Bulk Save Attachments From Multiple Emails in Outlook

Summary: With Microsoft Outlook, it seems very easy to attach images, files, emails, and other items to an email message. Whenever users receive an email with several attachments, they open it and start saving Outlook attachments individually. But, saving each one separately is very time-consuming and tiresome. Sometimes ‘Save all Outlook attachments’ feature also doesn’t work. In such situations, users start their search for a common query i.e., how to bulk save attachments from multiple emails in Outlook. Just like the following user:

I have upgraded from Office 2013 to Office 2016 and after that, I am unable to extract all attachment from Outlook. I’ve tried the following:

• Right-click on an Outlook attachment >> Save As but, nothing happened. The window explorer that saves an attachment doesn’t appear.

• If I am trying to use the ‘Save all the attachments’ option to extract attachments from multiple emails Outlook 2016 and it lists entire available attachments and when I am hitting the OK button, ‘The server is not available. Contact administrator’ error prompts. This is happening with all types of accounts like POP, Exchange etc., while I am trying to save Outlook attachments

However, I still can drag and drop them to save Outlook attachments to desktop. Well, doing this with every single message is a tedious task and I have tried to repair Office but, nothing seems to have changed. Can I download attachments from multiple emails in Outlook 2016 and so then, how to save multiple Outlook attachments at once. Please help!”

Immediate Solution

If you are tired from the manual method and seeking for the one-click solution, then try SysTools Outlook Attachment Extractor toolkit. It is the software that has the capability to save bulk attachments from Outlook all version in just a few minutes.

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Hence, today we have come up with effective reasons of downloading your attachments & some amazing techniques to save an attachment from emails in Outlook 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, and 2003. So, let’s start with the reasons section first!

Why to Download Attachments From Multiple Emails in Outlook?

There are following points described for you to understand why we need to save attachments from multiple emails. Just see them once to know whether it’s effective or not.

• Firstly, it will eventually create extra space in your mailbox for further incoming emails.
• When you extract & retain attachments externally, the Outlook PST/OST files will be smaller and perform better.
• Storing attachments in folders outside of Outlook allows users to better categorize, rename, and organize their files by project, client, date, or document type.
• The important files in your mailbox like your invoices, contracts, or reports, are often sent as email attachments.
• It helps ensure these important documents are backed up in a secure location and in one location.
• If your Outlook is corrupted, or you have accidentally deleted emails. You can ensure your extracted attachments are safe within the Outlook environment.
• For people shifting to a new system, archiving data, attachments can either be exported or stored separately.
• This is particularly done to have quick access and less clutter in email.
• Lastly, many sectors require data in structured manner because of compliance. 

Save Attachments From Multiple Emails in Outlook Manually

Following are some of the native methods which allows to download attachments from multiple emails in Outlook. Use them precisely to manage your mailbox space.

Approach-1: Select and Save Outlook Email Attachments

Here, in this approach, you need to select particular emails and save it in your respective system. The steps are given below:

• Launch Outlook application and choose the desired Outlook email from which the attachments need to be extracted.
• After that, select all or the required attachments from the Outlook email.
• Then, right click and choose Save All Attachments option and click OK.

• Now, provide the folder path in which the attachments are to be saved and tap OK button.
• You will see all the attachments from the chosen Outlook email will be saved at the mentioned location.

Following this, you will be able to save attachments from multiple emails in Outlook.

Approach-2: Use VBA to Extract Attachments From Outlook

In this particular method, it is benefited to the users who are technically good and easily understand programming codes.

• Open MS Outlook and hit “Alt+F11” keys as to open VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) Editor
• Copy the below VBA Marco Code

Public Sub Download_Attachments()
‘If execute in excel, for sample.
‘ADD ‘Tools > References… Microsoft Outlook 16.0 Object Library
On Error GoTo Err_Control
Dim OutlookOpened As Boolean
Dim outApp As Outlook.Application
Dim outNs As Outlook.Namespace
Dim outFolder As Outlook.MAPIFolder
Dim outAttachment As Outlook.Attachment
Dim outItem As Object
Dim DestinationFolderName As String
Dim saveFolder As String
Dim outMailItem As Outlook.MailItem
Dim inputDate As String, subjectFilter As String, sFolderName As String
Dim FSO As Object
Dim SourceFileName As String, DestinFileName As String
Set FSO = CreateObject(“Scripting.FileSystemObject”)
Set FSO = CreateObject(“Scripting.Filesystemobject”)

sFolderName = Format(Now, “yyyyMMdd”)
sMailName = Format(Now, “dd/MM/yyyy”)

DestinationFolderName = “C:\Users\agonzalezp\Documents\Automatizaciones”

saveFolder = DestinationFolderName & “\” & sFolderName

subjectFilter = “NUEVA” & ” ” & sMailName ‘REPLACE WORD SUBJECT TO FIND

OutlookOpened = False
On Error Resume Next
Set outApp = GetObject(, “Outlook.Application”)
If Err.Number <> 0 Then
Set outApp = New Outlook.Application
OutlookOpened = True
End If
On Error GoTo Err_Control

