replying to an email

Hi Michael Downy

The steps I shared earlier are based on your thread tag Classic Outlook for Windows. However, I received your feedback that you are using macOS.

If you are using Outlook for Mac, this appears to match a known issue that Microsoft has confirmed in Legacy Outlook for Mac. Specifically, the issue affects the inclusion of the original message content when replying to or forwarding emails. The product team is currently investigating this behavior, and a fix will be released once it becomes available. 

For the latest updates, please refer to the following article, which will be updated as new information becomes available: Replying to or forwarding an email does not include the original message in the email body in legac… 

As a workaround, you may want to consider downgrading to an earlier version of Outlook, if your environment allows it. Alternatively, you may temporarily switch to New Outlook until a fix is released.

If you would like to roll back to an earlier version of Outlook as a workaround, please try the following steps: 

• Open any Office app > Help > Check for Updates > clear the checkbox for “Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date”  
• Quit all Office apps.       
• Go to Applications > choose Microsoft Outlook > Move to Trash.   
• Install the 16.109.3 package from this link: Update history for Office for Mac - Office release notes | Microsoft Learn   

Thank you for your patience and understanding. 

Hi Michael Downy

In Classic Outlook for Windows, the most common cause of this behavior is the reply/forward setting that controls whether the original message is included in replies.

Please check the following:

• Open Outlook and go to File > Options > Mail.
• Under Replies and forwards, locate When replying to a message.
• Ensure it is set to Include original message text (or another option that includes the original message, such as Include and indent original message).

Microsoft documents this setting here: Change how the original message appears in replies and forwards. The original message can be configured to be included, attached, indented, or excluded entirely. (Change how the original message appears in replies and forwards | Microsoft Support)

If the setting is already configured correctly, could you please provide a bit more information?

• Is this happening with all emails or only specific messages?
• Does the issue occur when replying in Outlook on the web as well?
• Are you using Cached Exchange Mode, or is this an IMAP/POP account?
• Have any recent Outlook updates, add-ins, or policy changes been applied?

I hope this information helps. If you have any questions, please feel free to reply in the comment section.

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