Editor’s note 10/21/2019:

This post has been updated to reflect product changes.

The essential role of email has always been the ability to easily share ideas and information with anyone in the world. Whether it’s working with your classmates, arranging a vacation or planning a global product launch—email is a staple of modern communication.

In recent years, one of the biggest advancements in Outlook has been the ability to share and edit files stored in the cloud right from your inbox. OneDrive has long been integrated across Outlook and comes preconfigured with every Outlook account. In addition, our Outlook mobile apps support Box, Dropbox and Google Drive. And early this year, we announced support for Box and Dropbox in Outlook.com as well.

Today, we added enhancements to make sharing simple. First, we extended the cloud storage capabilities for Outlook.com by adding support for Google Drive. Second, we made it easier to find files and photos buried in long email conversations.

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Outlook makes accessing your Google Drive easy

Outlook users on iOS and Android have had the ability to access their Google Drive files for some time. We are bringing the same capability to Outlook.com. Whether you are using Outlook on the web or our mobile apps, your Google Drive files are just a click away.

Adding your Google Drive is simple. First, begin a new message and then click or tap the attachment icon. Next, select Google Drive and enter your account credentials. Once added, your Google Drive appears as a source when attaching files. You can browse and select your files from either a list view or as thumbnails.

You could always edit Google file types with a shared link—but previously it would open the file in a new tab. Now, when you receive a Google Doc, Slide or Sheet, you can open the file within Outlook. Just like photos and Office file types, the Google files open in Outlook next to your message window so your work flow is not disrupted. And, as with Google Drive links, if you have edit permissions, you’ll be able to edit using the full functionality available on Google Drive—again, all without leaving Outlook.

Editing Google files from within Outlook.

Finding attachments in long conversations is now a breeze

When you’re in a long email conversation, it can be hard to find which message has the attachment you want—especially when several attachments have been added along the way.

We want to make it as easy as possible to find a specific attachment in a conversation. At the top of every thread, you’ll now find an attachment icon. Click it to open a drop-down list of all the attachments in the conversation. Simply select the file you are looking for and open it—you don’t have to click though each reply or expand the thread.

It is now easier to find attachments in long threads.

Share your feedback

At Outlook, we’re constantly making updates based on your feedback. So if you have feedback or ideas, we’d love to hear from you via UserVoice.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Which Outlook accounts can use these features?

A. These features are available to all consumers accessing migrated Outlook.com accounts via the web. In addition, the attachment feature will also be available to all Office 365 commercial subscriptions that include Outlook on the web.

Q. When will these features be available?

A. We will be rolling out these features over the next few weeks.