If outApp Is Nothing Then
MsgBox “Cannot start Outlook.”, vbExclamation
Exit Sub
End If

Set outNs = outApp.GetNamespace(“MAPI”)
Set outFolder = outNs.GetDefaultFolder(olFolderInbox)

If Not outFolder Is Nothing Then
For Each outItem In outFolder.Items
If outItem.Class = Outlook.OlObjectClass.olMail Then
Set outMailItem = outItem
If InStr(1, outMailItem.Subject, subjectFilter) > 0 Then ‘removed the quotes around subjectFilter
For Each outAttachment In outMailItem.Attachments
If Dir(saveFolder, vbDirectory) = “” Then FSO.CreateFolder (saveFolder)
outAttachment.SaveAsFile saveFolder & ” – ” & outAttachment.fileName
Set outAttachment = Nothing
Next
End If
End If
Next
End If

SourceFileName = “C:\Users\agonzalezp\Documents\Automatizaciones\*.xlsx”
DestinFileName = saveFolder

FSO.MoveFile SourceFileName, DestinFileName

If OutlookOpened Then outApp.Quit
Set outApp = Nothing
Err_Control:
If Err.Number <> 0 Then
‘MsgBox Err.Description
End If
End Sub

Note: VBA Macros Code Source stackoverflow.com

• Once the code is done, compile the project by clicking on Debug and then Compile Project.
• After this choose the email that contains attachments.
• Under VBA Editor, navigate to File>>Import File>> select the saved mAttachmentSaver.bas file>> click Open 

• After that, select the required email messages from which the attachments are to be removed.
•  Then, hit “Alt+F8” keys to launch Macro wizard. Ensure to enable All Macros to bulk save attachments from multiple PST emails.

• Now, select Execute Saving >> click Run >> Browse For Folder and specify the location wherein the attachments will be saved.

 

Bulk Save Attachments From Multiple Emails in Outlook Automatically

• For Windows User
• For Mac User

If the manual method seems quite complicated to bulk extract attachments from Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013 or below versions. Then, switch to Outlook Attachment Extractor Tool. It is one of the best software to download attachments from multiple emails in Outlook 2013 and other versions in a single go.

The software is loaded with remarkable features wherein one can seamlessly save attachments not only from PST files but also from OST, BAK, MSG, OLK and OLM files. One can avail of various customized features such as selective folder attachment extraction, date filter, size filter, etc. One can also select the desired data items such as emails, contacts, tasks, etc. to extract Outlook file attachments.

The software also allows to inclusion or exclusion of the attachment file type from the software panel. The best part is that it is compatible with all versions of Microsoft Outlook and Windows OS.

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Detailed Steps to Save Multiple Email Attachments From Outlook (Windows)

Follow this simple tool steps to download attachments from multiple emails in Outlook. Read the instruction carefully and go one by one.

• First, download and launch the software on any version of your Windows system.
• Select the PST/OST radio button and then click the Next button.
  
  
• Click on the Add File(s) or Add Folder option to add the Outlook data files.
  
  
• Under the Filter dialog box, you can avail varied filters such as selective item types extraction, date filter, attachment extraction by file size, addition or removal of attachment file types, multiple naming convention patterns, etc.
  
  
• After that you apply all those customized settings, simply click Extract and get your attachments extracted at the mentioned folder location.
  
  

That all, you are done! Isn’t it easy enough to extract attachments from Outlook via this software?

Steps to Save Attachments From Multiple Emails in Outlook (Mac)

First Install and run the software on Mac, then follow the steps to extract attachments from multiple emails Outlook.

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1. Download and Launch the Mac attachment extractor tool on your Mac machine.

2. Choose Auto Location options to detect Outlook /Office 365 Profiles.

3. Choose folder structure and naming convention and as per your needs. Also select the destination path to save attachments.

4. Click on the Export button to start the process of downloading attachments from multiple emails in Outlook.

Manual Vs Automated Solution – Comparison Table

This section is made for users to save their time and who don’t know which method to opt for. 

Feature / Criteria	Manual Method	Automated Tool
Effort Required	High (Repetitive and time-consuming)	Low (One-click batch processing)
Technical Knowledge	Moderate to High (Particularly with VBA)	Minimal – User Friendly Interface
Bulk Attachment Extraction	Limited / Not available natively	Fully supported
Support for Corrupt/Orphaned PST/OST	No	Yes
Attachment Filters (Date, Size, Type)	Not Available	Fully customizable filters
Preserve Folder Hierarchy	No	Yes
Speed	Slower (especially for many emails)	Much faster, even with large data
Post-extraction Options (Remove/Delete)	Not possible	Supported
Outlook Dependency	Required	Not necessarily (works with orphaned files too)

After reading this difference, you will know which is more better to go with and efficiently download attachments from multiple emails in Outlook.

Final Words

This article comprises two different techniques to bulk save attachments from multiple emails in Outlook 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and the below versions. Also , we have added reasons part before you go with manual & automated solution. Now, users can opt for any solution as per their technicalities, current requirements and preferences to extract attachments from multiple emails in MS Outlook.

Frequently Asked Questions