Why Outlook Blocked Access to the Potentially Unsafe Attachments?

When you receive an email with an attachment on Outlook, you get the alert message on the top of the email. “The following potentially dangerous attachments were blocked by Outlook.”

Every version of the Outlook contains this security feature so that it can be safe from the virus or other malicious threats. Outlook blocks the access of the file but the file is still attached somewhere in the email. 

In this article, you will learn how to open a blocked attachment in an email. Additionally, you will learn what type of attachments it blocks. So, let’s start with the first point!

Quick Recovery – For Microsoft Outlook Mails

How to Open a Blocked Attachment?

Whenever Outlook blocks an attachment, you can’t save, print, open, delete and change it. There are four methods defined below to use a blocked attachment for your usage purposes. I especially explained these methods for beginners and intermediate computer users. If these methods are not helpful for you, you can use advanced troubleshooting for solving your problem. Let’s start with the first method:

Access the Attachment Via a File Share

You can request the sender to save the attachment to a server or a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) site that you have access to. Request that the sender send you a link to the attachment’s location on the server or FTP site. You can access the attachment by clicking the link and saving it to your computer.

If you need assistance to use the server or File Transfer Protocol (FTP) site, you can ask the sender to contact the server administrator.

Use File Compression Facility to Change the Filename Extension

If you don’t have access to an FTP server, you can request that the sender compress the file using a file compression program like WinZip. This results in creating a compressed archive file with a different filename extension. Outlook does not recognize file name extensions as threats. As a result, the new attachment is not blocked. 

Save the new attachment to your computer when the sender resends it to you, and then extract it using third-party file compression software. If you need assistance with using third-party file compression software, consult your product documentation.

Rename the File to Have a Different File Extension

If you do not have access to third-party file compression software, you can request that the sender renames the attachment to use a filename extension. Outlook does not concede it as a security threat. For instance, an executable file with the file extension.exe could be renamed as a Word 97 document with the file extension.doc.

You can request the sender to resend the renamed attachment to you. After receiving it, You can save the renamed attachment to your desktop and then rename it to its original filename extension.

There are some important steps for beginners on how to change the filename.

  • First, locate the attachment
  • Press right-click to the attachment file and copy it.
  • After that, press right-click to the desktop to paste the attachment there.
  • Again, press right-clicks to rename the file to make it useful.
  • Rename the file to use the original file extension.

Ask the Exchange Server to Change the Security Setting

The administrator may assist you if you use Outlook with a Microsoft Exchange server and the administrator has configured the Outlook security settings. Request that your mailbox’s security settings be changed so that attachments like the one Outlook rejected can be accepted.

If none of these methods works for you and you are comfortable with advanced troubleshooting, try the steps of “Advanced troubleshooting.”

Advanced Troubleshooting Methods

Method 1: “Customize attachment security behavior” should be used if you do not use Outlook with an Exchange server or if the Exchange server administrator allows users to change the Outlook attachment security behavior.

Method 2: This should be used if you’re using Outlook with an Exchange server and the Exchange Server administrator has forbidden you from changing the Outlook attachment security behavior: “Configure Outlook in an Exchange environment.”

Customized Attachment Security Behavior 

This section contains methods or task instructions for modifying the registration system. However, if you change the registration system incorrectly, serious issues may arise. Back up the registry before making any changes for extra security. If a problem arises, you can then restore the registry.

Configure Outlook in Exchange Behavior 

The Exchange server administrator can change the default attachment security behavior if you use Outlook in an Exchange environment. We classify attachments into three types based on the file extension or file type. Outlook handles each group distinctly.

I hope this article will help you access the blocked files from the emails. If you want to know more about it, you can search the internet for further assistance.

Author Bio

John Smith is a digital marketing expert working in one of the reputed company InvoZone. He has helped several brands grow from nothing to a successful name in the past few years. He believes smart work and business values go a long way when it comes to success.

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