Wondering where all the space for emails has gone? Looking for particularly big files in Outlook.com? Find out here how to locate large attachments in new Outlook and Outlook on the web.
First, Blond Braids of Hair
In Europe and the 15th century, blond braids of hair were one epitome of beauty peeking out from under the typical bonnets of the time.
If you were not blond or your hair failed in other ways, you could attach a host of horsehair, of course, that was braided and bleached.
Now, have emails you have sent or received had horsehair attached in the way of files? You can get help untangling the mess and finding the largest threads:
How to Find Large Attachments in “New” Outlook and Outlook on the Web
Time needed: 5 minutes
To find the largest attached files in new Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web:
- Go to the folder that holds the emails with the attached files.
Across all folders: While you can find all messages that contain attachments in your account, easily identifying the large ones only works with individual folders; you can go through a host of folders, of course.
- Klick Filter atop the message list.
- Select Sort | Size (under Sort by) from the menu that appears.
On top: By default, this will place largest emails on top; you can check (or set) by opening the Filter menu again and choosing Sort | Largest on top for Sort order.
- Open the Filter menu once more.
- Choose Has files from the menu.
- Find all emails with attachments in the current folder, with the largest messages on top.
Now this: You can now preview, save and open the attachments from Outlook for Windows, of course.
Find All Emails with Attachments in Outlook on the Web
To get a list of all emails that have files in attached in Outlook on the Web:
- Click the Search box in Outlook on the Web.
Outlook keyboard shortcut: You can also press Alt Q (Windows and Linux) or Option Q (Mac) to focus the Outlook search field. - Select All Folders for the searching scope.
- Type
hasattachment:yes. - Press Enter.
How to Find Large Attachments in “New” Outlook and Outlook on the Web: FAQ
Can I filter by file type?
Partially.
While Outlook does not allow you to filter or search by specific attachment file type, you can search by file extensions for a similar effect.
To find all attachments of a specific type in new Outlook or Outlook on the Web:
- Click in the Search box in Outlook.
- Choose a folder or All Folders for the scope.
- Type hasattachment.yes and add the file type (without a search operator).
Example: hasattachment:yes pdf will find all emails with attachments that are PDF files (or, of course, “pdf” somewhere in the email’s text and a different file type attached). - Press Enter.
(How to find large attachments tested with new Outlook and Outlook on the web; first published February 2024, last updated July 2024)