Encrypting Emails in Outlook

When you need to protect the content of an email message, you should encrypt it.  Outlook includes encryption features that let you ensure that your email message stays private between you and the recipient(s). This is useful when you need to send confidential or personal information.

Encrypt an email message

Outlook desktop app on Windows

To encrypt a message, find the Options tab in the Ribbon at the top of the window, then click Encrypt. 

Outlook desktop app on macOS

In order to easily Encrypt an email, the Encryption button will needed to be added to your toolbar in Outlook. To do this, click the See more items button (…) in the toolbar and click Customize Toolbar.

You’ll see the current icons in the toolbar moving at the top of the screen. To add an item to the toolbar, click and drag the Encryption item up to the toolbar in the position you want it to go. Release the mouse button and it will appear where you dragged it.

To encrypt a message, click the Encryption button at the top of the email window and click Encrypt.

Outlook on the web (through a browser)

To encrypt a message, find the Options tab in the Ribbon at the top of the window, then click Encrypt (you may instead see only a lock icon). 

Encryption options

In all cases, you'll be presented with 4 encryption options to choose from. Each option encrypts the entire message both in transit and at rest in the recipient's mailbox(es), including any attachments.