How to mail merge with attachments in classic Outlook using a free script
Add an attachment to every Word mail merge email in classic Outlook using a free script called OMMA. You run the merge while Outlook is offline, attach the file to all the emails in the Outbox in one go, then go back online to send.
By Nur Islam- 3:57 video
- 6 steps
- 93.2K views
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Word and Outlook mail merge sends personalized emails, but there is no option to attach a file. Most add-ins that fix this cost money.
The trick is to hold the merged emails in the Outbox. Set Outlook to Work Offline, run the merge from Word, and every email waits in the Outbox. The free OMMA (Outlook Mail Merge Attachment) script then adds the file you choose to those emails. When you go back online, Outlook sends them all.
There is nothing to install. This method uses classic Outlook. For New Outlook or Outlook on the web, or for a different file per person, use the Power Automate method linked below.
What you need
- Classic Outlook desktop on Windows
- Microsoft Word with a mail merge document and contact list
- The free OMMA script
- The file you want to attach
Step by step
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01
Download the OMMA script
Download Outlook Mail Merge Attachment (OMMA) from its SourceForge page and unzip it. You do not need to install anything.
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02
Prepare the mail merge in Word
Create your mail merge email in Word as usual, with your contacts and merge fields, but do not send it yet.
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03
Set Outlook to Work Offline
Open Outlook, go to the Send / Receive tab and click Work Offline. The status bar shows that you are working offline. Outlook now keeps outgoing emails in the Outbox instead of sending them.
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04
Run the merge
In Word, finish the merge to email. Enter the subject line and choose to send to all records. Every email is created and waits in the Outlook Outbox, one for each contact.
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05
Add the attachment with OMMA
Run the OMMA script from the unzipped folder. Read the message and click OK. Select the file or files to attach and click Open. The script adds them to all the emails in the Outbox. With many emails this can take a few moments. Click Yes to exit.
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06
Go back online to send
Check the Outbox to confirm every email has the attachment. Click Work Offline again to turn it off. Outlook reconnects and sends the emails one by one.
Tips and common problems
- Turn on Work Offline before you run the merge. If Outlook is online, the emails leave without attachments.
- OMMA attaches the same file to every email waiting in the Outbox, so make sure only your merge emails are there.
- This method needs classic Outlook. For New Outlook or Outlook on the web, use the Power Automate method: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcNqe3hRZxk
- If each person needs a different file, the Power Automate method handles individual attachments.
Questions
Can Outlook mail merge send attachments?
Not by default. With classic Outlook you can hold the merged emails in the Outbox by working offline, add the file with the free OMMA script, then go back online to send.
Does this work in New Outlook?
No. It relies on classic Outlook's Work Offline mode and Outbox. For New Outlook, use a Power Automate flow instead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WcNqe3hRZxk
Is the OMMA script free?
Yes. It is completely free and does not need to be installed. You just download and unzip it.
