What Do CC and BCC Mean in Email? (And When to Use Them)
You are writing an email to your grandson’s teacher, and you want your daughter to see it too.
Or you are sending a holiday update to forty people from church, and you are not sure everyone wants their email address shared with the whole list.
Then you notice two small letters near the top of the message: Cc and Bcc.
You may wonder:
What do CC and BCC mean in email, and which one should I use?
The short answer: CC sends a copy that everyone can see. BCC sends a hidden copy that other recipients cannot see.
Both are useful. Both can also cause small embarrassments when they are used the wrong way.
This guide explains what CC and BCC mean, the difference between CC and BCC, when to use each one, and how to find them in Gmail, iPhone Mail, and Outlook.
What Does CC Mean in Email?
CC stands for “carbon copy.”The name comes from the days of typewriters, when a sheet of carbon paper between two pages made an extra copy of a letter as you typed it. You might send the original to one person and the carbon copy to someone else who needed to know about it.
In email, CC works much the same way. People in the CC field get a copy of the message, and everyone on the email can see that they were included.
Google describes it this way in its guide to sending Gmail messages: anyone in the CC field will see the other recipients, and CC is often used for people who do not need to take any action.
A Simple Way to Think About CC
The To field is for the person you are talking to.
The CC field is for the person you are keeping in the loop.
For example, if you email your landlord about a leaky faucet and CC your adult son, the landlord knows your son is aware of the problem. Your son can follow along without being expected to reply.
What Does BCC Mean in Email?
BCC stands for “blind carbon copy.”People in the BCC field get a copy of the message, but the other recipients cannot see that they were included.
Google explains how BCC works in Gmail:
- The other recipients will not know you added anyone to BCC.
- People in BCC can see the people in the To and CC fields.
- People in BCC cannot see the names or email addresses of anyone else in BCC.
- If someone replies all, people in BCC will not see the reply.
Google also notes that people in BCC who use Gmail will see that they were added using BCC, but recipients who use other email services may not see that.
Microsoft adds an important detail in its Outlook BCC guide: if you receive a message, you cannot see whether the sender added BCC recipients. Only the sender can see that, by looking at the message in their Sent folder.
CC vs. BCC: The Difference at a Glance
| Field | Who Gets the Email | Who Can See Them | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| To | The main person or people the message is for | Everyone on the email | The people you expect to read and respond |
| CC | People who should be kept informed | Everyone on the email | Keeping someone in the loop openly |
| BCC | People who get a private copy | Only you, the sender | Group emails, privacy, and quiet copies |
One way to remember it: CC is a visible copy. BCC is a hidden copy.
When to Use CC
CC is a good choice when you want people to know who else received the message.
- Keeping a family member informed. CC your daughter on an email to a doctor’s office, so she knows what was said.
- Introducing two people. When you introduce a friend to a neighbor, put one in To and one in CC, so both can reply to each other.
- Copying someone who helped. CC the person who recommended a contractor when you email the contractor.
- Creating a record. When writing to a business, you might CC a spouse or family member so there is a second copy.
Remember that everyone can see who was copied. If including someone might feel like pressure or tattling, think about whether a separate message would be kinder.
When to Use BCC
BCC is most useful when you are sending one message to many people who do not all know each other.
- Group announcements. A holiday letter, a club newsletter, or a reunion update sent to many people.
- Protecting privacy. Using BCC keeps everyone’s email address from being shown to the entire list.
- Avoiding reply-all storms. When people in BCC reply all, their replies do not go to the other BCC recipients, so the whole group does not get flooded with “Thank you!” messages.
- Sending yourself a copy. Some people BCC themselves to keep a record in their inbox. iPhone Mail even has an Always Bcc Myself setting.
A Helpful Way to Send a Group Email
A common way to keep a list private is to put your own email address in To, and put everyone else in BCC. Microsoft describes a similar approach for calming down a reply-all flood: put only your own name in To and move the group to BCC.
Recipients will see the message came from you. They will not see each other’s addresses, and Microsoft notes that hiding the list also keeps anyone from copying those addresses from your message.
When Not to Use BCC
BCC is helpful, but it can backfire when it is used to hide something from someone in the conversation.
- Secretly copying someone on a sensitive email. If the BCC recipient replies all, everyone will discover they were included.
- Copying someone to “catch” another person. It can damage trust if it comes to light.
- Sending to people who are not expecting your message. Microsoft notes that BCC is a favorite technique of spammers, so some junk filters may flag BCC messages. Let people know to expect your email when possible.
If you want someone to see a message without being part of the conversation, it is often clearer to forward it to them separately after you send it.
If your inbox already feels crowded, see Why Email Feels So Different Now.
How to Find CC and BCC in Your Email
In many email apps, the CC and BCC fields are tucked away until you ask for them.
Gmail on a Computer
- Go to Gmail and click Compose.
- In the To line, look to the right for Cc and Bcc. Click either one to open that field.
- Type the email addresses, separating them with commas.
Google’s keyboard shortcuts also open these fields: Ctrl + Shift + C for CC and Ctrl + Shift + B for BCC on a PC (use ⌘ instead of Ctrl on a Mac).
Gmail App on a Phone
- Open the Gmail app and tap Compose.
- Add your main recipient in the To field.
- Look for Cc and Bcc just below the To line. If they are hidden, look at the right end of the To line for a small arrow, and tap it to show them.
- Add the people you want, then write and send your message.
Google’s Gmail app guide confirms that you can add recipients in the To, CC, and BCC fields.
