• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Outlook Tips

Learning Microsoft Outlook One Tip At A Time

Outlook 2013 Absolute Beginner's Guide Diane Poremsky [Outlook MVP]

  • Home
  • Tips Archive
  • How to...
  • Beginner
  • Outlook.com

Tip 361: Sending Files From Windows Explorer

Did you ever have this problem? When you right click on a file & choose Send To, Mail Recipient, it displays the email window but locks the main Outlook window. You can't select any of the messages or Outlook folders until you save and close the message.

This is caused by Windows using SimpleMapi to call the default email client and you can't do anything to prevent this, however there are workarounds for it. (This is also why saving messages opened using any File, Send to menu saves them to the Inbox, not Drafts and why Send to uses the Outlook editor and doesn't add your signature.)

Make a shortcut in the Send To folder that uses the following command line: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE10\OUTLOOK.EXE" /c ipm.note

In Windows XP, the Send to menu is at C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\SendTo

In Windows 7 & 8, the Send to menu is at C:\Users\usernname\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\SendTo. Type or paste the shortcut %appdata%\Microsoft\Windows to open the folder.

Don't forget to change the folder path to the correct one for your Outlook version.

To use it, right click on a file and choose Send to… then select your shortcut. An added bonus: because this method uses your default Outlook editor, your signature is added to the message. Note that it doesn't work for multiple attachments – you'll need to drag and drop additional
files to the message.

Do you often send files to a specific address or addresses? Use this method to create a shortcut and the message form will open preaddressed when you use it.

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\OFFICE12\OUTLOOK.EXE" /c ipm.note /m user1@example.com;user2@example.com

For ready-to use reg files and a video tutorial, see Create a custom Send to… shortcut

Published June 15, 2006. Last updated on September 23, 2013.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • More
  • Print
  • Tumblr
  • Reddit
  • Pocket
  • Pinterest

Related posts:

As anyone who sends files from Windows Explorer knows, choosing Send to > Mail Recipient opens a message using the Outlook editTip 91: Send to... Using Your Stationery When you send an attachment by right clicking on it and choosing Send, newer versions of Windows add a block of text to the messagTip 45: Send Attachments From Windows Where are my Outlook Files? Today's tips are two of my favorite Windows tips that can make life a lot easier. Do you use Firefox but need IE for some siteTip 234: Windows Shortcuts
Subscribe
Notify of
1 Comment
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to Outlook Tips by Email

Search OutlookTips

Training and one-on-one assistance

Do you need help setting up Outlook or want some one-on-one training? I'm available for hire. See Training and one-on-one assistance for fees and to check availability.

Popular Posts this Week

  • Where is File tab in Outlook?
    Where is File tab in Outlook?
  • How to Find Folder Paths in Outlook Mailboxes
    How to Find Folder Paths in Outlook Mailboxes
  • How to Reset the View on Outlook folders
    How to Reset the View on Outlook folders
  • Understanding Tasks and To-Do List
    Understanding Tasks and To-Do List
  • Change or cancel meetings without sending update messages
    Change or cancel meetings without sending update messages
  • Icons found in the Inbox, Message Headers, and Toolbars
    Icons found in the Inbox, Message Headers, and Toolbars
  • How to bulk move Outlook folders
    How to bulk move Outlook folders
  • How to use Outlook's Command line switches
    How to use Outlook's Command line switches
  • Tip 307: Shortcuts for Reading the Next Message
    Tip 307: Shortcuts for Reading the Next Message
  • Tip 160: This Machine Only Rule
    Tip 160: This Machine Only Rule

All-Time Most Popular Posts

  • Windows 7 and Vista Start Search field
    How to start Outlook in safe mode
  • outlook.com icon
    Delete a message stuck in Outlook's Outbox
  • How to use Outlook's Command line switches
  • Use Cleanviews switch to reset all views
    How to Reset the View on Outlook folders
  • Where are my Outlook Files?
  • Folder paths
    How to Find Folder Paths in Outlook Mailboxes
  • How to use Scanpst.exe to repair Outlook data files
  • Outlook's Missing Holidays
  • open an outlook data file
    Open an existing personal data file (*.pst) in Outlook
  • Creating rules that apply to an entire domain
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

Footer

Recent Posts

  • Outlook on the web Quick Actions moved to the right
  • Automatically sign out of Outlook.com
  • Quick Actions in Outlook
  • Outlook Autocomplete Bug
  • Outlook on the web Address Book sort order

Recent Bug List

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

Office Update History

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

Resources

Ask questions and share your knowledge in Outlook Forums.

Translate

You Might Like

Where is File tab in Outlook?
Using Two-factor authentication
Where are my Outlook Files?
How to use Outlook's Command line switches

© 2003–2022 ยท Outlook Tips

wpDiscuz
You are going to send email to

Move Comment