- To encrypt emails in Outlook, move to the Options tab and click on the padlock icon.
- Select the 'Encrypt' option to encrypt the Outlook email. This will add a strong security layer to your email.
- Note that email encryption is not available on Outlook's Android or iOS app.
Many believe privacy is a myth in this day and age, but most apps do come with security features that ensure your data remains safe in transit. Microsoft Outlook offers end-to-end encryption to prevent anyone but the sender and receiver from reading your messages. If you use Microsoft’s Outlook, here’s how to encrypt an email in Outlook.
But before we get started, it’s worth mentioning that encryption on Outlook is only available for users with the Microsoft 365 subscription. Microsoft calls it ‘Pureview Message Encryption’, and it’s pretty straightforward to use.
Email encryption in Outlook is limited to the Windows and macOS clients and the web version. Unfortunately, the feature is not supported on the Android or iOS mobile apps.
Method 1: Encrypt Emails in Outlook App via Options Tab
You can easily encrypt emails in Outlook via the desktop or web app. It’s not turned on by default, so you will have to enable encryption every time you want to send a confidential message. Here are the steps to follow.
- Launch Microsoft Outlook and click on New Email.
- In the top bar, click Options to reveal more options.
- In the new toolbar that appears, click the padlock icon.
- From the list of options, select Encrypt.
- You should now see a message at the top of the email saying “This message is encrypted.”
- Write the body of the email and click Send.
Method 2: Encrypt Outlook Emails With Do Not Forward Option
While email encryption works like a charm on Outlook, if the message contains sensitive information, you might want to use the Do Not Forward option. It will prevent the receiver from forwarding the email. Here is how to go about it.
- Launch Outlook and click New Email.
- Click Options to enable the toolbar and click the padlock icon.
- From the list of options, click Do Not Forward.
- You should then see a message, “Recipients can’t forward, or copy content.”
- Click Send to send the message.
What Happens When You Send An Encrypted Outlook Email?
When you send an encrypted email through Outlook to another Outlook address, the recipient can read the contents of the email without following any extra steps. If you choose the Do Not Forward option, the receiver can still read it, but cannot copy or forward the email.
However, if you send an encrypted Outlook email to a Gmail or Yahoo address, the recipients will receive the email, but the receiver will be prompted to sign in to Outlook via an email or Google account. Only then can the receiver view the message.
