5 Easy Steps to Copy an Email

Have you ever stumbled upon a brilliant email that you wished to share with a colleague or friend, but realized with dismay that there was no subject line? This can be a frustrating situation, as email clients often require a subject line for messages to be sent. However, fear not! There are several ways to copy an email without a title, allowing you to effortlessly share valuable information with others. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various methods for copying emails without a subject line, ensuring that you can seamlessly share important messages.

One straightforward method involves using the “Forward as Attachment” option. This approach converts the email into an attachment, which can be sent to the desired recipient without the need for a subject line. To utilize this method, simply open the email you wish to copy, click the “Forward” button, and select “Forward as Attachment.” The recipient will receive an email with the original message as an attached file, which they can then open and view without any subject line.

Alternatively, you can employ the “Print to PDF” function to create a PDF version of the email. This method allows you to save the email as a PDF document, which can be easily shared with others via email or other communication channels. To utilize this approach, open the email you wish to copy, click the “File” menu, select “Print,” and choose “Microsoft Print to PDF” or a similar option. Once the PDF file is created, you can attach it to an email and send it to the desired recipient, bypassing the need for a subject line.

Selecting the Email to Copy

To copy an email, the first step is to select the email you wish to duplicate. This can be done in various ways, depending on the email client or application you are using. In general, the following steps may guide you:

Locate the email message: Navigate to the inbox or folder where the email you want to copy is located. If you have a large number of emails, you can use the search bar to narrow down your results.
Open the email: Once you have located the email, click on it to open it. This will display the full content of the email, including its body, attachments, and other details.
Select the email: To select the email, you can either use the checkbox that appears next to the email in the inbox or click on the email itself. Some email clients may also provide a “Select All” option, allowing you to select multiple emails at once.

Identifying the Email Source

The quickest and most direct way to copy an email is to locate its original source. This can be the email client on your computer or mobile device, a web-based email service, or a cloud-based storage platform.

Locating the Email Source on a Computer or Mobile Device

Most email clients have a designated folder or section where sent messages are stored. Typically, this is labeled as “Sent Items,” “Sent Mail,” or something similar. To find the email you want to copy, navigate to this folder and locate the message. Once you have found the email, you can right-click (or long-press on mobile) to access the context menu and select the “Copy” option.

Identifying the Email Source on a Web-Based Email Service

If you are using a web-based email service like Gmail, Outlook.com, or Yahoo Mail, the process is slightly different. To find the email you want to copy, log into your account and navigate to the “Sent” or “Sent Mail” folder. Once you have located the message, hover your mouse over the email and a drop-down menu will appear. Select the “Copy” option from this menu.

Locating the Email Source on a Cloud-Based Storage Platform

Some email providers offer cloud-based storage as part of their service. If you have stored your emails in this way, you can copy them by accessing the cloud storage platform. Log into your account and navigate to the folder or section where your emails are stored. Locate the email you want to copy and right-click (or long-press on mobile) to access the context menu. Select the “Copy” option from this menu.

Copying the Email Header

An email header contains important information about the email, including the sender, recipient, subject, date and time sent, and more. To copy the email header:

1. Open the email in your email program.

For Gmail:

1. Open the email you want to copy the header from.
2. Click the three dots in the top right corner of the email.
3. Select “Show original.”

For Outlook:

1. Open the email you want to copy the header from.
2. Click the “File” tab.
3. Select “Properties.”
4. Click the “Internet Headers” tab.

2. Copy the email header text.

1. Select all of the text in the email header, including the “From,” “To,” “Subject,” “Date,” and “Time” fields.

3. Paste the email header text into a text editor.

1. Open a new text editor document, such as Notepad or TextEdit.
2. Paste the email header text into the document.
3. Save the document.

Copying the Email Body

1. Highlight the Email Body

To begin, select the email body you want to copy. This can be done by dragging the cursor over the desired text. Alternatively, you can hold down the “Ctrl” (Windows) or “Command” (Mac) key while clicking on the beginning and end points of the text you wish to copy.

2. Right-Click and Select “Copy”

Once the email body is highlighted, right-click on it to display a context menu. From the menu, select the “Copy” option. This will save the selected text to your clipboard, which is a temporary storage area on your computer.

3. Paste the Email Body into Your Desired Destination

Now, navigate to where you want to paste the copied email body. This could be a different email, a word processing document, or any other application that accepts text input. Right-click at the desired insertion point and select the “Paste” option from the context menu.

