How to Automatically Add BCC in Email Using HiddenBCC for Outlook
Microsoft Outlook is a powerful tool, but it famously lacks a built-in feature to automatically “Blind Carbon Copy” (BCC) every email you send. While you can manually enable the BCC field for individual messages, remembering to fill it in every time is prone to human error.
HiddenBCC (often referred to as Auto BCC for Outlook) is a specialized add-in designed to solve this exact problem by automating the process based on rules you define. Why Use HiddenBCC for Outlook?
Compliance & Archiving: Automatically send copies of your professional correspondence to a CRM or a dedicated archive folder.
Tracking: Keep a record of all outgoing communications in a secondary email account without cluttering your main “Sent Items.”
Team Coordination: Ensure a manager or colleague is silently kept in the loop on specific client interactions. Step-by-Step Guide: Setting Up HiddenBCC
Follow these steps to configure automatic BCC rules using the HiddenBCC/Auto BCC add-in: 1. Installation
First, download and install the add-in. Once installed, it integrates directly into your Outlook ribbon. You will typically find it under a new tab labeled AbleBits.com or Email Tools. 2. Create a New Rule Navigate to the AbleBits.com tab in your Outlook ribbon. Click on the Auto BCC button to open the management window. Click New Rule to start the configuration wizard. 3. Define the BCC Address
In the rule creation window, you will see a field for the BCC address.
Enter the email address(es) you want to automatically include.
Tip: You can use semicolons to separate multiple recipients. 4. Set Your Conditions
The true power of HiddenBCC lies in its filtering. You can choose to:
Apply to All Emails: Select “Apply the rule for all outgoing messages” to BCC every single email you send.
Apply Based on Subject/Content: Only BCC emails that contain specific keywords (e.g., “Invoice” or “Confidential”).
Apply to Specific Recipients: Only BCC when you are emailing certain domains or individual contacts.
Account-Specific Rules: If you have multiple email accounts, you can choose to apply the rule only to your professional account while leaving your personal one untouched. 5. Save and Activate
Once your conditions are set, click Finish or OK. The rule is now active. From now on, every time you click “Send” on an email that meets your criteria, HiddenBCC will silently add the specified recipients to the BCC field before the message leaves your outbox. Comparison: HiddenBCC vs. Standard Outlook Methods Manual BCC Outlook Rules HiddenBCC Add-in Effort High (must remember every time) Complex (requires “Move Copy” workaround) Low (Set and forget) Reliability Prone to human error Often fails in “New Outlook” High stability Flexibility Limited to basic folders Advanced logic/filtering Pro Tip: Testing Your Rules
Before relying on HiddenBCC for critical business tasks, send a test email to a friend or a secondary account. Check that the BCC recipient receives the message and—more importantly—that the primary recipient cannot see the BCC’d address.
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