To understand the transfer workflow and what happens when you send files, see Filemail Outlook Add-in: How it works.
When composing an email in Outlook, open the Filemail add-in from the Outlook ribbon or add-ins menu. The add-in opens in a side pane.
The first time you use the add-in, click Sign in to get started. After signing in, the add-in will show your Filemail account and your available settings.
Compose your email normally in Outlook - add the files you want to send as regular Outlook attachments. The Filemail add-in will detect the attached files and list them in the pane.
When you open the Filemail pane, the add-in automatically detects the recipients from your email and the files attached to the message.
Review the information displayed in the Prepare screen:
Recipients – The email recipients who will receive the Filemail download link.
Encryption key – The key that recipients will need to decrypt the files after downloading them.
Files to encrypt – The files that will be encrypted, uploaded to Filemail, and included in the transfer.
The add-in automatically generates a strong encryption key, but you can enter your own key if required. You can also:
Click Generate to create a new random key.
Use the Show/Hide icon to reveal or conceal the key.
Use the Copy icon to copy the key to your clipboard.
For sensitive transfers, we recommend sharing the encryption key with recipients through a separate communication channel.
If you need to change the settings for this specific transfer, click the Settings (⚙️) icon next to the Encrypt and upload button. From the Settings panel, you can adjust options such as:
Transfer expiry period
Download notifications
Link placement within the email
Encryption key delivery method
Please refer to Filemail Outlook Add-in: Settings guide for a detailed explanation of each setting.
6. Click Encrypt and upload. The add-in will now:
Prepare the transfer.
Encrypt the files.
Upload the encrypted files to Filemail.
Insert the Filemail download link into the Outlook email.
Remove the uploaded attachments from the email.
You can follow the progress in the Filemail pane. For large files, this may take some time.
7. Send the email from Outlook. When the add-in shows Email is ready to be sent, the encrypted transfer is complete and the Filemail link has been inserted into the email. You can now press Send in Outlook. The recipient receives your normal Outlook email with the Filemail download link.
