# Removing attachments in Outlook? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 6, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-attachments-in-outlook/566645 "2011-01-06T19:24:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-attachments-in-outlook/566645/1 "2011-01-06T19:24:51Z")
I just composed an email and attached several files to it. One of the files I attached was attached in error–it’s not supposed to be sent with this email. However, for whatever reason, I am unable to find any way to _remove_ the attachment in outlook (the program I used to compose the email). The only way I can see to fix this problem is to cancel the email, re-write it, and reattach all the correct files. Is there something I’m missing? ---
**Author:** ![brk913](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/838e76/32.png) [@brk913](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brk913)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-attachments-in-outlook/566645/2 "2011-01-06T20:33:33Z")
Just right click on the attachment, one of the options will be remove or delete… ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-attachments-in-outlook/566645/3 "2011-01-06T20:34:36Z")
> [@brk913](#): > > Just right click on the attachment, one of the options will be remove or delete… Had already tried that; it didn’t work. Right clicking does nothing. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-attachments-in-outlook/566645/4 "2011-01-06T20:42:45Z")
Click once on the attachment and then hit the \ key? ---
**Author:** ![brk913](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/838e76/32.png) [@brk913](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brk913)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-attachments-in-outlook/566645/5 "2011-01-06T21:53:02Z")
I just checked, in Outlook 2003 it’s Right click on the attachment and choose clear… ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-attachments-in-outlook/566645/6 "2011-01-06T21:57:36Z")
brk913 speaks the truth. You could also just put the cursor behind the attachement and backspace. ---
**Author:** ![somepumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7feea3/32.png) [@somepumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/somepumpkin)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-attachments-in-outlook/566645/7 "2011-01-06T22:06:37Z")
Sometimes, if that (attached) document is open in another program, it may balk at the removal/deletion. But i can usually still right-click it to death. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-attachments-in-outlook/566645/8 "2011-01-06T22:27:00Z")
Have you tried saving the e-mail as a draft and re-opening it? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/removing-attachments-in-outlook/566645/9 "2011-01-06T22:38:30Z")
If it’s acting up, copy and paste the contents and subject of the mail into a new mail, then drag and drop the correct attachments from the attachments bar to the new email. I fucking hate Outlook, but that particular feature is pretty cool.