classes for Microsoft Outlook. You can find her helping people online in Outlook Forums as well as in the Microsoft Answers and TechNet forums.

Subscribe
Notify of
4 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Louise.
October 29, 2014 10:35 pm

I have been sent an email on many occasions which have attachments: word excel, jpegs, .pdfs etc. when it arrives in my Inbox there is no attachment to open. The sender has even come over and found nothing attached yet others cc'd on this same email do receive the attachment ???

0
-1
Reply
Diane Poremsky
Reply to  Louise.
October 30, 2014 12:33 pm

Are you using outlook or a different email client? If the message size indicates it is about the size of the attachment, then the message is hidden - if you are using outlook, hit forward and see if it comes up. There is a bug with some email servers (commonly used by Mac users) that causes outlook to not properly disable the attachment. Forward rewrites the message and fixes the problem.

If the message size is large enough for the attachment and you aren't using Outlook, I'm guessing the message was sent as RTF and the attachment is in a winmail.dat file - some clients will hide the attachment since they can't use it and it's presence generates questions and with the exception of when it contains attachments, it's useless. You can look at the Internet header - the attachment will be encoded in garbage characters and the word 'winmail.dat' should be near the bottom of the header.

if the message size is small, something deleted the attachment - probably antivirus or similar security software.

0
0
Reply
Sonny S. Sulit
June 23, 2014 8:07 pm

connect in my company

0
0
Reply
Diane Poremsky
Reply to  Sonny S. Sulit
June 23, 2014 9:33 pm

I'm not sure I understand the question/issue?

0
0
Reply

Visit Slipstick Forums.
What's New at Slipstick.com

Latest EMO: Vol. 30 Issue 29

Subscribe to Exchange Messaging Outlook






Support Services

Do you need help setting up Outlook, moving your email to a new computer, migrating or configuring Office 365, or just need some one-on-one assistance?

Our Sponsors

CompanionLink
ReliefJet
  • Popular
  • Latest
  • Week Month All
  • Jetpack plugin with Stats module needs to be enabled.
  • Move Deleted Items to Another Folder Automatically
  • Open Outlook Templates using PowerShell
  • Count and List Folders in Classic Outlook
  • Google Workspace and Outlook with POP Mail
  • Import EML Files into New Outlook
  • Opening PST files in New Outlook
  • New Outlook: Show To, CC, BCC in Replies
  • Insert Word Document into Email using VBA
  • Delete Empty Folders using PowerShell
  • Warn Before Deleting a Contact
Ajax spinner

Recent Bugs List

Microsoft keeps a running list of issues affecting recently released updates at Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in classic Outlook (Windows).

For new Outlook for Windows: Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in new Outlook for Windows .

Outlook for Mac Recent issues: Fixes or workarounds for recent issues in Outlook for Mac

Outlook.com Recent issues: Fixes or workarounds for recent issues on Outlook.com

Office Update History

Update history for supported Office versions is at Update history for Office

Outlook Suggestions and Feedback

Outlook Feedback covers Outlook as an email client, including Outlook Android, iOS, Mac, and Windows clients, as well as the browser extension (PWA) and Outlook on the web.

Outlook (new) Feedback. Use this for feedback and suggestions for Outlook (new).

Use Outlook.com Feedback for suggestions or feedback about Outlook.com accounts.

Other Microsoft 365 applications and services




New Outlook Articles

Move Deleted Items to Another Folder Automatically

Open Outlook Templates using PowerShell

Count and List Folders in Classic Outlook

Google Workspace and Outlook with POP Mail

Import EML Files into New Outlook

Opening PST files in New Outlook

New Outlook: Show To, CC, BCC in Replies

Insert Word Document into Email using VBA

Delete Empty Folders using PowerShell

Warn Before Deleting a Contact

Newest Code Samples

Open Outlook Templates using PowerShell

Count and List Folders in Classic Outlook

Insert Word Document into Email using VBA

Warn Before Deleting a Contact

Use PowerShell to Delete Attachments

Remove RE:, FWD:, and Other Prefixes from Subject Line

Change the Mailing Address Using PowerShell

Categorize @Mentioned Messages

Send an Email When You Open Outlook

Delete Old Calendar Events using VBA

Repair PST

Convert an OST to PST

Repair damaged PST file

Repair large PST File

Remove password from PST

Merge Two Data Files

Sync & Share Outlook Data

  • Share Calendar & Contacts
  • Synchronize two computers
  • Sync Calendar and Contacts Using Outlook.com
  • Sync Outlook & Android Devices
  • Sync Google Calendar with Outlook
  • Access Folders in Other Users Mailboxes

Diane Poremsky [Outlook MVP]

Make a donation

Mail Tools

Sending and Retrieval Tools

Mass Mail Tools

Compose Tools

Duplicate Remover Tools

Mail Tools for Outlook

Online Services

Calendar Tools

Schedule Management

Calendar Printing Tools

Calendar Reminder Tools

Calendar Dates & Data

Time and Billing Tools

Meeting Productivity Tools

Duplicate Remover Tools

Productivity

Productivity Tools

Automatic Message Processing Tools

Special Function Automatic Processing Tools

Housekeeping and Message Management

Task Tools

Project and Business Management Tools

Choosing the Folder to Save a Sent Message In

Run Rules on messages after reading

Help & Suggestions

Submit Outlook Feature Requests

Slipstick Support Services

Buy Microsoft 365 Office Software and Services

Visit Slipstick Forums.

What's New at Slipstick.com

Home | Outlook User | Exchange Administrator | Office 365 | Outlook.com | Outlook Developer
Outlook for Mac | Common Problems | Utilities & Addins | Tutorials
Outlook & iCloud Issues | Outlook Apps
EMO Archives | About Slipstick | Slipstick Forums
Submit New or Updated Outlook and Exchange Server Utilities

Send comments using our Feedback page
Copyright © 2025 Slipstick Systems. All rights reserved.
Slipstick Systems is not affiliated with Microsoft Corporation.

:wpds_smile::wpds_grin::wpds_wink::wpds_mrgreen::wpds_neutral::wpds_twisted::wpds_arrow::wpds_shock::wpds_unamused::wpds_cool::wpds_evil::wpds_oops::wpds_razz::wpds_roll::wpds_cry::wpds_eek::wpds_lol::wpds_mad::wpds_sad::wpds_exclamation::wpds_question::wpds_idea::wpds_hmm::wpds_beg::wpds_whew::wpds_chuckle::wpds_silly::wpds_envy::wpds_shutmouth:
wpDiscuz

Sign up for Exchange Messaging Outlook

Our weekly Outlook & Exchange newsletter (bi-weekly during the summer)






Please note: If you subscribed to Exchange Messaging Outlook before August 2019, please re-subscribe.

Never see this message again.

You are going to send email to

Move Comment