by The tutorial explains how to create, save and use standard Outlook email templates. You will also learn how to reply with template in Outlook 365, 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, and 2010.
Outlook e-mail templates are a really powerful feature, though often underestimated. Rather few people know that templates for Outlook emails exist and even fewer know how to create and use them the right way.
Imagine how much time you could save if instead of typing the same text over and over again, you would simply click on a template and a nicely formatted e-mail message with pre-verified and therefore always accurate information is ready to be sent!
How to create an email template in Outlook
This section explains how to create and save email templates on an example of Outlook 2010. In later versions, it works exactly the same way, with maybe some insignificant differences in the color scheme and design of the Outlook ribbon.
To make an email template in Outlook, carry out these steps:
- Compose a new message in the usual way (Home tab > New E-mail). Be sure to add all the details you want to save in your template, such as the body text, subject, attachment, recipient address if needed, and so on.
For example, you've created a new design of your newsletter and now want to save it as an email template:
- Switch to the File tab and click the Save as button.
- Select Outlook Template (*.oft) from the Save as type drop-down list and give your new template an appropriate name.
Important! Do not change the destination folder where email templates are saved, otherwise Outlook won't be able to locate them. By default, Outlook saves all template files to this folder:
C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates
Tips:
- In the same way you can make a template from any existing e-mail message that you either sent or received. Just open it from your Outlook folder, say Sent Items, switch to the File tab and click Save as.
- In case you need to attach some relevant documents, see How to create Outlook email template with attachments.
- To add a touch of humor and personality to your templates, you can insert smileys and other emojis.
How to use email templates in Outlook
To create a message based on an email template, here's what you do:
- On the Home tab, click New Items > More Items > Choose Form.
- In the Choose Form dialog box that appears, select User Templates in File System from the Look in drop-down list. This will display a list of all the e-mail templates you currently have. Select the needed one and click Open.
That's it! A new message will be created based on the chosen template, with the same body, subject, formatting, images, etc.
Tip. To reduce the number of clicks required for opening a template, you can place the Choose Form button directly on the ribbon. We have a special guide on how to add a custom button to Excel ribbon. In Outlook, the steps are exactly the same.
How to edit Outlook email template
To modify an existing template, open it as an email message (as described above) and make the changes you want. After that save the template under the same name again as described in Saving an Outlook template. Done!
How to delete Outlook templates
To delete an Outlook template (.oft file) that you no longer use, follow these simple steps:
- Open Windows File Explorer and navigate to the folder where your templates are stored. Typically, they are in this location:
C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates - Select the template you want to remove and press the Delete button on your keyboard. Or right-click the unwanted template and choose Delete from the context menu.
Done! You have successfully removed an Outlook template from your system.
How to pin templates to task bar or create desktop shortcut
If you frequently use one or more templates in your work, navigating to the Developer tab each time may seem quite a long way. In this case you can create a shortcut and place it on your desktop or pin the template to the task bar. The latter seems even a better option, so let's go ahead with it.
- Go to the folder where all Outlook templates are located:
C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates - Find the needed one, select it and drag towards the Outlook icon on your taskbar. This will pin the template to the context menu of the Outlook icon.
- Next time you need to need to e-mail with template in Outlook, right-click the Outlook icon on the task bar and choose the template you want. As shown in the screenshot below, you can pin several templates that you use most often.
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If you don't want a particular email template on your task bar any longer, right click on it and choose Unpin from this list.
If you'd rather have a template shortcut on your desktop, then right-click the template and choose Send to >Desktop.
This will create a shortcut on your desktop and you click it whenever you want to create a new message with this template.
How to share Outlook email templates
An Outlook template is a usual file (.oft), so you can pick any template from the folder where all Outlook templates are stored (C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates) and send it as an al attachment or save to a network share.
Automatically apply a template for all new messages as Outlook theme (Stationery)
If you want to use a specific template for all new emails, then you have to create an HTML template first and then set it as your Outlook email theme. For example, you may want to use a particular font or background color in all email messages that you send.
Here are the steps to create an html email template for Outlook:
- Create a new email message and design it as you like.
- Switch to the File tab, click the Save As button and save the email as an HTML file to the Stationery folder here:
C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Stationery\
You can also design your Outlook e-mail template using any other HTML editor and save the resulting html file to the same folder. - To set the newly created template as your default Outlook email theme, go to the File tab > Options > Mail > Compose messages section and click the Stationery and Fonts button.
- Find your email template in the list of Outlook themes and click OK to set it as the default email theme.
From now on, your new Outlook email template will automatically be applied to all messages you are composing.
Where do I find free email templates?
