Outlook Attachment Folder: Where Your Files Are Stored

In classic Outlook for Windows, an attachment you open is usually placed in a temporary cache folder, commonly under %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook. An attachment you download or save is instead placed in the folder you choose—or your configured Downloads folder—so there is no single Outlook attachment folder for every situation.

Quick answer: opened or saved?

The location depends on what you did with the attachment. If you opened it directly from an email, classic Outlook typically made a temporary copy for the associated program to use. That copy is often in a randomly named subfolder of Content.Outlook. If you chose Save As or used a download command, the file went to the destination you selected. If you accepted a default location, check the Windows Downloads folder first.

This distinction explains why an attachment can appear to open successfully but not be where you expect in File Explorer. Outlook’s temporary working copy is not intended to be a reliable, permanent filing location. To keep a file, explicitly save it to a folder you can find again.

Where classic Outlook keeps temporary attachments

On many Windows computers running classic Outlook, the temporary cache is located somewhere beneath:

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

Outlook commonly creates a subfolder with a short, randomly generated name, so the full path may look like ...\Content.Outlook\A1B2C3D4\. The actual folder name and exact path can vary by Windows configuration, Outlook version, and user profile. Older installations may use a legacy Internet Explorer cache path such as %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\.

The environment variable %LOCALAPPDATA% points to the current Windows user’s local application-data area. You can paste the full path, including the percent signs, into File Explorer’s address bar and press Enter. If Windows cannot open it, the location may differ on your machine, the folder may be hidden, or Outlook may not have created the cache yet.

How to find the exact folder on your PC

For classic Outlook, the most direct method is to check the location Outlook reports in the Windows Registry. This is a lookup, not a recommendation to change registry settings:

Close any attachment that is open, then press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Approve the prompt if Windows asks.
Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Security on many current Office installations.
Look for a string value named OutlookSecureTempFolder. Its data, if present, shows the temporary folder path.
Copy that path into File Explorer’s address bar to inspect the folder.

Office 2013 commonly used version number 15.0, and Office 2010 used 14.0; Microsoft 365 and later perpetual Office releases commonly use 16.0. These numbers identify Office registry branches, not the year shown in Outlook’s name. The value may be missing, or your organization may manage settings differently. Do not create or edit registry values just to find a file; use Outlook’s Save or Download command instead.

If the value is unavailable, try the common Content.Outlook path above. You can also search Windows for the attachment’s filename, but search may find a saved copy rather than the temporary one, and temporary files can be removed or renamed by applications.

Opening an attachment is not the same as downloading it

When you double-click an attachment in classic Outlook, Outlook generally extracts or copies it to a temporary location and launches the file’s associated app. A Word document may open in Word, for example, while a PDF may open in a PDF reader. The app works with a local copy even though the original message remains in Outlook. Changes you make may be saved to that copy, but they do not necessarily update the attachment stored in the email.

To keep an independent copy, use Save As or the attachment’s save command and choose a folder, such as Documents or a project folder. In newer Outlook interfaces, the equivalent may be labeled Download. Check the destination shown in the dialog or the app’s download settings; a download may go to Downloads without asking each time. For cloud-linked files, such as a OneDrive link, the item may open online rather than create a conventional attachment cache file.

Classic Outlook, new Outlook, Outlook on the web, and Mac

Instructions for the Windows cache mainly apply to classic Outlook for Windows, the desktop program that uses the traditional Outlook interface. Microsoft’s newer Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web do not necessarily use that same classic SecureTemp location in the same way. When you download a file through those interfaces, look for the location indicated by the download prompt or your browser and Windows download settings. The Windows Content.Outlook path is not a universal answer for every Outlook app.

On a Mac, downloaded attachments typically go to the location chosen in the download workflow or the app’s configured destination, rather than the Windows cache path described above. Outlook versions and settings can differ, so use the save dialog and then check Finder’s Downloads folder if you did not choose another location. If you are unsure which Outlook you have, look at the app’s name and interface: “classic Outlook” refers to the traditional Windows desktop application, while “new Outlook” is a separate, newer experience.

