Outlook: Auto reminder when forgetting attachments in messages

It is common for users to compose email messages in Outlook and mention documents or files in the message body, only to accidentally forget to attach them before sending. This oversight can lead to confusion, missed information, and additional back-and-forth communication with recipients who may request the missing files. To address this issue, Outlook offers built-in features and supplementary tools to automatically alert you if you are about to send a message that references attachments but does not actually contain any files. Leveraging these methods will help ensure your communications are complete, prevent missed opportunities and maintain professionalism in your correspondence.

Automatically reminder when forgetting attachments in Outlook2013/2016

Automatically remind when forgetting attachments with an amazing tool in Outlook 👍 (All Versions Supported)

Automatically reminder when forgetting attachments in Outlook2007 and2010

---

Auto reminder when forgetting attachments in Outlook 2013/2016

Starting with Outlook 2013, Microsoft introduced a convenient feature that helps prevent users from sending emails that mention attachments in the body, but do not actually include any attached files. This native functionality is both easy to enable and simple to use, making it a valuable addition for anyone who frequently exchanges documents or files via email.

To enable this feature, first go to your Outlook interface, then:

1. Click "File" > "Options".

2. In the Outlook Options dialog box, select "Mail" in the left sidebar.

3. Within the "Send messages" section, check the option labeled "Warn me when I send a message that may be missing an attachment."

4. Click "OK" to save your changes and close the dialog box.

With this setting enabled, Outlook will automatically monitor your outgoing messages. If you enter text such as “please check attachments”, “attached file”, or similar phrases in your email, but forget to actually insert an attachment, Outlook will detect this when you attempt to send the email. You will see a pop-up warning dialog reminding you that you may have forgotten to attach a file. You then have the opportunity to go back, insert your attachment, and send the complete email.

This feature has some advantages: it operates seamlessly within Outlook without needing any add-ins or complicated configuration, and reduces the chances of accidental omission. However, it does rely on certain keywords that Outlook recognizes, so if you use unusual wording or languages other than those supported, the alert might not trigger. Also, if you mention attachments generically but actually intend to send a follow-up file or link, you could get a false warning.

---

Automatically remind when forgetting attachments with an amazing tool in Outlook 👍（All Versions Supported）

The "Remind Me When I Send a Message That’s Missing Attachments" feature in Kutools for Outlook offers a highly flexible solution for users who want enhanced control over attachment reminders, regardless of which version of Outlook they use. With Kutools, you can specify custom keywords that are relevant to your workflow, ensuring that the reminder system adapts perfectly to your needs and communication habits.

 Enable the 'Remind Me When I Send a Message That’s Missing Attachments' feature

1. After downloading and installing Kutools for Outlook, on the main Outlook ribbon click "Kutools Plus" > "Utilities" > "Remind Me When I Send a Message That’s Missing Attachments".

Create the customized keywords for reminder

1. Once the "Remind Me Before Sending" dialog box appears, click the "Add" button.
2. Enter the desired keyword or phrase in the "Keywords" textbox. Typical choices include “attachment”, “enclosed”, “please see file”, or organization-specific terms.
3. Click "OK" to save your keyword.
4. You may repeat the process to add multiple relevant keywords for improved detection.
5. Click "OK" to confirm your settings and select "Yes" when prompted to activate the reminder feature.

Result

Whenever you compose a message that contains any of your specified keywords in either the subject or the body, but do not attach any file, Kutools will automatically display a reminder dialog box as soon as you click the "Send" button. This prompt gives you an opportunity to add your attachment before the message leaves your outbox.

Compared to Outlook’s built-in option, which is limited to certain keywords and occasional missed detections, the Kutools approach enables you to define specific trigger phrases for both the message subject and body. For example, if your organization references attachments in a particular manner ("attached invoice", "documents enclosed", etc.), you can add these phrases as customized reminders. This minimizes the risk of oversight and ensures consistent email professionalism across a range of scenarios, including client correspondence, internal reporting, proposal submissions, and more.

---

Auto reminder when forgetting attachments in Outlook 2007 and 2010

If you are using Outlook 2007 or 2010, there is no built-in capability to warn you about missing attachments. However, you can use a VBA macro to implement a similar attachment warning mechanism.

Follow these steps precisely, keeping in mind security settings may affect your ability to run macros. Always test the solution with sample messages before relying on it for critical communication.

1. Press "Alt" + "F11" to open the "Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications" window.

2. In the VBA editor, expand "Project1" in the left sidebar and double click "ThisOutlookSession" to open its code window.

3. Copy and paste the following VBA code into the "ThisOutlookSession" window. This macro checks your outgoing message for the keyword “attachment” in the body—but no file attached—and displays a reminder prompt.

VBA: Warning if not insert attachment

Private Sub Application_ItemSend(ByVal Item As Object, Cancel As Boolean)
Dim retMB As Variant
Dim strBody As String
Dim iIndex As Long

On Error GoTo handleError

iIndex = InStr(Item.Body, "attach")

If iIndex > 0 And Item.Attachments.Count = 0 Then

retMB = MsgBox("You may have forgotten to attach a file." & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & "Do you still want to continue?", vbQuestion + vbYesNo + vbMsgBoxSetForeground)
If retMB = vbNo Then Cancel = True

End If

handleError:

If Err.Number <> 0 Then
MsgBox "Outlook Attachment Alert Error: " & Err.Description, vbExclamation, "Outlook Attachment Alertr Error"
End If

End Sub

4. Click the "Save" button on the toolbar to activate your macro. If this is your first time using VBA with Outlook, make sure macro security settings allow operation. You may need to restart Outlook for the script to function properly.

From now on, any time your email message includes the word "attachment" in its body but lacks an attached file, a warning dialog will appear when you click "Send". This can help mitigate accidental omissions, especially when referencing documents, proposals, or sensitive files.

---