Blocked attachments in Outlook
To help protect your computer, Microsoft Outlook 2010 does not allow you to receive files of certain types (such as .exe files) as attachments, because of their potential for introducing a virus into your computer. Outlook blocks these files by default.
Share your files safely
If you want to receive a file of a type that is blocked by Outlook, you can ask the sender to either make the file accessible without using Outlook, or make it less likely to be blocked by Outlook. Following are a few safe ways to share files with people you trust.
Use a file compression utility. Using a compression utility, such as WinZip or the utility built into Windows (right-click on a file and choose send to compressed folder), creates a compressed archive file that has a different file name extension. Outlook does not recognize these file name extensions as potential threats. Therefore, it does not block the new attachment.
Rename the file. You can request that the sender rename the attachment to use a file name extension that Outlook does not recognize as a threat. For example, an executable file that has the file name extension .exe could be renamed as a Word 2010 file that has a .docx file name extension.
Use a shared server. You might want to ask the sender to save the attachment to a server or an FTP site that you can access. This can include a secure network share server such as SharePoint. The sender can send you a link to the attachment on the server or FTP site. You can click the link to access the file and save it on your computer.
Ask the sender to resend the renamed attachment to you. To save the attachment and rename it to use the original file name extension, do the following:
Locate the attachment in the email message.
Right-click the attachment, and then click Copy.
Right-click the desktop, and then click Paste.
Right-click the pasted file, and then click Rename.
Rename the file to use the original file name extension, such as .exe.
Attachment file types blocked in Outlook
File name extension |
File type |
.ade |
Access Project Extension (Microsoft) |
.adp |
Access Project (Microsoft) |
.app |
Executable Application |
.asp |
Active Server Page |
.bas |
BASIC Source Code |
.bat |
Batch Processing |
.cer |
Internet Security Certificate File |
.chm |
Compiled HTML Help |
.cmd |
DOS CP/M Command File, Command File for Windows NT |
.com |
Command |
.cpl |
Windows Control Panel Extension (Microsoft) |
.crt |
Certificate File |
.csh |
csh Script |
.der |
DER Encoded X509 Certificate File |
.exe |
Executable File |
.fxp |
FoxPro Compiled Source (Microsoft) |
.gadget |
Windows Vista gadget |
.hlp |
Windows Help File |
.hta |
Hypertext Application |
.inf |
Information or Setup File |
.ins |
IIS Internet Communications Settings (Microsoft) |
.isp |
IIS Internet Service Provider Settings (Microsoft) |
.its |
Internet Document Set, Internet Translation |
.js |
JavaScript Source Code |
.jse |
JScript Encoded Script File |
.ksh |
UNIX Shell Script |
.lnk |
Windows Shortcut File |
.mad |
Access Module Shortcut (Microsoft) |
.maf |
Access (Microsoft) |
.mag |
Access Diagram Shortcut (Microsoft) |
.mam |
Access Macro Shortcut (Microsoft) |
.maq |
Access Query Shortcut (Microsoft) |
.mar |
Access Report Shortcut (Microsoft) |
.mas |
Access Stored Procedures (Microsoft) |
.mat |
Access Table Shortcut (Microsoft) |
.mau |
Media Attachment Unit |
.mav |
Access View Shortcut (Microsoft) |
.maw |
Access Data Access Page (Microsoft) |
.mda |
Access Add-in (Microsoft), MDA Access 2 Workgroup (Microsoft) |
.mdb |
Access Application (Microsoft), MDB Access Database (Microsoft) |
.mde |
Access MDE Database File (Microsoft) |
.mdt |
Access Add-in Data (Microsoft) |
.mdw |
Access Workgroup Information (Microsoft) |
.mdz |
Access Wizard Template (Microsoft) |
.msc |
Microsoft Management Console Snap-in Control File (Microsoft) |
.msh |
Microsoft Shell |
.msh1 |
Microsoft Shell |
.msh2 |
Microsoft Shell |
.mshxml |
Microsoft Shell |
.msh1xml |
Microsoft Shell |
.msh2xml |
Microsoft Shell |
.msi |
Windows Installer File (Microsoft) |
.msp |
Windows Installer Update |
.mst |
Windows SDK Setup Transform Script |
.ops |
Office Profile Settings File |
.pcd |
Visual Test (Microsoft) |
.pif |
Windows Program Information File (Microsoft) |
.plg |
Developer Studio Build Log |
.prf |
Windows System File |
.prg |
Program File |
.pst |
MS Exchange Address Book File, Outlook Personal Folder File (Microsoft) |
.reg |
Registration Information/Key for W95/98, Registry Data File |
.scf |
Windows Explorer Command |
.scr |
Windows Screen Saver |
.sct |
Windows Script Component, Foxpro Screen (Microsoft) |
.shb |
Windows Shortcut into a Document |
.shs |
Shell Scrap Object File |
.ps1 |
Windows PowerShell |
.ps1xml |
Windows PowerShell |
.ps2 |
Windows PowerShell |
.ps2xml |
Windows PowerShell |
.psc1 |
Windows PowerShell |
.psc2 |
Windows PowerShell |
.tmp |
Temporary File/Folder |
.url |
Internet Location |
.vb |
VBScript File or Any Visual Basic Source |
.vbe |
VBScript Encoded Script File |
.vbs |
VBScript Script File, Visual Basic for Applications Script |
.vsmacros |
Visual Studio .NET Binary-based Macro Project (Microsoft) |
.vsw |
Visio Workspace File (Microsoft) |
.ws |
Windows Script File |
.wsc |
Windows Script Component |
.wsf |
Windows Script File |
.wsh |
Windows Script Host Settings File |
.xnk |
Exchange Public Folder Shortcut |