There are tons of free ready-to-use templates on the web for all possible scenarios and occasions. Here are just a few examples:
Surely, Outlook templates provide many useful features that can save you a lot of time. But if you send tens of repetitive emails daily, the capabilities of built-in Outlook templates may not be enough. For example, what if you want to reply with template in Outlook? And if you've created a few dozen templates for different occasions, how could you view their content to pick the best-suited one? And if you could only insert a template in the message with a mouse click!
Sounds like a wish-list for the Microsoft Outlook team? :) No matter how fantastic it may sound, all these features are already implemented in our own templates for Outlook emails, and the next section shows how to use them.
Shared Email Templates - quick way to reply with template in Outlook
If you are looking for email templates that can be used at any time from any device (including Outlook desktop and Online, Windows and Mac), you'll certainly love our brand-new Shared Email Templates. This tool does do not require switching to other tabs, creating desktop shortcuts, and the like. All is done directly in the e-mail message window:
- Write a message like you normally do and save it as a template.
- Include links and images.
- Attach files if needed.
- Place fillable or drop-down fields where appropriate.
- Click to insert the template.
Once a template is created, you can use it personally or share with your teammates.
The screenshot below gives an idea of how your email templates can look like:
That was just a quick introduction to this awesome tool. I invite you to have a look at this page to discover a lot more fascinating features!
118 comments
I have created a custom email template with custom fields to be filled out by my sales force. However somewhere along the way I do not have the ability to attach any files once I run the template. I am using 2007 and not sure what I am missing. When I try to use standard email fields, the attachment shows up a check box? Thank you.
I have a business partner who wants to save the template so that it is coming from a specific “From” email address. When we try to update it in the “From” menu, after we save it and try to open it again, it’s reverting back to my own email address.
Is there a way to do this?
A standard template doesn't store the contents of the From field. You can create an Outlook macro to automatically add addresses in the From field to a particular template.
Or you can try our Shared Email Templates. It can fill the From field as well as other email fields.
ive managed to create oft email template file and saved it. but unable to share it with my colleagues, how can do this?
Hi Chandini,
Please clarify what exactly doesn't work: you can't attach the .oft template file to email or your colleagues can't add your template to their Outlook or something else.
Thanks Svetlana!
Hi Svetlana,
I have created a form in Word 2013 using the developer tool. Followed all instructions I can find on inserting it into outlook in order to create an email template. Not for the life of me will the form work. PLEASE HELP! ... or if I can insert this form into gmail that would be better. Is this at all possible?
Oh, the form works perfectly fine in word.
Kind regards,
Melissa
Hi Melissa,
I'm very sorry but I am unable to help with this issue because I have no experience with Word forms.
You can probably post your question on http://www.answers.microsoft.com, hopefully someone will know the answer.
Hello. I have multiple Outlook profiles and when I add the stationery to one profile, it is using that for my personal work profile as well. I don't see a way with Outlook 2013 to assign the stationery to a particular email account, like you can with a signature.
Hi Rayna,
As far as I know this is not possible because Outlook signatures are account-specific while Outlook theme (Stationery) is global.
I have a custom email template with cells and rows. I have images I have inserted into some of theses cells and am having trouble setting the positions into these cells. is there an easy way to position and lock the images into these cells? center of the cell? top left corner? left margin-center of the cell? while locking them into position? i can drag the images all around but this a manual process and the positions are not necessarily uniform. thanks in advance.
From our own experience with sending newsletters, there is no easy way. Different email clients behave in a different way not complying with standards, and regrettably Outlook is not an exception.
To be properly positioned, each image requires specific CSS styles. We do not know any way to do this via drag-n-drop.
Hello Svetlana,
May I ask you if it would be possible to have a email template with different tabs? So I can use it for sending out information of different vendors in the same email.
Kind Regards,
Gilly
Hello Gilly,
Regrettably, it's not possible to create an email template with tabs either with standard Outlook templates or with our Shared Email Templates add-in. The Shared Email Templates allows adding fillable fields that will prompt the user to enter some text in a message before it goes out, though I am not sure this feature is fit for the case.
Thank you Svetlana for your feedback! It is a shame we cannot do it.
I want to create a template and have a file attached to it so I don't have to attach it each time I use it. Can this be done?
Hello Linda,
I do not know a way to do this with standard Outlook email templates, but you can easily create such a template with Shared Email Templates.
Your directions on creating the template has been a huge help; particularly as we have 6-8 different emails that must be sent upon hiring of new employees! I atached a file to the email (before I saved it as a template)and, when I opened the template, it was still there. My only question is this: If we make a change to the document (that the attachment is pulling from), when we send a new email (using the template), it still has the original file attachment, not the updated version (which we "saved as" with the same file name. It appears this attachment is static and does not pull "live" from the source. Do you know if this is the case? Is there a way around this?
Thanks a lot Svetlana Cheusheva! you saved my day,
your post is clear and perfect
Thank you for this clear, concise and applicable tutorial. After looking at, and attempting to use, several other tutorials, your was a breath of fresh air.
