outlook won't allow me to forward emails

Copper Contributor

Hi

Not at all a techie here...so please bear with me as google hasn't helped...

 

When I click on an email to forward to someone else (or myself), the 'To' box for the email address is blocked and doesn't allow me to type an address. 

 

Please help someone (in layman's terms please)

Thanks!

2 Replies

@pilbeam1 

If you are unable to forward emails in Outlook because the "To" box is blocked and you cannot type an email address, try the following steps:

  1. Check if the email is in a protected or read-only mode: Sometimes, emails can be in a protected or read-only mode, which prevents you from editing certain fields like the "To" box. Look for any indications or messages in the email that suggest it is read-only or protected. If that is the case, you may need to contact the sender or your email administrator to gain the necessary permissions to forward the email.
  2. Try using the Reply/Reply All option: Instead of clicking on the "Forward" button, try using the "Reply" or "Reply All" option, depending on your preference. This will open a new email window with the original message included, and you should be able to edit the "To" box and add the desired recipients.
  3. Check if the email is a meeting invitation: In some cases, the email you are trying to forward may be a meeting invitation. Meeting invitations have specific formatting and restrictions that may prevent you from modifying the "To" box. If it is a meeting invitation, consider using the "Forward" button specifically designed for meetings, which should allow you to add recipients.
  4. Restart Outlook: Close and reopen the Outlook application. Sometimes, temporary issues or glitches can affect the functionality of the software. Restarting Outlook may resolve any temporary problems and allow you to forward emails as usual.
  5. Try a different email client or device: If the issue persists, try accessing your email account and forwarding the email using a different email client (such as Outlook on a different device, webmail interface, or a different email app). This will help determine if the problem is specific to the Outlook application on your current device.
  6. Contact your email administrator or support: If none of the above steps work, it is best to reach out to your email administrator or the support team of your email service provider. They can investigate the issue further, provide specific guidance based on your email setup, and help resolve the problem.

Remember to explain the issue clearly to them, mentioning that you are unable to type an address in the "To" box when forwarding emails. Providing any error messages or screenshots can also assist them in understanding the problem better and offering a suitable solution.

Text and steps would be created with the help of AI.

Hope it helps you.

I am not seeing the send box  to send or forward emails