Option of "Attach as Copy" to be set as default option when attaching file to an email in Microsoft Outlook 2016
Option of "Attach as Copy" to be set as default option when attaching file to an email in Microsoft Outlook 2016. Or ability to control the default option via GPO.

Thank you for all your feedback. We heard you and now for Office 365 Subscribers on Current Channel, when you use the attach file command, local files will be automatically added as attachments. Files stored in the cloud will come with a dialog that ask you whether you would prefer to add as an attachment or share as a link. In Options, we also added a toggle to remember your preference if you would like to always add as an attachment.
151 comments
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Roel commented
I would like to have the option to drag in the attachment to an email instead of now having to copying and pasting the attachment. Extra steps are not productive.
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Tom Stapleton commented
I have found a workaround. Change the msg format to Rich Txt (in Format Text menu), attach the file (as a copy) and change format back to HTML. Seems ridiculous that this solution can't be implemented.
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TK commented
One big problem is the link location is not shared. No mention of this is given to the sender when the message is sent. An attachment is an attachment. A link is a link. Choosing an attachment and getting a link is not logical.
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LW commented
Please MS - we all know any programmer can implement this option in half a day's work. Your lack of response is frustrating. People are going mad about this at our company. All we need is an option to select the default behaviour + a GPO to control that option company-wide.
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Anonymous commented
I have executives going off their brain because the default is to send a link...
they get embarrassed because the recipient cant access the link.
Happy to have the option to attache a cloud link but can not see why this should be the default behavior.
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Evan Kleeberg commented
Please add the option to attache as a file from Onedrive,I think more people will want the file to be sent, and less the link.
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Johan Axelsson commented
I would be happy if you can include the option to set as default to enlose files as copies from Onedrive, just like in the onlineversion.
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Scott Loomis commented
PLEASE FIX ALREADY, allow user to set their own default for "attach as copy".
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DCree commented
A great idea when sending documents internally but when sending to customers who I do not want to see the files on the onedrive (due to commercial sensitivity) its annoying.
Adding the ability to remove this would be preferred. Similarly the "new" save to onedrive is a feature I don't want. -
Jim commented
Yes, make it a default!
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Shmuel Whitehouse commented
this causes major headaches for my customers. the default option needs a gpo or option to say set as default send as a copy not a link. This was horrible of microsoft not to consider.!!!
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JH commented
this is a necessity for our company if we want to use OneDrive. Please allow the ability to control this
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Phil commented
Extremely Important!
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Anonymous Coward commented
So VERY VERY important.
Up until recently, the "recent" list would provide two versions of every file, the one on disk (which would attach a copy), and the onedrive one that would insert a link. I deal in legal documents that would be illegal for me to transmit via a cloud drive, it's critical that I always send the file and not a link to an online version.
I know I can manually browse to the file in explorer and drag and drop, but the "recent" list is so useful and awesome. Why the heck did they break it?
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Laura B commented
If the "attach as copy" option actually worked properly, that might be all right too--but best of all would be to give users the option to set their own default mode of attachment.
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Andy P commented
Or at least put in a check before sending the email that the recipients can be given access to the file.
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Phil S commented
The only solution that makes sense is to allow the user to select THEIR default choice.
From reading many of the comments below, I suggest 3 choices.
1) Add an "Anyone can Edit" link as it does now.
2) Add a read only link.
3) Add as attachment.Almost everyone who commented explained why their choice is the correct one. I would personally use the read only link as my default, but does not work when you want to use the attachments to PROVE what it said at a specific time.
MS: PLEASE let the user choose what is right for them. PES
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Chris Wspanialy commented
Oultook 2016 has a nice feature to show all files recently saved when send a new email and select "Attach File" but unfortunately it does not work properly.
It shows by mistake cloud versions instead of local OneDrive version and if sent the cloud version receiver is not able to open that attachment which is very confusing.
I hope MS will fix the bug and allow ONLY local OneDrive files.
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Anonymous commented
Typical MS - rolling out a poorly thought through change which irritates the users of their software. GG
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John Powles commented
MS conduct in changing this basic functionality is outrageous.
Please restore.