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How to View Internet Headers

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› Outlook › Email › How to View Internet Headers

Last reviewed on March 27, 2019     17 Comments

Applies to: Outlook 2016 (Win), Outlook 2013, Outlook 2010, Outlook 2007

The method depends on the version of Outlook. Unless you set a registry key, Outlook displays only the headers, not the full message source. If viewing headers is something you need to do often, use a utility or VBA code to view and copy the headers.

Beginning with Outlook 2003, you can view the header and full message source together by adding the SaveAllMIMENotJustHeaders value to the registry. For more information and ready-to-use reg files, see View the Message Source in Outlook

For a more readable copy of the Internet headers in Outlook 2007 and newer, use a VBA macro to create a readable copy the headers in a new message form. Get the code sample from Get Outlook's Internet Headers using VBA.

 

Outlook 2010 and up

Expand Tag to view message propertiesIn Outlook 2010 and up, when you use the default settings, you need to OPEN the message and either go to the Tags section of the ribbon or go to File, Properties. Skip past the video to learn how to avoid opening the message to view the header.

Click on the Expand button (highlighted in yellow) in the lower right corner to show the Message options dialog.

View Internet header Video Tutorial

Add Message options to Quick Access Toolbar (QAT)

You can also add the Message options command to the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) so you don't need to open the message (and can use a Ctrl+n shortcut).

quick access toolbar

  1. Go to File > Options > Quick Access Toolbar.
  2. In Choose Commands From, select Commands Not in the Ribbon
  3. Click in the list of commands and press M on the keyboard
  4. Scroll to find Message Options...
  5. Click Add >> to add it to the QAT.

Add Message options to QAT Video Tutorial

 

Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007

Method #1: Right-click the message in the folder view, then choose Options.

Method #2: In an open message, choose View | Options.

With either method, you'll see the Internet headers portion of the Message Options dialog.

Internet Header in Message Options dialog

In Outlook 2007, you can also click the Expand icon (see screenshot in Outlook 2010 and 2013 instructions.)

 

Tools

More Information

Internet Mail Issues with Microsoft Outlook
View the Message Source in Outlook
Use VBA and CDO to view or copy the headers (and source). Outlook's security warning is triggered unless you use Redemption.
Retreiving Internet Headers Using VBA in Outlook 2007/2010

How to View Internet Headers was last modified: March 27th, 2019 by Diane Poremsky
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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.

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JRStern (@guest_187419)
November 6, 2014 2:45 pm
#187419

Does not seem to work in Outlook 2013 - no "message properties" in list.

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Diane Poremsky (@guest_187424)
Reply to  JRStern
November 6, 2014 11:28 pm
#187424

It's Message Options, not message properties.

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Reinier Post (@guest_179062)
September 4, 2013 2:45 am
#179062

Thank you very much - i wanted an easy way to view message headers in Outlook 2010 and this is exactly the information I needed!

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Clint Johnson (@guest_175138)
March 26, 2013 2:02 pm
#175138

In Outlook 2007 you could check the internet headers without actually opening the message. This was a good way to check suspicious emails and delete them without having to open the contents of the message. Having to open the message to check the internet headers is a serious security flaw in Outlook 2010 and 2013

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Diane Poremsky (@guest_175142)
Reply to  Clint Johnson
March 26, 2013 3:25 pm
#175142

You can customize the QAT to avoid opening the message in 2010 and 2013. I probably should switch the instructions around so its more clear. :)

However, if you can use VBA, I have a nifty macro that puts the header into a new mail message so its easy to read.

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KevinA (@guest_174305)
February 27, 2013 2:33 pm
#174305

This helped mask the bad decision someone made but it took me awhile to find the QAT! It is the ROW of objects at the top most left, for those that use then scream when they can't find stuff and then read the manual.

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Thomas Morris (@guest_172514)
November 19, 2012 5:12 pm
#172514

I wish I had looked for this sooner. And I am sorry I didn't get in on this. I checked who EMails were from using the Option in earlier than 2010 at home and at work (work for a government agency). Because of the many contacts I make in the business world, I don't always recognize what shows in the unopened messages from. Now I just have to dump a message if I don't readily identify it as I have no choice. If an application is already in the older software what does it take to be in the newer packages?

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Anthony Cameron (@guest_163889)
August 16, 2012 3:15 am
#163889

The instructions you give for Outlook 2010 are not valid. Out of the box, no changed ribbon etc., 2010 does not have an expend button in the Tags menu, nor does it have a "Properties" selection in the File menu. Possibly 2013 does have these things, I can't check as although we tried 2013 we have removed it; it was too problematic.

I was trying to expend the header to check on the origin of some spam, but unlike previous versions and other mail clients, I cannot find a way to do this in 2010. More Microsoft failure. I had to load the email into another mail client to look at headers.

Cheers

Tony

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Diane Poremsky (@guest_163911)
Reply to  Anthony Cameron
August 16, 2012 4:24 am
#163911

The screenshot was taken in Outlook 2010 - the instructions are correct. Did you open the message first?

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Ken Shackel (@guest_157323)
July 29, 2012 4:01 pm
#157323

I have outlook 2010 and neither the expamd button nor the file/properties worked - nothing there about showing headers.

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Diane Poremsky (@guest_157396)
Reply to  Ken Shackel
July 29, 2012 7:34 pm
#157396

Did you open the message first? Only adding the Message options button to the QAT will work with selected messages.

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J. Andrew Smith (@guest_155606)
July 26, 2012 9:31 am
#155606

In previous versions of Outlook you didn't have to open a message first -- that's dangerous! If you want a message's headers, it's usually because the message is suspect, so you DON'T want to open it. Now you have to! Who at Microsoft was PAID to make THAT idiotic decision??

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Diane Poremsky (@guest_155622)
Reply to  J. Andrew Smith
July 26, 2012 10:06 am
#155622

According to their CEIP information, a very, very small % of users ever look at the headers. Additionally, messages (either in preview or opened) are quite safe - you won't get infected by opening a suspect message unless you do something stupid, like click a link. That said, you can add the Message Options button to the QAT so you don't need to open the message first. It's the first thing I do when I set up a system, not because I'm worried about viruses, but because I'm lazy. :)

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