Resolve Outlook Save All Attachments Greyed Out Problem

Summary: If you are constantly facing the issue related to “Outlook save all attachments greyed out”. Then, read the entire blog till the end to fix the error without any problem. You will see why this problem occurs, some manual steps, and at last professional way to resolve the Outlook error permanently.

Most users use Microsoft Outlook to download multiple attachments together using the Save All Attachments option. But sometimes this button is greyed out or does not work properly. It can frustrate your mind, if the problem continues to show. The actual problem is with your email, Outlook settings, and system restrictions.

Real User Queries to Understand Outlook Attachments Greyed Outlook Problem
We have taken some user queries from different forums to have a better idea about this Outlook issue.

User Query 1: ” I am an Office 365 admin and one of our employees is experiencing an issue. Users are not able to download email attachments in Microsoft Outlook due to attachments greyed out problem. I have used webmail (OWA) or mobile device, the same attachments is downloaded easily. The problem appears to be relevant only in Outlook desktop app. Any help how to resolve this easily and efficiently?”

We can see that how this issue is affecting Outlook users. That is why, we have decided to enlist some of the queries.Also, see the guide steps to fix Outlook Error Organization Policies are Preventing.

Why Does Outlook Save All Attachments Not Working?

Let’s understand the common reason behind Outlook Save All Attachments Greyed Out issue:

• At times, Outlook does not consider files containing images or any logos as actual attachments
• If your email contains a single attachment, then the “Save All Attachments” option is not visible
• Also, it can be due to corrupted files, as it fails to manage attachments
• You have some add-ins which may block attachments or disable this option
• There are temporary folders stored in Outlook to manage attachments
• Button will stop working if these folders are either full or corrupt
• It may restrict attachments due to admin configurations or Outlook exchange rules

This problem often occurs due to email type, settings and system issues.

Salient Features:

• Save multiple Outlook attachments in bulk
• Supports PST, OST, MSG, & BAK files
• Maintains the same folder structure
• Provide filter option by date, size or file type
• No need of Outlook application
• Handles large mailboxes smoothly
• Also works with Windows and macOS systems

Tool Steps to Save Multiple Attachments in One Go

Follow the below steps to quickly download all attachments in Outlook.

1. First of all, download and install the software on your system
2. Next, select the PST/OST file option and hit the Next button

3. Tap on Add File(s) or Add Folder to add your Outlook files

4. Now, apply filters like date, type of file, size, if required.

5. Click on Extract to extract attachments to your specified folder.

That’s it. See, the steps are very easy to follow and implement to ensure a smooth extraction process.

Manual Steps to Fix Outlook Save All Attachments Greyed Out 

We will provide you with seven different steps which you can try to resolve this Outlook error.

Step 1. Check Attachment Type

First, ensure these files actually contain multiple attachments or not.

• Open Outlook, and open the email
• Check if the attachments are actual or something like inline images
• Try right click on the file and Save As

If your email only has inline images, then you cannot save attachments in bulk.

Step 2. Save Outlook Attachments Manually

• If the “Save All” button is not working. Then:
• Right click on the attachments one by one, and select Save As
• Else, you can click and drag that attachments to your desktop

This allows you to see if there is just an issue with the Outlook interface.

Step 3. Open Email in New Window

Sometimes, Outlook save all attachments not working properly in the preview option. So try out this below steps to fix Outlook save all attachments greyed out problem:

• First, right click on the email and press Open in the new Window option
• View to File > Save Attachments

That is helpful because the reading pane can sometimes restrict options.

Step 4. Delete the Temporary Outlook Files

Just clear temporary files if your attachments are missing due to cache problems.

1. Close your Outlook application
2. Next, press Win + R on the keyboard.
3. Then, type this path or paste it:

%localappdata%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content. Outlook

1. Remove the files which show inside this folder
2. At last, restart Outlook again to see the changes

This will resolve issues related to temporary file errors or cache problems.

Step 5. Disable Add-ins

Add-ins are sometimes the problem in Microsoft Outlook issues.

1. Follow this path: File > Options > Add ins
2. There, you will find COM Add-ins, and then tap on Go
3. Disable all add-ins present inside your application
4. Restart Outlook

If your Outlook save all attachments greyed out is fixed, then slowly enable add-ins one by one to find which one is causing the problem.

Step 6. Repair Outlook Data Files

If your file is damaged, then this method can help you out.

• Open the ScanPST.exe tool in your system
• Choose your Outlook data file like PST for once
• Now, scan and repair if any errors comes out

A broken data file has problems like not having or opening attachments.

Step 7. Repair or Update

If you have outdated files in Outlook, then it may cause problems:

• Navigate to Control Panel > Programs.
• Select Microsoft Office
• Click Change, then choose Repair
• It repairs Outlook and could also restore missing attachment features

Step 8. Check Security Settings

Attachments may not be included because of the following points:

• Be sure it is not a blocked file extension
• Check if any antivirus setting is preventing the attachment or not
• Outlook may automatically block specific files for security reasons

In simple words, security settings can either hide attachments or block them. So, you need to check those first.

Save All Attachments Greyed Out in Shared Mailboxes

In Enterprise Environments

In office setups, attachments is not seen based on framework settings:

• Permissions on a shared mailbox can prevent you from opening or downloading attachments
• Cached Exchange mode can cause issues with syncing all attachments

How to fix:

• In Outlook web, open the mailbox, and check attachments
• Check if your mailbox permissions are correctly set or fix your permission setting

When Manual Methods Fails?

If Outlook save all attachments greyed out issue is not resolved yet, it could be because of:

• A damaged PST file
• Contains complex mailbox data
• Limits in extracting attachments manually

When you want to extract attachments from multiple emails at once without relying on Outlook. Then, use our dedicated tool mentioned above.

Conclusion

I hope you have followed the methods to fix Outlook save all attachments greyed out issue. As, your save all attachments may not work due to file type restrictions, cache issues, or wrong settings in Microsoft Outlook. Most times the issue can be fixed by using our simple manual methods. If not, you will have to repair the Outlook data file or use our professional solution to simplify the process.