Open, Save, and Edit Email Attachments in Windows Mail GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Email, Messaging, & Video Calls > Email

Open, Save, and Edit Email Attachments in Windows Mail

Send and manage files over email like a pro

By Heinz Tschabitscher Heinz Tschabitscher Writer University of Vienna A former freelance contributor who has reviewed hundreds of email programs and services since 1997. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on April 15, 2020 Tweet Share Email Microsoft Tweet Share Email Email Yahoo! Mail Gmail When you double-click an attachment in Windows Mail, it opens if the file is deemed safe or you have enabled all attachments and Windows know how to handle the file. You can view the file, and—if it's a word processor document—you can edit it. You can even save it, but the changes you make are not reflected in the copy of the file stored in the email. When you open the attachment again from Windows Mail, the changes are gone. However, they may not be gone forever. When you open an attachment directly from Windows Mail, a temporary copy of the file is generated, and then Windows calls for the associated program to open the copy. You just need to know where to look for the copy.

Save Attachments Before Opening Them

To avoid any problems with lost editing: Save the attachment you want to edit to a Windows folder. Open the copy in the folder for editing in the appropriate program.

Where Attachments Opened From Windows Mail Are Stored

Should you forget to edit using a copy of the file, you can try recovering the file from the Temporary Internet Files folder: Select Control Panel from the Start menu. Open Internet Options. If you cannot see Internet Options, try selecting Classic View. Go to the General tab. Select Settings under Temporary Internet files. Now choose View Files under the Temporary Internet files folder. Look for the edited copy of the attachment in the Temporary Internet Files folder or within a subfolder in the Temporary Internet Files folder. If you find the file, double-click it to open it, and then save it to a separate folder on your computer, such as My Documents. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Move IE Temporary Internet Files Folder to Default Location Manage Browsing History and Other Private Data in IE11 Where to Find Internet Explorer's Temporary Internet Files How to Fix Ieframe.dll Errors How to Clear the Cache in IE11 How to Share and Collaborate With Google Drive Delete Temporary Internet Files and Cookies What Is a DAT File? (And How to Open One) How to Send a File Attachment With Outlook.com How to Remove Junk Files From Windows 11 How to Delete Temporary Internet Files in Internet Explorer MSI File (What It Is & How to Open One) How to Delete Temporary Files in Windows Where Your Computer Stores Attachments from Mac OS X Mail How to Show or Hide Hidden Files and Folders in Windows How to Open, Edit, and Convert EXD Files Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies