Outlook blocks .lnk files

To obtain a sharing link in OneDrive, highlight the file and choose Get Link in the menu bar. Use a file compression utility Using a compression utility, such as WinZip, creates a compressed archive file that has a different file name extension.

Many third-party compression utilities are available. You can right-click any file in Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10 and select Send to compressed zipped folder. This creates a file with the same name as the original file, but the extension of. Rename the file You can rename the file or request that the sender rename the file to use an extension that Outlook doesn't block. For example, you can rename file. Once the renamed file is sent or received , save it and rename it with the original extension using the following steps.

If you use a Microsoft Exchange Server account and the Exchange Server administrator has configured your Outlook security settings, your administrator might be able to help you. Ask the administrator to adjust the security settings on your mailbox to accept attachments that Outlook blocked.

This procedure involves editing the registry in Windows. For more information about unblocking attachment file types, see the Microsoft Support article about blocked attachments in Outlook. File types blocked in Outlook File name extension File type. Need more help? Expand your skills. Note We recommend that you enable only the file types that you have to have.

If you rarely receive a particular file type, we recommend that you give Outlook temporary access to the file type that is in question. Then, reconfigure Outlook to block the file type by undoing the changes to the registry. For more information about how you can configure Outlook to block attachment file name extensions that Outlook does not block by default, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:.

If you run Outlook in an Exchange environment, the Exchange server administrator can change the default attachment security behavior. For more information about how to configure Outlook in an Exchange environment, click the following article numbers to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:.

Attachments are divided into three groups based on their file name extension or file type. Outlook handles each group in a specific way. The unsafe category represents any file name extension that may have script or code associated with it. You cannot open any attachment that has an unsafe file name extension. For a list of the unsafe file name extensions, see this Office support page.

The following list describes how Outlook behaves when you receive or send an unsafe file attachment:. You cannot save, delete, open, print, or otherwise work with unsafe files.

A message at the top of the e-mail message indicates that Outlook has blocked access to the unsafe attachment. The attachment is inaccessible from Outlook. However, the attachment is not actually removed from the e-mail message. If you forward an e-mail message that has an unsafe attachment, the attachment is not included in the forwarded e-mail message. If you send an e-mail message that contains an unsafe attachment, you receive a warning message that states that other Outlook recipients may be unable to access the attachment that you are trying to send.

You can safely ignore the warning message and send the e-mail message, or you can decide not to send the e-mail message.

In Outlook , if you save or close an e-mail message that contains an unsafe attachment, you receive a warning message that states that you will be unable to open the attachment. You can override the warning message and save the e-mail message. You cannot use the Insert Object command to open objects that are inserted in Microsoft Outlook Rich Text e-mail messages. You see a visual representation of the object. However, you cannot open or enable the object in the e-mail message.

You cannot open unsafe files that are stored in an Outlook or an Exchange folder. Although these files are not attached to an Outlook item, they are still considered unsafe. When you try to open the unsafe file, you receive the following error message:. Level 2 files are not unsafe. However, they do require more security than other attachments. When you receive a Level 2 attachment, Outlook prompts you to save the attachment to a disk.

You cannot open the attachment in the e-mail message. By default, file name extensions are not associated with this group. However, if you use Outlook with an Exchange server and your mail is delivered to an Exchange mailbox, the Exchange server administrator can add file name extensions to the Level 2 list.

When you try to open an attachment that has a file name extension other than those in the Level 1 or the Level 2 list, Outlook prompts you to either open the file directly or save it to a disk. You can turn off future prompts for that file name extension if you clear the Always ask before opening this type of file check box. Note If a program associates itself with a new file name extension, Outlook treats that file name extension as safe until you add the file name extension to the list of Level 1 or Level 2 file name extensions.

For example, if you install a program on your computer that uses files that have a. By default, the. This is actually a good thing; even unknown viruses will be blocked this way! For instance; you receive a certificate, script or other program by e-mail. Outlook informs you about any blocked attachments in the message header.

Before I tell you how you can still access those attachments, you must realize that you are creating a security risk on your computer this way. A good practice is to send these files in a compressed format for instance zip or rar. Another way to go would be to upload it to a cloud storage service like OneDrive or Dropbox and share it from there. To unblock attachments involves changing the Registry. I strongly recommend to only edit the Registry when you actually receive a blocked attachment and when there is no other way to obtain that file again in a safer way in a compressed format or via cloud storage and you know for sure that the file is clean.

To let Outlook block those extensions again, follow the instructions again but instead of creating the Level1Remove value delete it. Easily unblock and then block again attachments with OutlookTools. This is the list of file types that are blocked by Outlook click here for the latest list published by Microsoft.