Where Outlook stores attachments in sent and received email

A received attachment is also part of the email message in your mailbox. Outlook does not normally create a neat, permanent folder of all attachments beside your Inbox. In desktop Outlook, messages may be held in an Exchange or Microsoft 365 mailbox, or in a local Outlook data file such as a PST or OST, depending on the account and configuration. Those data files are not ordinary folders for browsing individual documents; do not try to extract or modify them as a way to manage attachments.

The same principle applies to messages you send: the sent message retains the attachment as part of the message, but Outlook does not automatically save a separate copy in Documents. If you want a standalone copy of a file you attached, save the original before sending or use the file’s source location. If you need to find a message containing an attachment, search Outlook for the sender, subject, or attachment name rather than searching the temporary cache.

Common problems and what to check

The file opened, but you cannot find it later: It may have been opened from the temporary cache. Reopen the email and use Save As or Download to choose a permanent location.
The folder looks empty: You may be looking in the wrong Windows user profile, using new Outlook or Outlook on the web, or checking a cache that has already been cleaned. Confirm the app and account you used.
The file is still in use: Close the document and its associated program before trying to move or remove a cached copy. A running app may still need that temporary file.
You see more than one copy: Opening an attachment more than once, receiving similarly named files, or saving copies to different places can produce duplicates. Compare the full paths and timestamps before deleting anything.
Outlook says the attachment cannot be previewed or opened: The issue may involve the file type, permissions, a damaged file, or security restrictions—not simply the folder location. Save the attachment to a trusted folder and open it from there if appropriate, while following your organization’s security rules.

A useful habit is to save important attachments immediately into a named folder, rather than relying on a file that an application happened to open. For example, save a supplier’s invoice to Documents\Invoices\2026, then open that saved copy. This makes its location clear and helps avoid editing a temporary version by mistake.

Can you clear the Outlook attachment cache?

Temporary files can remain after you close an attachment, and a cache may gradually use disk space. If you need to remove a specific file, first close Outlook and any program that may have opened it. Check that the file is truly a temporary copy and that you have saved any changes you need. Do not delete an entire Outlook data file or mailbox to clear a cache.

Deleting temporary cache contents is different from deleting an email or its original attachment. Still, avoid clearing the folder while Outlook or an associated app is using it, and follow your organization’s IT guidance on managed devices. The cache may be recreated as needed, and deleting it will not give you a permanent attachment archive. If the goal is to free space, use Windows storage tools or your organization’s recommended cleanup method rather than making broad changes to Outlook’s registry settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Outlook save attachments by default?

When you explicitly download an attachment, the destination depends on the save dialog and your app’s settings. If you did not choose a folder, check Downloads. An attachment opened directly in classic Outlook may instead be in the temporary Content.Outlook cache.

How do I find an attachment I opened but did not save?

In classic Outlook for Windows, check the OutlookSecureTempFolder registry value or look beneath %LOCALAPPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\INetCache\Content.Outlook. The file may no longer be there if the cache was cleared, so the reliable solution is to reopen the email and save the attachment explicitly.

Does Outlook store all attachments in one folder?

No. Opened files can use a temporary cache, downloaded files go to a chosen or configured destination, and the original attachment remains part of its email message. Outlook does not automatically collect every attachment into one permanent folder.

Where are Outlook attachments on a Mac?

Use the save or download destination shown by Outlook, and check Finder’s Downloads folder if you accepted the default. The Windows Content.Outlook folder and registry instructions do not apply to macOS.

Will deleting a cached attachment delete it from the email?

Deleting a temporary working copy does not normally remove the attachment from the message in your mailbox. However, confirm that you are deleting only the cache copy, not a saved file you need or the email itself. You can usually download the attachment again from the message.

Sources: general know-how. Menus and buttons can differ slightly by version. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.