Save a message

Microsoft Outlook automatically saves all unfinished messages for you. By default, unfinished messages are saved to your Drafts folder every three minutes. You can, however, change this time interval or location. You can also save a message as a file or as a template.

Save a message as a file

1. Click the item you want to save as a file.
2. On the File menu, click Save As.
3. In the Save in box, click the location where you want to save the file.
4. In the File name box, type a name for the file.
5. In the Save as type box, click the file type you want.

Save a message as a template

1. If you are using Microsoft Word as your e-mail editor, you must temporarily turn it off to do this procedure.

   How?

   Do one of the following:

   Turn Word on or off as your default e-mail editor for all new messages

   1. From the main Outlook window, click the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Mail Format tab.
   2. Select or clear the Use Microsoft Word to edit e-mail messages check box.

   Turn Word on as your e-mail editor for one new message

   • On the Actions menu, point to New Mail Message Using, and then click Microsoft Word (message format)

   Turn Word on for viewing all Outlook Rich Text formatted messages

   You may want to set this option if you often receive the message "This message contains formatting that is best viewed with Microsoft Word. Click here to display in Word."

   1. From the main Outlook window, on the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Mail Format tab.
   2. Select the Use Microsoft Word to read Outlook Rich Text e-mail messages box.

   Note   If Word is your e-mail editor, see Word Help for information about working with messages.

2. In a message, on the File menu, click Save As.
3. In the File name box, type a name.
4. In the Save as type box, click Outlook template.