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FIX: Outlook blocks access to potentially unsafe attachments

3 min. read

Updated onOctober 4, 2023

updated onOctober 4, 2023

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Key notes

TheOutlook blocked access to the following potentially unsafe attachmentserror message appears when the users are trying to open an email with attachments.

This can happen due to many reasons including attachments that did not follow official attachment guidelines, and if the attachment appears to be a malware code.

If you are also troubled by this error, here is how to fix this error message in the Outlook client.

How do I unblock unsafe attachments in Outlook?

How do I unblock unsafe attachments in Outlook?

1. Receive the file through a third-party file sharing service

To make this error message disappear you can ask the sender to upload the attachment to any third-party file-sharing site.

Use Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox and then share the sharable file link via email.

You can then easily download the file to your computer directly from the Cloud hosting services.

This way you don’t need to disable the security feature for Microsoft Outlook and also receive the file without any restrictions.

2. Change the Outlook security

Another helpful workaround to make this message disappear isto disable the security feature for Microsoft Outlookfrom the Registry Editor. Many users have reported that this has solved the problem.

3. Receive attachment in compressed format

One way to skip the security check-in Microsoft Outlook is to receive the file in compressed format.

There are a lot of free encrypting tools out there, but the best way is to get premium software. Thus, we strongly recommend theWinZipsoftware.

This is the most popular file encryption and compression tool. It has many more features, and it has priority for developers.

As a matter of fact, the program offers more file management options, including sharing, compressing, andbackingup files.

The encryption option allows you to zip your files with certified 128 or 256-bit AES encryption, to safely open attachments in Outlook, as needed.

In addition, with this compression tool, you can create zip files and save them directly from email attachments. From there, you only have to extract the files and view them with no issues.

You should therefore benefit from this practical way to manage all your files using tech-wise support every time you receive attachments in Outlook.

⇒Get WinZip

As you can see, there are a couple of methods to safely open the attachments, so it’s completely up to you which one you’ll use.

For any more questions or suggestions, don’t hesitate to reach in the comments section below.

More about the topics:Outlook Errors

Tashreef Shareef

Tashreef Shareef is a software developer turned tech writer. He discovered his interest in technology after reading a tech magazine accidentally. Now he writes about everything tech from Windows to iOS and streaming services to IoT at WindowsReport.

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