Thank you very much for your feedback, Tabitha! I am really pleased to know you liked it.
Good Morning Svetlana
I have followed your instructions completely and created my template and saved in the right location. However I can run the form and open it up perfectly but when I send it to myself to test it I receive the email but with no text that I typed in at all. I have checked to see if the text box was enabled and visible etc which it is I just cant seem to fathom it out - any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Ryan
Hello Ryan,
It's very hard to diagnoze the root of the problem without seeing your template. If you can send it to me at support@ablebits.com as an .oft file (C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates), we will try to figure this out. You can remove any sensitive info, if any, and leave only the formatting and some sample text.
Hello Svetlana
I have sent you the .oft template that I am using. There is no sensitive information in it. If you could have a look at it for me then that would be great.
Kind Regards
Ryan
Hello Ryan,
You have created a very complex form, we are really impressed! I consulted our Outlook guru and he spotted a couple of issues that need to be fixed. I emailed you the details a few minutes ago, hopefully the information will be helpful.
Hi Svetlana
You and your gurus have worked wonders - the form works perfectly now.
Thank you ever so much.
Ryan
Hi Svetlana,
I am also facing a similar issue in my environment as Ryan in my Outlook 2013. I have Windows 7 with office 2007 and some with Office 2013. The Forms works perfectly on Outlook 2007 but not in Outlook 2013, when we reply back to the user the message content is empty. Could you please send me the steps to help resolve the issue.
Thanks in advance.
Regards,
Pralhad
Hello Pralhad,
The issue can be resolved in different ways, please see the answers here, esp. page 2:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_2010-outlook/outlook-2010-custom-form-not-visible-to-recipient/bae48b4e-a792-43ce-8af1-c66849d65688
Dear Svetlana,
I often am on a web site, click on something that tells me this is how to contact the organization and then an Outlook HTML E-mail form pops up with a send address in it. I write my subject and compose my message and then............ I cannot figure out how to send it. I did read somewhere that Ctr Enter would do it, but it doesn't work.
This is really frustrating.
Thank you,
Jack
Dear Jack,
I have never heard about such problem before. When I click an email address on some web-site, I always see a normal Outlook message window with the Send button. Anyway, for us to understand the problem better, can you please click our support address (support@ablebits.com) and then send us a screenshot of what you see?
Hi Jack,
If the "send" button is not visible, try to check if your email account is properly configured in your outlook. You can try this by opening your outlook and composing an email from scratch. See if you can send from there. You can also see if maybe the send button is hidden from your toolbar.
I have set up an email template. However, is it possible to make it customer specific? I want to be able to tab to the name and other various fields to make the changes. There is heavy volume, so I am trying to make this time efficient. Maybe there is another option that i do not know of. Thank you
Hi Angie,
I am afraid Outlook email templates are not well suited for this purpose. You can check out the Mail Merge features. The above article describes how to do a mail merge from Excel to Word, but you can merge with your Outlook contacts list exactly in the same way.
As an alternative, you can consider using some personalized software for Outlook such as .
Hello Linda,
Regrettably, this is not possible with standard Outlook email templates.
Shared Email Templates described in the 2nd part of the article provide such capabilities.
You can use macros to fill in To, Cc, Bcc and Subject fields. Also, there is a macro to insert the contents of the Subject line into the message body.
Can I take a part of the subject line and have it repeated somewhere in the email? Just part not call of the subject. Also can fill in fields be created in the email? Thx
I tried and I am able to find my custom theme listed in theme section in stationery. But when I tried to set bullet for my listings, it doesn't take my custom bullet. Any idea?
Thanks in advance,
Ismail
Hi Ismail,
It's hard to diagnose the root of the problem remotely. You can send us your custom theme file from the Stationary folder at support@ablebits.com and I will do my best to help you.
Thanks a lot, I have done setting default template back in 2012, but no idea, no matter how I thought I didn't remember. But this forum solves this dilemma.
Thanks again
How can I convert HTML file into Outlook 2010 template??
Hi Ларс,
You just need to save your HTML file to the Stationery folder (C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Stationery).
I would like to add my company logo so that it appears in the top left corner of all of my emails and doesn't move. I can add it as a new stationery option but when I tab down from the subject field, the logo moves down as well placing the cursor above it. Any suggestions?
Thank you,
Tom
Hi Tom,
This definitely can be done. But we need to see the html code of your template to be able to say what exactly changes need to be made. If you can send us (support@ablebits.com) the .html file of your template from the Stationery folder (C:\Users\UserName\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Stationery), we will try to help.
Hi, i'm looking to do something very similar by adding a hyperlinked image to the top right hand corner of all new mail but again it moves down when i click on new mail. Can you let me know what to do?