If your recipients are complaining about receiving winmail.dat instead of attachment outlook that you attach every time to your email, this indicates that those recipients are using the same email client as that of you. Check the instructions in the article how to stop sending winmail.dat attachments.
More about Winmail.data attachment
When you send an attachment from Outlook or Exchange to a recipient who is not using the same email client as of you, he/ she will receive a plain text message with winmail.dat attachment. This is because Outlook uses Rich Text Format that only a few other email clients can decipher.
The proprietary email format is used for various enhancements such as changing the text size or making it bold. The main problem that the recipient is facing is that they can’t access any real attachments from the email outside the Microsoft’s scope.
Fortunately, there are multiple ways how you can stop sending winmail.dat attachments. These are described below. Choose whichever you want to choose (make sure to follow the method that is compatible with your Outlook version).
Fixes for recipients’ outlook receiving winmail.dat attachment problem
Fix 1: Change the default message format
Under the Outlook settings, you will be able to stop your email client from sending messages in Rick Text format. Below, the steps regarding this are provided for Outlook 2016 and Outlook 2013. Those using Outlook 2007 version should look the Note paragraph:
- Open Outlook and click on File tap.
- Pick Options,
- Under the Mail tab, access the drop menu next to Compose messages in this format, and click on Plain Text,
- Hit Ok to Confirm
(Note: if you are using Outlook 2007, you will find Internet Format option there, click on it and then you will get the option to convert to Plain Text format under the Rich text Options).
Fix 2: Prevent recipients from receiving winmail.dat attachment
This is much more precise way as it allows you to specify which contacts you don’t want to send RTF format emails. Below are the required steps to follow (make sure you use guide associated to your Outlook version):
Outlook 2016
- Firstly, make sure your recipients is not in the Outlook Contacts,
- Next, create a new email and inset his/her email address,
- Right-click on it and select Outlook Properties,
- Click on the Internet format drop down menu and pick the option Send Plain text only,
- Hit Ok to confirm.
That’s it. Check now to make ensure if still your recipients receive outlook receiving winmail.dat attachment.
Outlook 2013
- Open the recipient from the contact and double-click on his email address,
- Click on More options and select Outlook Properties under the new menu,
- Click on the drop-down menu next to the Internet Format and set the Send Plain Text only,
- Finally, hit Ok to confirm.
Fix 3: Use Registry Editor to prevent Outlook to send winmail.dat attachments
Use this method as last resort. The method has much complication. Changing the registry value to disable the proprietary email attachment might affect various Outlook features such as Meeting Requests and Voting. If you still want to go with this option, refer the below guide:
- Press Win+ R, type regedit and hit Enter to open Registry Editor,
- Navigate to the below registry key based on your Outlook version:
Outlook 2016 – HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Office \ 16.0 \ Outlook \ Preferences
Outlook 2013 – HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Office \ 15.0 \ Outlook \ Preferences
Outlook 2010 – HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Office \ 14.0 \ Outlook \ Preferences
Outlook 2007 – HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Office \ 12.0 \ Outlook \ Preferences
- Right-click on preferences and go to the new and select Dword (32 bit) Value,
- Name the new Dword as DisableTNEF and hit Enter,
- Double click on this file, set the base to Hexadecimal and inset the value 1 in the box under Value data,
- Hit Ok and then close the Registry Editor,
- Open Outlook and you will find that it will not send winmail.dat attachments.
Conclusion
That’s all! We have provided all possible fixes for recipients’ receiving winmail.dat instead of attachment outlook problem. If none of the methods work, you should check for PC related issues. Use PC Repair Tool to automate this process. This tool also optimizes the PC for best performance.
