How to open attachments without always asking in Outlook?

Author Kelly Last modified 2025-04-15

When you double-click an attachment in the "Attachment Bar" in Outlook, it usually prompts the "Opening Mail Attachment" dialog box. However, the option "Always ask before opening this type of file" is grayed out, preventing you from disabling this confirmation prompt through normal methods. This can become inconvenient, especially when dealing with attachments frequently. Fortunately, you can resolve this easily by following the steps below.

Open Attachments Without Always Asking in Outlook

Open Attachments Without Always Asking in Outlook

Follow these simple steps to stop Outlook from prompting you when opening attachments:

1. Close your "Microsoft Outlook" completely.

2. Restart Outlook as administrator. Click to know more about running Outlook as admin.

In "Windows 10/11", click the Search button in the Taskbar, type Outlook into the search box, then hold down "Ctrl" + "Shift" keys and click the Outlook app.

the screenshot of step 1 about opening attachments without always asking in outlook

3. In the "User Account Control" dialog box that appears, click "Yes" to continue.

the screenshot of step 2 about opening attachments without always asking in outlook

4. In the "Mail" view, open the mail folder containing an email with the attachment type you want to open without prompting. Select the email and open it in the "Reading Pane". Then, double-click the attachment in the "Attachment Bar".

the screenshot of step 3 about opening attachments without always asking in outlook

5. In the "Opening Mail Attachment" dialog box, uncheck the "Always ask before opening this type of file" option, and then click "Open".

the screenshot of step 4 about opening attachments without always asking in outlook

6. Close and restart your "Microsoft Outlook" normally (without administrator privileges).

📌 Result: From now on, attachments of this specific file type will open immediately when you double-click them, and Outlook will no longer display the "Opening Mail Attachment" prompt.

⚡ Tip: If "Protected View" is enabled in "Microsoft Office" programs like "Word" or "Excel", attachments of those file types will open in "Protected View" instead of showing the "Opening Mail Attachment" prompt. To check or disable this setting, go to "File" > "Options" > "Trust Center" > "Trust Center Settings" > "Protected View", then look for "Enable Protected View for Outlook Attachments". If this option is enabled, attachments will still open with restrictions (in "Protected View"), but you won't see the confirmation prompt when opening them.

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