4. Format the Pasted Email Body (Optional)

Depending on your needs, you may want to adjust the formatting of the pasted email body. This includes changing the font, font size, color, and other text properties. You can also add or remove any formatting, such as bold, italics, or underlining. To do this, simply highlight the pasted text and apply the desired formatting options using the formatting toolbar or the context menu.

In some cases, the formatting of the pasted email body may not be compatible with the destination application. For example, if you copy an email containing HTML formatting into a plain text editor, the HTML tags will be visible in the pasted text.

To avoid this issue, you can use the “Paste Special” option from the context menu. This allows you to choose different pasting options, such as “Paste as Plain Text” or “Paste as HTML.” By selecting the appropriate option, you can ensure that the pasted email body is formatted correctly.

Copying Email Attachments

Copying email attachments involves extracting files that have been included in an email message. These attachments can be images, documents, spreadsheets, or any other type of file. Here’s a detailed guide on how to copy email attachments:

1. Open the Email Message

Locate the email message that contains the attachments you want to copy. Open the message by clicking on it.

2. Identify the Attachments

Look for the section of the email that displays the attached files. Usually, it will be located at the bottom of the message.

3. Click on the Attachment

To download an attachment, simply click on its icon or filename. This will open the attachment in a new tab or window.

4. Save the Attachment

Once the attachment is open, you can save it to your computer. Right-click on the attachment and select the “Save As” option. Choose a location on your computer where you want to save the file and click “Save”.

5. Save Multiple Attachments Simultaneously

If you want to copy multiple attachments at once, follow these steps:

Step	Instructions
1	Click on the first attachment to select it.
2	Hold down the “Ctrl” key (Windows) or “Command” key (Mac) and click on each additional attachment you want to select.
3	Right-click on any of the selected attachments and choose “Save As”.
4	In the “Save As” dialog box, select the folder where you want to save the attachments and click “Save”.

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts can speed up the process of copying emails. Here are some commonly used shortcuts:

Ctrl+C (Windows) / Cmd+C (Mac)

This shortcut copies the selected text or entire email to the clipboard.

Ctrl+X (Windows) / Cmd+X (Mac)

This shortcut cuts the selected text or entire email to the clipboard, removing it from its original location.

Ctrl+V (Windows) / Cmd+V (Mac)

This shortcut pastes the contents of the clipboard into the location where the cursor is placed.

Ctrl+Shift+V (Windows) / Cmd+Shift+V (Mac)

This shortcut pastes the contents of the clipboard as plain text, removing any formatting.

Ctrl+Ins (Windows) / Cmd+Insert (Mac)

This shortcut copies the selected text or entire email to the clipboard.

Shift+Ins (Windows) / Shift+Cmd+Insert (Mac)

This shortcut pastes the contents of the clipboard into the location where the cursor is placed, overwriting any existing text.

Shortcut	Function
Ctrl+C	Copy
Ctrl+X	Cut
Ctrl+V	Paste
Ctrl+Shift+V	Paste as plain text
Ctrl+Ins	Copy
Shift+Ins	Paste (overwrite)

Employing Drag-and-Drop Technique

The drag-and-drop method is another straightforward approach to copying emails. This technique involves the following steps:

Open the email you wish to copy.
Locate the email’s header, which typically consists of the sender’s name, email address, subject line, and date.
Click and hold the left mouse button on the email header.
Drag the email header to the desired destination, such as a folder or another email account.
Release the mouse button to drop the email into its new location.
You can drag and drop multiple emails simultaneously by holding down the “Ctrl” key while selecting the desired emails.
Alternatively, you can use the “Shift” key to select a range of consecutive emails and drag and drop them together.

Platform	Keyboard Shortcut
Microsoft Outlook	Ctrl + C
Gmail	Ctrl + C

Creating an Email Template

Start by drafting your email template in a text editor like Notepad or WordPad. Include all the basic elements of an email, such as:

Subject line
Salutation
Body of the email
Closing
Signature

Once you have drafted your email template, you can save it as a text file or HTML file. If you save it as an HTML file, you can include HTML tags to format your email. For example, you can use the


 tag to create paragraphs and the  tag to bold text.