Mail on iPhone
- Open the Mail app and tap the Compose button.
- Add your main recipient in the To field.
- Tap the field labeled Cc/Bcc, From. It opens into separate CC, BCC, and From fields.
- Tap Cc or Bcc and add the people you want.
Apple explains this in its guide to sending email on iPhone. Apple also notes that you can drag a name from one field to another, such as moving someone into BCC if you decide you do not want their name to appear.
Outlook
In the new Outlook for Windows, open a new message, then select Options, then Show fields, then Show Bcc. In classic Outlook, look for Bcc on the Options tab or ribbon. In Outlook for Mac, select Bcc at the end of the To line.
Microsoft explains the steps for each version in its guide for Windows and guide for Mac. Microsoft notes that once you turn on the BCC box in Outlook for Windows, it appears every time you create a message until you turn it off. In Outlook for Mac, you can show it by default under Outlook, then Settings, then Composing.
Reply vs. Reply All When You Are CC’d
When you receive an email where you were CC’d, you have a choice.
| Button | Who Gets Your Reply | When to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Reply | Only the person who sent the message | Most of the time, especially for personal comments |
| Reply All | The sender and everyone in To and CC | Only when everyone truly needs your answer |
| Forward | Whoever you choose | When you want to share the message with someone new |
When in doubt, choose Reply. Many awkward moments happen when a private comment accidentally goes to the whole group.
And if you were BCC’d, it is usually best not to reply all, since doing so reveals that you received a copy.
A Word About Privacy and Suspicious Emails
If you receive an email where dozens of strangers are listed in To or CC, someone probably forgot to use BCC. It is usually harmless, but be thoughtful about replying all.
Unexpected emails that seem to be sent to a hidden list, especially ones with urgent warnings, prizes, or requests to click a link, deserve extra care. Scammers often send the same message to many people at once.
The FTC explains how to spot these messages in its guide to recognizing phishing. For a step-by-step checklist, see how to tell if an email is real or suspicious.
And if a group sender will not stop emailing you, see how to block or unsubscribe from unwanted emails in Gmail.
A Simple CC and BCC Checklist
| Question | If Yes |
|---|---|
| Is this person the one I need a response from? | Put them in To |
| Should this person be kept informed, openly? | Put them in CC |
| Am I emailing a group of people who may not know each other? | Put yourself in To and everyone else in BCC |
| Would it be awkward if a hidden recipient replied all? | Forward the message separately instead of using BCC |
| Am I replying to a message where I was CC’d? | Use Reply unless everyone needs your answer |
| Did I just get a message sent to many strangers? | Be cautious with links and avoid Reply All |
You Are Still Sending a Copy
Years ago, sending a copy meant a sheet of carbon paper, a second envelope, or a note at the bottom of a letter: “cc: Mr. Jones.”
The idea has not changed. Some people need the letter. Some people need to know about it. And sometimes a copy should be sent quietly.
Email simply gives each of those choices its own box.
When you are unsure, ask yourself one question: Should everyone on this email be able to see who else received it? If yes, use CC. If no, use BCC.
Stay in the know. Continue to grow.
Important Note
This article is for general education and awareness. It is not legal, technical, or professional advice.
Email apps, menu names, and features vary by device, app version, and email provider, and they may change over time. The way BCC information is shown to recipients can also differ between email services.
For workplace, legal, medical, or financial communications, follow the policies of the organization involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does CC mean in email?
CC stands for carbon copy. People in the CC field receive a copy of the email, and everyone on the message can see that they were included.
What does BCC mean in email?
BCC stands for blind carbon copy. People in the BCC field receive a copy, but other recipients cannot see that they were included.
What is the difference between CC and BCC?
CC recipients are visible to everyone on the email. BCC recipients are hidden from the other recipients.
Can BCC recipients see each other?
No. People in BCC cannot see the names or email addresses of other BCC recipients.
Can the people in To and CC see who is in BCC?
No. Only the sender can see who was added to BCC.
If I am BCC’d and reply all, what happens?
Your reply goes to the sender and the people in To and CC, which reveals that you received a copy. It is usually better to reply only to the sender.
When should I use BCC?
Use BCC for group emails to people who may not know each other, to keep email addresses private, and to prevent reply-all floods.
When should I use CC?
Use CC when you want someone kept informed and it is fine for everyone to know they were included.
How do I BCC in Gmail?
On a computer, click Compose, then click Bcc to the right of the To line. In the Gmail app, tap Compose and look for Bcc below the To line. If it is hidden, tap the small arrow at the right end of the To line.
How do I BCC on my iPhone?
In the Mail app, tap Compose, then tap the Cc/Bcc, From field. Then tap Bcc and add the recipients.
Can I tell if I was BCC’d on an email?
Sometimes. In Gmail, you can see that you were added using BCC, but other email services may not show this. If your address is not listed in To or CC, you may have been BCC’d.
Is it rude to use BCC?
Not usually. Using BCC for group announcements is considered polite because it protects everyone’s privacy. It can feel uncomfortable when used to secretly copy someone on a personal or sensitive conversation.
Sources and Further Reading
The following resources provide additional guidance about using CC and BCC in email. External links open in a new tab.
- Google guide to sending Gmail messages and using CC and BCC
- Google guide to sending messages in the Gmail app on Android
- Apple guide to sending email in Mail on iPhone
- Microsoft guide to showing and viewing BCC in Outlook for Windows
- Microsoft guide to the BCC field in Outlook for Mac
- FTC guide to recognizing and avoiding phishing scams
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