Here's a table with some HTML tags you can use to format your email template:
After you've created your email template, you can start using it to send emails. To send an email using a template, open your email client and click on the "New Email" button. Then, click on the "Templates" button and select the template you want to use. Fill in the subject line and recipients, and then click on the "Send" button.
Forwarding the Email as a Copy
Forwarding an email as a copy is a straightforward way to share the email's contents with others while retaining the original email in your inbox. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to forward an email as a copy:
1. Open the Email
Locate the email you wish to forward and open it.
2. Click the Forward Button
In most email clients, a "Forward" button is located at the top of the email window. Click on it.
3. Enter Recipient's Email Address
In the "To" field of the new email window, enter the email address of the person you wish to forward the copy to.
4. Add Your Comments (Optional)
If desired, you can add your own comments or instructions in the body of the forwarded email.
5. Review and Send
Before sending, review the email address in the "To" field and ensure the content is as intended. Then, click the "Send" button.
6. Copy Sent to Outbox
Once the email is sent, it will be copied to your "Sent" or "Outbox" folder, depending on your email client.
7. Keep Original Email
Unlike replying or replying all, forwarding an email does not modify the original email in your inbox. It remains intact.
8. Attachment Handling
If the original email has attachments, they will be included in the forwarded copy unless you manually remove them.
9. Additional Options


Tag
Description



Bold text


Italicize text


Create a paragraph



Insert a line break



Create a hyperlink






















Option
Function


BCC (Blind Carbon Copy)
Sends a copy of the email to a recipient without revealing their email address to other recipients.


CC (Carbon Copy)
Sends a copy of the email to a recipient who will be visible to all other recipients.


Reply to Original Sender
Sends a reply specifically to the email's original sender, even if it was forwarded by someone else.


Exporting the Email
Saving an individual email message is essential for record-keeping, sharing, or backup purposes. Outlook provides two options for exporting emails: as a file or as an Outlook Data File (.pst). Here are the steps for exporting as a file:
1. Select the Email
Open the email message you want to export.
2. Click on "File"
Navigate to the "File" tab in the Outlook ribbon.
3. Choose "Save As"
Under the "Save" section, click on the "Save As" option.
4. Select the File Format
In the "Save As" dialog box, choose the desired file format from the "Save as type" drop-down menu. Options include .msg (Outlook Message Format), .eml (E-Mail Message), .html (Web Page), and .txt (Text).
5. Choose a Save Location
Browse to the folder where you want to save the exported email file.
6. Enter a File Name
Specify the name you want to give the exported file.
7. Click on "Save"
Click on the "Save" button to export the email message as a file.
8. Verify the Exported File
Navigate to the save location to ensure that the email file has been successfully exported.
9. Open the Exported File
To view or use the exported email, double-click on the file to open it with the associated application, such as Outlook or a web browser.
10. Exporting Multiple Emails as a File
To export multiple email messages simultaneously, follow these additional steps:

Select the email messages you want to export by holding down the "Ctrl" key while clicking on each message.
Right-click on any of the selected messages and hover over the "Move" option.
Select "Copy to Folder" from the submenu.
In the "Copy to Folder" dialog box, create a new folder or select an existing one to save the copied emails.
Follow the steps 2 to 9 mentioned above to export the emails from the created folder as a single file.

How To Copy Email
Copying an email is a simple task that can be done in a few steps.

1. Open the email that you want to copy. 

2. Click on the "Forward" button. 

3. In the "To" field, enter the email address of the person that you want to copy the email to. 

4. In the "Subject" field, enter a new subject for the email. 

5. In the "Body" field, enter any additional text that you want to include in the email. 

6. Click on the "Send" button. 
People Also Ask
How do I copy an email on a Mac?
To copy an email on a Mac, follow these steps: 

1. Open the email that you want to copy. 

2. Click on the "File" menu. 

3. Select the "Save As" option. 

4. In the "Save As" dialog box, select the location where you want to save the email. 

5. Click on the "Save" button. 
How do I copy an email on an iPhone?
To copy an email on an iPhone, follow these steps: 

1. Open the email that you want to copy. 

2. Tap on the "Share" button. 

3. In the "Share" menu, select the "Copy" option. 

4. The email will be copied to your clipboard. 
How do I copy an email to a different folder?
To copy an email to a different folder, follow these steps: 

1. Open the email that you want to copy. 

2. Click on the "Move to" button. 

3. In the "Move to" dialog box, select the folder that you want to move the email to. 

4. Click on the "Move" button.